New Testament in a Year

The True Practice of Religion^[a]

Chapter 6

Giving Alms in Secret. ¹ “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. ² 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. ³ But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. ⁴ Your almsgiving must be done in secret. And your Father who sees everything that is done in secret will reward you.

Praying in Secret. ⁵ “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. ⁶ 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] 7} “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. ⁸ Do not imitate them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

⁹ “This is how you should pray:

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.