Giving to the Needy

“Beware of (A)practicing your righteousness before other people in order (B)to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

(C)“Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may (D)be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have (E)received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. (F)And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Lord's Prayer

“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love (G)to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. (H)Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, (I)go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. (J)And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as (K)the Gentiles do, for (L)they think that they will be heard (M)for their many words. Do not be like them, (N)for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. (O)Pray then like this:

(P)“Our Father in heaven,
(Q)hallowed be (R)your name.[a]
10 (S)Your kingdom come,
(T)your will be done,[b]
    (U)on earth as it is in heaven.
11 (V)Give us (W)this day our daily bread,[c]
12 and forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And (X)lead us not into temptation,
    but (Y)deliver us from (Z)evil.[d]

14 (AA)For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 (AB)but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting

16 “And (AC)when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. (AD)Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, (AE)anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. (AF)And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Lay Up Treasures in Heaven

19 (AG)“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where (AH)moth and rust[e] destroy and where thieves (AI)break in and steal, 20 (AJ)but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 (AK)“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 (AL)but if (AM)your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

24 (AN)“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and (AO)money.[f]

Do Not Be Anxious

25 (AP)“Therefore I tell you, (AQ)do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 (AR)Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. (AS)Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his (AT)span of life?[g] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, (AU)even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, (AV)O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For (AW)the Gentiles seek after all these things, and (AX)your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But (AY)seek first (AZ)the kingdom of God and his righteousness, (BA)and all these things will be added to you.

34 (BB)“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Judging Others

(BC)“Judge not, that you be not judged. (BD)For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and (BE)with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but (BF)do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

(BG)“Do not give (BH)dogs what is holy, and do not throw your (BI)pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Ask, and It Will Be Given

(BJ)“Ask, (BK)and it will be given to you; (BL)seek, and you will find; (BM)knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for (BN)bread, will give him (BO)a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, (BP)who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will (BQ)your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The Golden Rule

12 “So (BR)whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is (BS)the Law and the Prophets.

13 (BT)“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[h] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and (BU)the way is hard that leads to life, and (BV)those who find it are few.

A Tree and Its Fruit

15 (BW)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are (BX)ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them (BY)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, (BZ)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 (CA)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them (CB)by their fruits.

I Never Knew You

21 (CC)“Not everyone who (CD)says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will (CE)enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who (CF)does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 (CG)On that day (CH)many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not (CI)prophesy in your name, and cast out demons (CJ)in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 (CK)And then will I declare to them, ‘I (CL)never knew you; (CM)depart from me, (CN)you workers of lawlessness.’

Build Your House on the Rock

24 (CO)“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like (CP)a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like (CQ)a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

The Authority of Jesus

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, (CR)the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 (CS)for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:9 Or Let your name be kept holy, or Let your name be treated with reverence
  2. Matthew 6:10 Or Let your kingdom come, let your will be done
  3. Matthew 6:11 Or our bread for tomorrow
  4. Matthew 6:13 Or the evil one; some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen
  5. Matthew 6:19 Or worm; also verse 20
  6. Matthew 6:24 Greek mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions
  7. Matthew 6:27 Or a single cubit to his stature; a cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
  8. Matthew 7:13 Some manuscripts For the way is wide and easy

Giving to the Needy

“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.(A) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

“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. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.(B)

Prayer(C)

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing(D) in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,(E) who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling(F) like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.(G) Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need(H) before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father(I) in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom(J) come,
your will be done,(K)
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.(L)
12 And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.(M)
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a](N)
    but deliver us from the evil one.[b](O)

14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.(P) 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.(Q)

Fasting

16 “When you fast,(R) do not look somber(S) 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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.(T)

Treasures in Heaven(U)

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,(V) where moths and vermin destroy,(W) and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,(X) where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.(Y) 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.(Z)

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.(AA)

Do Not Worry(AB)

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry(AC) about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.(AD) Are you not much more valuable than they?(AE) 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?(AF)

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor(AG) was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?(AH) 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.(AI) 33 But seek first his kingdom(AJ) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.(AK) 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Judging Others(AL)

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.(AM) For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.(AN)

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Ask, Seek, Knock(AO)

“Ask and it will be given to you;(AP) seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds;(AQ) and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts(AR) to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,(AS) for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.(AT)

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate.(AU) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

True and False Prophets

15 “Watch out for false prophets.(AV) They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.(AW) 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.(AX) Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?(AY) 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.(AZ) 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.(BA) 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

True and False Disciples

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’(BB) will enter the kingdom of heaven,(BC) but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.(BD) 22 Many will say to me on that day,(BE) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’(BF) 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’(BG)

The Wise and Foolish Builders(BH)

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice(BI) is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things,(BJ) the crowds were amazed at his teaching,(BK) 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:13 The Greek for temptation can also mean testing.
  2. Matthew 6:13 Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
  3. Matthew 6:22 The Greek for healthy here implies generous.
  4. Matthew 6:23 The Greek for unhealthy here implies stingy.
  5. Matthew 6:27 Or single cubit to your height