Matthew 6
Giving to the Needy
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Glory: John 7:18, 1 Peter 4:11. Parallel theme: Matthew 6:5, 6:16, Psalms 37:21, Hosea 8:1, Luke 20:46, John 5:41, Ephesians 4:28, Hebrews 13:16 +5
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: Parallel theme: Matthew 9:30, John 7:4
4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
How to Pray
5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Prayer: Matthew 26:39, 26:42, 26:44. Parallel theme: Matthew 6:32, 18:17, Ecclesiastes 5:7, Acts 19:34 +2
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. Parallel theme: Matthew 6:32, Psalms 38:9, Luke 12:30, Philippians 4:6
The Lord's Prayer
9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heavenHeaven: οὐρανός (Ouranos). The Greek ouranos (οὐρανός) denotes heaven—God's throne and the believer's eternal home. Jesus taught His disciples to pray 'Our Father which art in heaven' (Matthew 6:9) and promised to prepare a place there (John 14:2)., Hallowed be thy name. Parallel theme: Psalms 111:9, Isaiah 6:3, 57:15, 64:8, Ezekiel 36:23, Malachi 1:11, Romans 8:15, Galatians 4:6, Revelation 4:11, 5:12 +5
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Kingdom: Matthew 7:21. Parallel theme: Matthew 12:50, 26:42, John 4:34, 6:40, Romans 12:2, Ephesians 6:6, Colossians 1:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Hebrews 10:36 +5
11 Give us this day our daily bread. Parallel theme: Matthew 4:4, Job 23:12, Psalms 34:10, Proverbs 30:8, Isaiah 33:16, Luke 11:3, 2 Thessalonians 3:12, 1 Timothy 6:8 +3
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Kingdom: Matthew 6:10, 1 Chronicles 29:11, Psalms 47:7. Evil: Jeremiah 15:21, John 17:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Glory: Revelation 19:1. Parallel theme: Matthew 26:41, 1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Peter 2:9 +5
14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: Parallel theme: Matthew 6:12, 7:2, Proverbs 21:13, Mark 11:25, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13, James 2:13, 1 John 3:10 +3
15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Fasting
16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. Parallel theme: Matthew 6:2, 6:5, 2 Samuel 12:16, Nehemiah 1:4, Psalms 35:13, 69:10, Daniel 9:3, Mark 2:18, Luke 18:12, Acts 14:23 +5
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Treasures in Heaven
19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heavenHeaven: οὐρανός (Ouranos). The Greek ouranos (οὐρανός) denotes heaven—God's throne and the believer's eternal home. Jesus taught His disciples to pray 'Our Father which art in heaven' (Matthew 6:9) and promised to prepare a place there (John 14:2)., where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: Parallel theme: Matthew 19:21, Isaiah 33:6, Luke 12:33, 18:22, 1 Timothy 6:17, 6:19, Hebrews 11:26, James 2:5, 1 Peter 1:4, Revelation 2:9 +5
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Parallel theme: Matthew 12:34, Proverbs 4:23, Isaiah 33:6, Jeremiah 4:14, 22:17, Luke 12:34, Acts 8:21, 2 Corinthians 4:18, Hebrews 3:12 +4
22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Do Not Be Anxious
25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Parallel theme: Matthew 6:32, 7:9, Job 35:11, 38:41, Psalms 147:9
27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: Parallel theme: Matthew 6:25, 6:31, Luke 3:11, 12:27, Philippians 4:6
29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his gloryGlory: δόξα (Doxa). The Greek doxa (δόξα) means glory, splendor, or magnificence—the radiant manifestation of God's perfection. Christ revealed the Father's glory: 'we beheld his glory' (John 1:14). was not arrayed like one of these.
30 Wherefore, if GodGod: Θεός (Theos). The Greek Theos (Θεός) refers to deity, used both for the one true God and false gods. Context determines whether it denotes the Father specifically or the Godhead generally. so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Faith: Matthew 8:26, 14:31, 16:8, Mark 4:40, Luke 12:28, John 20:27. References God: Hebrews 3:12. Parallel theme: 1 Peter 1:24 +3
31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Parallel theme: Matthew 6:8, Psalms 17:14, 103:13, Luke 12:30, Ephesians 4:17, 1 Thessalonians 4:5
33 But seek ye first the kingdomKingdom: βασιλεία (Basileia). The Greek basileia (βασιλεία) means kingdom—both the realm ruled and the exercise of royal authority. The 'kingdom of God' is central to Jesus' teaching, representing God's saving rule breaking into history. of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Parallel theme: Matthew 6:11, 6:25, Deuteronomy 33:25, Lamentations 3:23, Luke 11:3, John 14:27, 16:33, Acts 14:22 +3