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The True Practice of Religion[a]

Chapter 6

Giving Alms in Secret. “Beware of performing righteous deeds before others in order to impress them. If you do so, you will receive no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, whenever you give alms, do not trumpet your generosity, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets in order to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have already received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Your almsgiving must be done in secret. And your Father who sees everything that is done in secret will reward you.

Praying in Secret. “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may observe them doing so. Amen, I say to you, they have already received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees everything that is done in secret will reward you.

The Lord’s Prayer.[b] “When you pray do not go on babbling endlessly as the pagans do, for they believe that they are more likely to be heard because of their many words. Do not imitate them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This is how you should pray:

‘Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
    on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts
    as we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,[c]
    but deliver us from the evil one.’

14 If you forgive others for the wrongs they have done, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

16 Fasting in Secret.[d]“Whenever you fast, do not assume a gloomy expression like the hypocrites who contort their faces so that others may realize that they are fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that the fact that you are fasting will not be obvious to others but only to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees everything that is done in secret will reward you.

19 Treasures in Heaven.[e]“Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where they will be destroyed by moth and rust and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Rather, store up treasure for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves cannot break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart also be.

22 The Lamp of the Body.[f]“The eyes are the lamp of the body. If your eyes are sound, your whole body will be filled with light. 23 However, if your eyes are diseased, your whole body will be in darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great will that darkness be!

24 God and Money.“No one can serve two masters. For you will either hate the one and love the other or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.[g]

25 Seek First the Kingdom of God.[h]“Therefore, heed my words. Do not be concerned about your life and what you will have to eat or drink, or about your body and what you will wear. Surely life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

26 “Gaze upon the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or store in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of far greater value than they? 27 Can any of you through worrying add a single moment to your span of life?

28 “And why are you concerned about what you are to wear? Consider the lilies of the field and how they grow. They neither labor nor spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his royal splendor was clothed like one of these. 30 If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will he not all the more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore, stop being anxious about such things. Do not say: ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 These are things that are of concern to the Gentiles. Your heavenly Father is fully aware of all your needs. 33 Rather, seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough troubles of its own.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 6:1 Almsgiving (vv. 2-4), prayer (vv. 5-15), and fasting (vv. 16-18) are characteristics of the Jewish religion, or of the “righteous.” Jesus does not teach other practices but is concerned with the spirit of our religious acts so that they may lead to God’s presence and bring the joy of being children of God. Believers do not vaunt themselves or make a show of their religion; they listen to God. True religion is authentic spiritual life rather than spectacle and confusion or human respect.
  2. Matthew 6:7 In response to a request from his disciples to teach them to pray (see Lk 11:1), Jesus entrusts them with the fundamental Christian prayer, the Our Father. It is also called the Lord’s Prayer because it comes to us from the Lord Jesus, the master and model of prayer. The Lord’s Prayer constitutes the summary of the whole Gospel, lies at the center of the Scriptures, and is the most perfect of prayers. The object of the first three petitions is the glory of the Father: the sanctification of his name, the coming of the kingdom, and the fulfillment of his will. The four others present our wants to him: they ask that our lives be nourished, healed of sin, and made victorious in the struggle of good over evil.
  3. Matthew 6:13 Temptation: in the New Testament, temptation is a test in which Satan tries to destroy the believer. Consequently, it cannot be attributed to God. God, however, can give the strength and means of overcoming it: this is the meaning of the petition. The Semitic expression “do not lead us into” is therefore to be understood as meaning “do not allow us to enter into or succumb to temptation” (see Mt 26:41; 1 Tim 6:9).
  4. Matthew 6:16 Fasting is an action that evinces a desire to live more closely in the disinterested service of God; this produces profound joy. The sole fast prescribed by the Mosaic Law was that of the Day of Atonement (see Lev 16:31), but in later Judaism fasting became a regular practice (see Didache 9:1).
  5. Matthew 6:19 In this and the two following texts Jesus is responding to the faulty side of our way of thinking and acting. In order to affirm the primacy of God so simply and surely, we must live unceasingly in the presence of the Father. Those who guard their inner freedom, the desire for light, understand Jesus. But it is impossible to be open to God when desire for possessions has become the motivating force of one’s life.
  6. Matthew 6:22 Those with good vision can readily direct their bodily movements. Similarly, those who utilize the prophetic vision of Christ can direct their way to God.
  7. Matthew 6:24 Money: literally, “Mammon” (an Aramaic word), a personification of wealth.
  8. Matthew 6:25 Jesus warns us against making real human needs the object of overly anxious cares and thus becoming enslaved by them. The remedy for such an attitude is to seek first God’s kingdom and to show confidence in God’s providence.

