Do Good to Please God

6 “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. ² Therefore, ^(A)when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ³ But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴ that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret ^(B)will Himself reward you ^[a]openly.

The Model Prayer^(C)

⁵ “And when you pray, you shall not be like the ^[b]hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, ^(D)go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you ^[c]openly. ⁷ And when you pray, ^(E)do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. ^(F)For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

⁸ “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father ^(G)knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. ⁹ In this ^(H)manner, therefore, pray:

^14 (Q)“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But ^(R)if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting to Be Seen Only by God

¹⁶ “Moreover, ^(S)when you fast, do not be like the ^[e]hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, ^(T)anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you ^[f]openly.

The Corrupt Church

¹⁸ “And to the ^[a]angel of the church in Thyatira write,

‘These things says the Son of God, ^(A)who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: ^19 (B)“I know your works, love, ^[b]service, faith, and your ^[c]patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. ²⁰ Nevertheless I have ^[d]a few things against you, because you allow ^[e]that woman ^(C)Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, ^[f]to teach and seduce My servants ^(D)to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. ²¹ And I gave her time ^(E)to ^[g]repent of her sexual immorality, and she did not repent. ²² Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of ^[h]their deeds. ²³ I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who ^(F)searches^[i] the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.

²⁴ “Now to you I say, ^[j]and to the rest in Thyatira, as many as do not have this doctrine, who have not known the ^(G)depths of Satan, as they say, ^(H)I ^[k]will put on you no other burden. ²⁵ But hold fast ^(I)what you have till I come. ²⁶ And he who overcomes, and keeps ^(J)My works until the end, ^(K)to him I will give power over the nations—

as I also have received from My Father; ²⁸ and I will give him ^(M)the morning star.

²⁹ “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’

The Dead Church

3 “And to the ^[l]angel of the church in Sardis write,

‘These things says He who ^(N)has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars: “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. ² Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before ^[m]God. ^3 (O)Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and ^(P)repent. ^(Q)Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you ^(R)as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. ^4 [n]You have ^(S)a few names ^[o]even in Sardis who have not ^(T)defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me ^(U)in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes ^(V)shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not ^(W)blot out his name from the ^(X)Book of Life; but ^(Y)I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

^6 (Z)“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’