Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

²⁰ So we are ambassadors, speaking on behalf of the Messiah, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore people on the Messiah’s behalf to be reconciled to God. ²¹ The Messiah did not know sin, but God made him to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might embody God’s faithfulness to the covenant.

6 So, as we work together with God, we appeal to you in particular: when you accept God’s grace, don’t let it go to waste! ² This is what he says:

Look! The right time is now! Look! The day of salvation is here!

God’s servants at work

³ We put no obstacles in anybody’s way, so that nobody will say abusive things about our ministry. ⁴ Instead, we recommend ourselves as God’s servants: with much patience, with sufferings, difficulties, hardships, ⁵ beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, going without food, ⁶ with purity, knowledge, great-heartedness, kindness, the holy spirit, genuine love, ⁷ by speaking the truth, by God’s power, with weapons for God’s faithful work in right and left hand alike, ⁸ through glory and shame, through slander and praise; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹ as unknown, yet very well known; as dying, and look—we are alive; as punished, yet not killed; ¹⁰ as sad, yet always celebrating; as poor, yet bringing riches to many; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

Piety in secret

6 “When you are practicing your piety, mind you don’t do it with an eye on the audience! Otherwise, you won’t have any reward from your father in heaven.

² “So when you give money to the poor, don’t sound a trumpet in front of you. That’s what people do when they’re just play-acting, in the synagogues and the streets. They do it so that people will be impressed at them. I’m telling you the truth: they’ve received their reward in full. ³ No: when you give money, don’t let your left hand have any idea what your right hand is up to. ⁴ That way, your giving will be in secret. And your father, who sees in secret, will repay you.

⁵ “When you pray, you mustn’t be like the play-actors. They love to pray standing in the synagogues and on street corners, so that people will notice them. I’m telling you the truth: they have received their reward in full. ⁶ No: when you pray, go into your own room, shut the door, and pray to your father who is there in secret. And your father, who sees in secret, will repay you.”

On fasting and lasting treasure

¹⁶ “When you fast, don’t be gloomy like the play-actors. They make their faces quite unrecognizable, so that everyone can see they’re fasting. I’m telling you the truth: they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ No: when you fast, tidy your hair and beard the way you normally do, and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that others won’t notice you’re fasting—except your father, privately. Then your father, who sees in private, will repay you.

¹⁹ “Don’t store up treasure on earth. Moths and rust will eat it away, and robbers will break in and steal it. ²⁰ No: store up for yourselves treasure in heaven! Moths and rust don’t eat it away there, and no robbers break in and steal it. ²¹ Show me your treasure, and I’ll show you where your heart is.