Matthew 6: Giving, prayer, fasting, treasure and worry
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Jesus goes on teaching and speaks about giving to those in need, praying and fasting: each is to be done in secret and not to be seen by people. He gives the prayer that begins "Our Father in heaven", then speaks about treasure, the eye, serving two masters, and not being anxious about food, drink and clothing.
Who is speaking?
No verse is in gold: nothing in this chapter is marked as the Father's own voice. Jesus speaks in all 34 verses, teaching the people. In verses 9 to 13 he gives the words of a prayer to pray, and in verse 31 he gives the words people might say when they are anxious. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
In plain English: Jesus says: Be careful not to do your charitable giving (or: your merciful deeds) in front of people so that they will see you. If you do, you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
The Greek word: "Charitable giving" is eleēmosynē, a word that grows out of the Greek for mercy. The dictionary gives it as kindness shown to the poor, or a gift. In Matthew it is in 4 verses, to .
How it is translated: In those 4 verses this Bible gives it as "charitable giving" once (verse 1) and as "merciful deeds" 3 times (verses 2, 3 and 4).
What changes: Read as giving to the poor, Jesus is speaking about gifts. Read as merciful deeds, he is speaking about any kind act. The plain lines give both.
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2Therefore, 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.
In plain English: So when you give to those in need (literally: do merciful deeds), do not sound a trumpet in front of yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that people will give them glory. I tell you for certain, they have received their reward.
The Greek word: "Hypocrites" is hypokritēs. The dictionary gives it as an actor playing a part under another character, and then someone who pretends. It is in 15 verses of Matthew and in 20 verses of the whole New Testament.
How it is translated: This Bible gives it as "hypocrite" in all 15 of Matthew's verses.
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3But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,
In plain English: But when you give to those in need, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
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4so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
In plain English: so that your giving is in secret. Then your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly.
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5“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.
In plain English: When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that people will see them. I tell you for certain, they have received their reward.
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6But 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 plain English: But when you pray, go into your inner room (a private room in the house), shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. Your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly.
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7In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
In plain English: When you pray, do not babble on (or: use empty repetitions) as the Gentiles do. They think they will be heard because they use many words.
The Greek word: "Use vain repetitions" is battologeō, a word found only here in the New Testament. The dictionary gives it as stuttering, and then talking on and on without end. The words at the end of the verse, "their much speaking", are polylogia, "many words", also found only here.
What changes: Read as repeating the same words, the verse is about saying them again and again. Read as talking at length, it is about using many words. The plain line says "babble on (or: use empty repetitions)".
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8Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.
In plain English: So do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
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9Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
In plain English: Pray like this: "Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
Good to know: to has a shorter form of this prayer. It is given after a disciple says, in , "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples."
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10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
In plain English: May your Kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
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11Give us today our daily bread.
In plain English: Give us today our bread for the day (or: our daily bread, or the bread we need; see the note).
The Greek word: "Daily" is epiousios. It is found only 2 times in the New Testament, here and in , and its meaning is uncertain. The dictionary gives two possible roots: "tomorrow's", or a word for what is needed to live.
How it is translated: This Bible gives it as "daily" in both verses.
What changes: Read as "daily", the bread is for each day. Read as "for the coming day" (or: tomorrow's), it is bread for the day ahead. Read as "needed", it is the bread that is needed. The plain line gives all three.
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12Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
In plain English: Forgive us what we owe (literally: our debts), as we also forgive those who owe us.
The Greek words: "Forgive" is aphiēmi, a word that the dictionary gives as to send forth or let go. "Debts" is opheilēma, something owed, and "debtors" is a word from the same root. It is a different word from the "trespasses" of .
How it is translated: Aphiēmi is in 40 verses of Matthew. This Bible gives "forgive" in 10 of them, "left" in 15 and "leave" in 4; the other 11 verses use other words.
Good to know: has "Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us."
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13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
In plain English: Do not bring us into temptation (or: testing), but rescue us from the evil one (or: from evil). For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen."
The Greek word: "Temptation" is peirasmos. The dictionary gives it as a putting to the test, and by that, hardship. In Matthew it is in 2 verses, here and ; in the whole New Testament it is in 20 verses.
How it is translated: This Bible gives "temptation" in 14 of those 20 verses and "test" or "tested" in 2; the other 4 use other words. In both Matthew verses it has "temptation".
What changes: Read as "temptation", the prayer asks not to be led into being drawn toward wrong. Read as "testing", it asks not to be led into a trial or hardship. The plain line gives both.
