The Gospel According to St. Matthew

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- Chapter 6 -

(Deuteronomy 15:7–11)

“Pay attention, lest you perform your justice before men, in order to be seen by them; otherwise you shall not have a reward with your Father, who is in heaven.(a)

Therefore, when you give alms, do not choose to sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the towns, so that they may be honored by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

so that your almsgiving may be in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.

The Lord’s Prayer

(Luke 11:1–4)

And when you pray, you should not be like the hypocrites, who love standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets to pray, so that they may be seen by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

But you, when you pray, enter into your room, and having shut the door, pray to your Father in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.

And when praying, do not choose many words, as the pagans do. For they think that by their excess of words they might be heeded.

Therefore, do not choose to imitate them. For your Father knows what your needs may be, even before you ask him.

Therefore, you shall pray in this way: Our Father, who is in heaven: May your name be kept holy.

May your kingdom come. May your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth.

Give us this day our life-sustaining bread.(b)

(c)

And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation.(d) But free us from evil. Amen.

For if you will forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father also will forgive you your offenses.

But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your sins.

Proper Fasting

And when you fast, do not choose to become gloomy, like the hypocrites. For they alter their faces, so that their fasting may be apparent to men. Amen I say to you, that they have received their reward.

But as for you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,

so that your fasting will not be apparent to men, but to your Father, who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you.

Treasures in Heaven

(Luke 12:32–34)

Do not choose to store up for yourselves treasures on earth: where rust and moth consume, and where thieves break in and steal.(e)

Instead, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither rust nor moth consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there also is your heart.

The Lamp of the Body

(Luke 11:33–36)

The lamp of your body is your eye. If your eye is wholesome, your entire body will be filled with light.

But if your eye has been corrupted, your entire body will be darkened. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great will that darkness be!

No one is able to serve two masters. For either he will have hatred for the one, and love the other, or he will persevere with the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.(f)

Do Not Worry

(Luke 12:22–31)

And so I say to you, do not be anxious about your life, as to what you will eat, nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Consider the birds of the air, how they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of much greater value than they are?

And which of you, by thinking, is able to add one cubit to his stature?

And as for clothing, why are you anxious? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither work nor weave.

But I say to you, that not even Solomon, in all his glory, was arrayed like one of these.

So if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and cast into the oven tomorrow, how much more will he care for you, O little in faith?

Therefore, do not choose to be anxious, saying: ‘What shall we eat, and what shall we drink, and with what shall we be clothed?’

For the Gentiles seek all these things. Yet your Father knows that you need all these things.

Therefore, seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be added to you as well.

Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow; for the future day will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its evil.”

Footnotes

(a)6:1 Your justice:that is, works of justice; viz., fasting, prayer, and almsdeeds; which ought to be performed not out of ostentation, or a view to please men, but solely to please God.(Challoner)

(b)6:11 The word ‘super’ in Latin is sometimes used to refer to remaining alive (above ground). The word ‘substantialem’ refers to what is essential or necessary. So supersubstantialem refers to what is necessary to sustain life, in this case, spiritual life.(Conte)

(c)6:11 Supersubstantial bread:In St. Luke the same word is rendered daily bread. It is understood of the bread of life, which we receive in the Blessed Sacrament.(Challoner)

(d)6:13 Lead us not into temptation:That is, suffer us not to be overcome by temptation.(Challoner)

(e)6:19 The Latin word ‘aerugo’ also can refer to avarice, which consumes the soul as rust consumes metal.(Conte)

(f)6:24 Mammon:That is, riches, worldly interest.(Challoner)

(Deuteronomy 15:7–11)

“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving (a) before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,

so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

The Lord’s Prayer

(Luke 11:1–4)

“When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.

Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.

Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’ (b)

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Proper Fasting

“Moreover when you fast, don’t be like the hypocrites, with sad faces. For they disfigure their faces that they may be seen by men to be fasting. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

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

so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.

Treasures in Heaven

(Luke 12:32–34)

“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;

for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

The Lamp of the Body

(Luke 11:33–36)

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.

Do Not Worry

(Luke 12:22–31)

Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?

“Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment (c) to his lifespan?

Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,

yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, won’t he much more clothe you, you of little faith?

“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’

For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.

Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.

Footnotes

(a)6:1 NU reads “acts of righteousness” instead of “charitable giving”

(b)6:13 NU omits “For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.”