6“Be careful! When you do good things, don’t do them in front of people to be seen by them. If you do that, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

²“When you give to the poor, don’t be like the hypocrites. They blow trumpets in the synagogues and on the streets so that people will see them and honor them. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. ³So when you give to the poor, don’t let anyone know what you are doing. ⁴Your giving should be done in secret. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

Jesus Teaches About Prayer

⁵“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites. They love to stand in the synagogues and on the street corners and pray so people will see them. I tell you the truth, they already have their full reward. ⁶When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door and pray to your Father who cannot be seen. Your Father can see what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

⁷“And when you pray, don’t be like those people who don’t know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing, thinking that God will hear them because of their many words. ⁸Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him. ⁹So when you pray, you should pray like this:

‘Our Father in heaven,

may your name always be kept holy.

¹⁰May your kingdom come

and what you want be done,

here on earth as it is in heaven.

¹¹Give us the food we need for each day.

¹²Forgive us for our sins,

just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us.

¹³And do not cause us to be tempted,

but save us from the Evil One.’ The kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours forever. Amen. ⁿ

¹⁴Yes, if you forgive others for their sins, your Father in heaven will also forgive you for your sins. ¹⁵But if you don’t forgive others, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins.

Jesus Teaches About Worship

¹⁶“When you fast, ⁿ don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are fasting. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. ¹⁷So when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. ¹⁸Then people will not know that you are fasting, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.

Read in Logos

Matthew 6:6: But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Footnotes

nThe … Amen. Some Greek copies do not contain the bracketed text.
nfast The people would give up eating for a special time of prayer and worship to God. It was also done to show sadness and disappointment.