Add parallel Print Page Options

“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.(A)

Read full chapter

“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

Read full chapter

Concerning Prayer

“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.(A)

Read full chapter

Prayer(A)

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing(B) in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

Read full chapter

Concerning Fasting

16 “And whenever you fast, do not look somber, like the hypocrites, for they mark their faces to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.

Read full chapter

Fasting

16 “When you fast,(A) do not look somber(B) as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

Read full chapter

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.(A) Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not regretfully or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.(B) And God is able to provide you with every blessing[a] in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.(C) As it is written,

“He scatters abroad; he gives to the poor;
    his righteousness[b] endures forever.”(D)

10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.[c] 11 You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us, 12 for the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to God. 13 Through the testing of this ministry you[d] glorify God by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ and by the generosity of your partnership with them and with all others,(E) 14 while they long for you and pray for you because of the surpassing grace of God that he has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!(F)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 9.8 Gk gift or grace
  2. 9.9 Or benevolence
  3. 9.10 Or benevolence
  4. 9.13 Or they

Generosity Encouraged

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.(A) Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give,(B) not reluctantly or under compulsion,(C) for God loves a cheerful giver.(D) And God is able(E) to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need,(F) you will abound in every good work. As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts(G) to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”[a](H)

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food(I) will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.(J) 11 You will be enriched(K) in every way so that you can be generous(L) on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.(M)

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs(N) of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.(O) 13 Because of the service(P) by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God(Q) for the obedience that accompanies your confession(R) of the gospel of Christ,(S) and for your generosity(T) in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God(U) for his indescribable gift!(V)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 2 Corinthians 9:9 Psalm 112:9

41 I do not accept glory from humans.

Read full chapter

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings,(A)

Read full chapter

17 How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?(A)

18 Little children, let us love not in word or speech but in deed and truth.(B) 19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him(C)

Read full chapter

17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,(A) how can the love of God be in that person?(B) 18 Dear children,(C) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.(D)

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence:

Read full chapter

15 If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food(A) 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?

Read full chapter

15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.(A) 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?(B)

Read full chapter

16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Read full chapter

16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others,(A) for with such sacrifices(B) God is pleased.

Read full chapter

46 “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes and who love respectful greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets.(A)

Read full chapter

46 “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.(A)

Read full chapter

11 Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.(A)

Read full chapter

11 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.(A) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,(B) so that in all things God may be praised(C) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.(D)

Read full chapter

18 Those who speak on their own seek their own glory, but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing unjust in him.(A)

Read full chapter

18 Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory,(A) but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.

Read full chapter

21 The wicked borrow and do not pay back,
    but the righteous are generous and keep giving;(A)

Read full chapter

21 The wicked borrow and do not repay,
    but the righteous give generously;(A)

Read full chapter

28 Those who steal must give up stealing; rather, let them labor, doing good work with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.

Read full chapter

28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work,(A) doing something useful with their own hands,(B) that they may have something to share with those in need.(C)

Read full chapter