Take heed not to do your alms before men to be seen of them, otherwise ye have no reward with your Father who is in the heavens.

When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have glory from men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But thou, when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does;

so that thine alms may be in secret, and thy Father who sees in secret will render [it] to thee.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets so that they should appear to men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

But *thou*, when thou prayest, enter into thy chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who sees in secret will render [it] to thee.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as those who are of the nations: for they think they shall be heard through their much speaking.

Be not ye therefore like them, for your Father knows of what things ye have need before ye beg [anything] of him.

Thus therefore pray *ye*: Our Father who art in the heavens, let thy name be sanctified,

10 let thy kingdom come, let thy will be done as in heaven so upon the earth;

11 give us to-day our needed bread,

12 and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors,

13 and lead us not into temptation, but save us from evil.

14 For if ye forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father also will forgive you [yours],

15 but if ye do not forgive men their offences, neither will your Father forgive your offences.

16 And when ye fast, be not as the hypocrites, downcast in countenance; for they disfigure their faces, so that they may appear fasting to men: verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

17 But *thou*, [when] fasting, anoint thy head and wash thy face,

18 so that thou mayest not appear fasting unto men, but to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who sees in secret shall render [it] to thee.

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, where moth and rust spoils, and where thieves dig through and steal;

20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust spoils, and where thieves do not dig through nor steal;

21 for where thy treasure is, there will be also thy heart.

22 The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body will be light:

23 but if thine eye be wicked, thy whole body will be dark. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great the darkness!

24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and will love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 For this cause I say unto you, Do not be careful about your life, what ye should eat and what ye should drink; nor for your body what ye should put on. Is not the life more than food, and the body than raiment?

26 Look at the birds of the heaven, that they sow not, nor reap, nor gather into granaries, and your heavenly Father nourishes them. Are *ye* not much more excellent than they?

27 But which of you by carefulness can add to his growth one cubit?

28 And why are ye careful about clothing? Observe with attention the lilies of the field, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin;

29 but I say unto you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed as one of these.

30 But if God so clothe the herbage of the field, which is to-day, and to-morrow is cast into [the] oven, will he not much rather you, O [ye] of little faith?

31 Be not therefore careful, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we put on?

32 for all these things the nations seek after; for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Be not careful therefore for the morrow, for the morrow shall be careful about itself. Sufficient to the day [is] its own evil.

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.

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

Rätt givande

Akta er för att utföra goda gärningar för att människor skall se er. Då får ni ingen lön hos er Fader i himlen. När du ger en gåva,[a] blås då inte i trumpet för dig, som hycklarna gör i synagogorna och på gatorna för att människor skall berömma dem. Amen säger jag er: De har fått ut sin lön. Nej, när du ger en gåva, låt inte din vänstra hand veta vad den högra gör, så att din gåva ges i det fördolda. Då skall din Fader, som ser i det fördolda, belöna dig.

Rätt bön

När ni ber skall ni inte vara som hycklarna. De älskar att stå och be i synagogorna och i gathörnen för att synas av människor. Amen säger jag er: De har fått ut sin lön. Nej, när du ber, gå in i din kammare och stäng din dörr och be till din Fader i det fördolda. Då skall din Fader, som ser i det fördolda, belöna dig. Och när ni ber skall ni inte rabbla långa böner som hedningarna. De menar att de skall bli bönhörda för sina många ords skull. Var inte som de. Er Fader vet vad ni behöver, innan ni ber honom om det.

Herrens bön

Så skall ni be:

Fader vår, som är i himlen.
Helgat blive ditt namn.
10 Komme ditt rike.
Ske din vilja på jorden
liksom den sker i himlen.
11 Ge oss i dag vårt bröd för dagen.
12 Och förlåt oss våra skulder,
såsom också vi förlåter dem
som står i skuld till oss.
13 Och för oss inte in i frestelse
utan fräls oss från den onde.[b]

14 Ty om ni förlåter människorna deras överträdelser, skall er himmelske Fader också förlåta er. 15 Men om ni inte förlåter människorna, skall inte heller er Fader förlåta era överträdelser.

