Gospel: Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21(NIV 84)
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by
them. 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 men. I
tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to
the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that
your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you.
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 men. I tell
you the truth, 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.
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure
their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received
their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your
face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your
Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will
reward you.
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust
destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves
treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do
not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also