The Holy Gospel According to Matthew 6 Continuation of the Sermon on the Mount, Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting

 The Holy Gospel According to Matthew 6

Continuation of the Sermon on the Mount, Almsgiving, Prayer, Fasting

1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is 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.

3 But when you give to the needy, do so in secret, and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you openly.

4 “So that your giving may be in secret; then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you openly.

5 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 others.” Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

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

9 This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,

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

11 Give us today our daily bread.

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

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” But deliver us from evil; for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

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

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

16 And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Truly, I say to you, they have their reward.

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

18 That you may not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.