The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 6 -

(Deuteronomy 15:7–11)

“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts

(a)

before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full 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. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

The Lord’s Prayer

(Luke 11:1–4)

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.(b)’

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive yours.

Proper Fasting

When you fast, do not be somber like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

so that your fasting will not be obvious to men, but only to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven

(Luke 12:32–34)

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust (c) destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Lamp of the Body

(Luke 11:33–36)

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good,(d) your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eyes are bad,(e) your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

No one can serve two masters: 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 both God and money.

Do Not Worry

(Luke 12:22–31)

Therefore I tell you, do not worry 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?

Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?(f)

And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin.

Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

For the Gentiles strive after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

But seek first the kingdom of God

(g)

and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Footnotes

(a)6:1 BYZ and TR charitable acts or alms

(b)6:13 Or from evil; BYZ and TR include For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

(d)6:22 Literally If your eye is sound; see Proverbs 22:9

(e)6:23 Literally if your eye is evil; see Proverbs 23:6 and Proverbs 28:22

(f)6:27 Or a single cubit to his height; a cubit was approximately 18 inches or 45 centimeters.

(g)6:33 SBL, WH, and NE seek first His kingdom; see also Luke 12:31.

(Deuteronomy 15:7–11)

“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving (a) before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,

so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

The Lord’s Prayer

(Luke 11:1–4)

“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.

Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.

Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’ (b)

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Proper Fasting

“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven

(Luke 12:32–34)

“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;

for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Lamp of the Body

(Luke 11:33–36)

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.

Do Not Worry

(Luke 12:22–31)

Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?

“Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment (c) to his lifespan?

Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,

yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?

“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’

For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

Footnotes

(a)6:1 NU reads “acts of righteousness” instead of “charitable giving”

(b)6:13 NU omits “For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”