Matthew 6:1–8

Giving to the Needy

6“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.^g If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

²“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ³But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, ⁴so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^h

Prayer

6:9–13pp—Lk 11:2–4

⁵“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standingⁱ in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. ⁶But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,^j who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ⁷And when you pray, do not keep on babbling^k like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.^{l 8}Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need^m before you ask him.