Rätt fasta

16 När ni fastar,[c] se inte så dystra ut som hycklarna. De vanställer sina ansikten för att visa människor att de fastar. Amen säger jag er: De har fått ut sin lön. 17 Nej, när du fastar, smörj ditt huvud och tvätta ditt ansikte, 18 så att människor inte ser att du fastar, utan endast din Fader som är i det fördolda. Då skall din Fader, som ser i det fördolda, belöna dig.

Skatter i himlen

19 Samla inte skatter på jorden, där rost och mal förstör och där tjuvar bryter sig in och stjäl. 20 Samla er skatter i himlen, där varken rost eller mal förstör och där inga tjuvar bryter sig in och stjäl. 21 Ty där din skatt är, där kommer också ditt hjärta att vara.

Ögat är kroppens ljus

22 Ögat är kroppens ljus. Om ditt öga är friskt, får hela din kropp ljus. 23 Men är ditt öga sjukt, ligger hela din kropp i mörker. Om nu ljuset i dig är mörker, hur djupt är då inte mörkret!

Gud eller mammon

24 Ingen kan tjäna två herrar. Antingen kommer han då att hata den ene och älska den andre, eller kommer han att hålla sig till den ene och se ner på den andre. Ni kan inte tjäna både Gud och mammon.[d] 25 Därför säger jag er: Gör er inte bekymmer för ert liv, vad ni skall äta eller dricka, inte heller för er kropp, vad ni skall klä er med. Är inte livet mer än maten och kroppen mer än kläderna? 26 Se på himlens fåglar. De sår inte, de skördar inte och samlar inte i lador, och ändå föder er himmelske Fader dem. Är inte ni värda mycket mer än de? 27 Vem av er kan med sitt bekymmer lägga en enda aln till sin livslängd? 28 Och varför gör ni er bekymmer för kläder? Se på ängens liljor, hur de växer. De arbetar inte och spinner inte. 29 Men jag säger er att inte ens Salomo i all sin prakt var klädd som en av dem. 30 Om nu Gud ger sådana kläder åt gräset, som i dag står på ängen och i morgon kastas i ugnen, hur mycket mer skall han då inte klä er? Så lite tro ni har! 31 Gör er därför inte bekymmer och fråga inte: Vad skall vi äta? eller: Vad skall vi dricka? eller: Vad skall vi klä oss med? 32 Efter allt detta söker hedningarna, men er himmelske Fader vet att ni behöver allt detta. 33 Nej, sök först Guds rike och hans rättfärdighet, så skall ni få allt det andra också. 34 Gör er alltså inte bekymmer för morgondagen. Den skall själv bära sitt bekymmer. Var dag har nog av sin egen plåga.

Footnotes

  1. Matteus 6:2 gåva Ordet "gåva" (grek. eleemosyne, "allmosa", "barmhärtighet") förekommer i NT i betydelsen gåvor till nödställda. Mose lag fordrade givmildhet mot nödlidande (5 Mos 15:7-11), och GT:s profeter inskärpte denna plikt (Jer 22:16, Dan 4:27, Amos 2:6f.).
  2. Matteus 6:13 En del handskrifter har en lovprisande avslutning: "Ty riket är ditt och makten och äran i evighet, amen."
  3. Matteus 6:16 fastar I GT var fasta påbjuden endast på den stora försoningsdagen (3 Mos 16:29f), i Apg kallad "fastedagen". Under tider av nöd var det dock vanligt att man fastade som tecken på sorg och ånger (2 Sam 1:12, Neh 1:4, Joel 1:13f). Folket kom att uppfatta fastan som en religiöst förtjänstfull gärning, något som framkallade skarpa protester från profeterna (Jes 58:1-5, Jer 14:12). I nytestamentlig tid fastade fromma judar två gånger i veckan, måndag och torsdag (Luk 18:12).
  4. Matteus 6:24 mammon Arameiskt ord som betyder "förmögenhet", "rikedom". Rikedomen är här personifierad som en avgud, som man slavar under.