The Greek word: "The evil one" is ponēros with "the" in front of it. The same Greek form can be read as a person, "the evil one", or as a thing, "evil". In Matthew this word is in 23 verses, and this Bible gives "evil" in 19 of them and "wicked" in 3.
What changes: Read as "the evil one", the prayer asks to be rescued from a person. Read as "evil", it asks to be rescued from evil in general. The text does not say which. ends with the same words, "deliver us from the evil one".
Good to know: The Greek text that this page's word cards follow, the Byzantine text, has the closing words "For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen." Tischendorf's Greek text, which is also in this site's database, ends the prayer at "the evil one" and does not have those closing words. does not have them either.
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14“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
In plain English: If you forgive people their trespasses (their slips), your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
The Greek word: "Trespasses" is paraptōma. The dictionary gives it as a side-slip, a lapse or a straying, either by mistake or on purpose. It is not the word for "debts" in .
How it is translated: The word is in 20 verses of the New Testament, and this Bible gives "trespass" in 12 of them.
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15But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
In plain English: But if you do not forgive people their trespasses, your Father will not forgive your trespasses either.
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16“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.
In plain English: When you fast, do not put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They disfigure their faces so that people will see that they are fasting. I tell you for certain, they have received their reward.
The Greek word: "Disfigure" is aphanizō. The dictionary gives it as to make something unseen, or to consume. In Matthew it is in 3 verses: here, and in and , where the same word is "consume".
How it is translated: This Bible gives "disfigure" once and "consume" twice in Matthew.
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17But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
In plain English: But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
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18so 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.
In plain English: so that people do not see that you are fasting, but only your Father who is in secret. Your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.
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19“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
In plain English: Do not store up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal.
The Greek word: "Rust" is brōsis. The dictionary gives it as eating, and then food. In Matthew it is in 2 verses, 6:19 and 6:20.
How it is translated: This Bible gives "rust" in both Matthew verses. In the whole New Testament the word is in 10 verses, and this Bible gives "food" in 4 of them, "eating" in 3 and "rust" in 2.
What changes: Read as "rust", the treasure is spoiled by the moth and by rust. Read as "eating", it is spoiled by the moth and by something that eats it away. The text does not say which.
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20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;
In plain English: But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
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21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
In plain English: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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22“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
In plain English: The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is sound (or: clear, single; see the note), your whole body will be full of light.
The Greek word: "Sound" is haploûs. The dictionary gives it as folded together, so single, and in a figure, clear. It is found only 2 times in the New Testament, here and in , where this Bible has "good".
What changes: Read as "sound" or "clear", the eye sees well. Read as "single", it is one eye with one aim, not divided. The plain line gives all three.
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23But 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!
In plain English: But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. So if the light that is in you is darkness, how great that darkness is!
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24“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.
In plain English: No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon (wealth).
The Greek word: "Mammon" is mamōnas. The Greek letters spell the sound of the word. The dictionary gives it as greed made into a god; the word comes from one for wealth. It is in 4 verses of the New Testament: here and , and .
How it is translated: This Bible keeps "Mammon" in all 4. The word cards give it as "money".
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25Therefore 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?
In plain English: So I tell you, do not be anxious about your life (or: your soul), about what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
The Greek word: "Life" is psychē, a word that the dictionary gives as breath, and by that the spirit that gives life. It can also be read as "soul". In Matthew it is in 11 verses.
How it is translated: In those 11 verses this Bible gives "life" in 6 and "soul" in 4; one verse has neither.
What changes: Read as "life", Jesus says not to be anxious about your life and its food. Read as "soul", it is your soul that he says not to be anxious about. The plain line gives both.
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26See 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?
In plain English: Look at the birds of the sky. They do not sow, they do not reap, and they do not gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are?
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27“Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
In plain English: Which of you, by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan (or: one cubit to his height; see the note)?
The Greek words: "One moment" is, word for word, "one cubit". Pēchys is the forearm, and so a measure of length, a cubit. "Lifespan" is hēlikia, which the dictionary gives as maturity in years or in size.
How it is translated: Hēlikia is in 8 verses of the New Testament, and only here in Matthew. This Bible gives "age" in 3 of them, "stature" in 2, "lifespan" in 1 and "height" in 1.
What changes: Read as a lifespan, the question is who can add a little to the length of his life. Read as a height, it is who can add a little to how tall he is. has the same question with "a cubit to his height".
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28Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,
In plain English: Why are you anxious about clothing? Look at how the lilies of the field grow. They do not work hard and they do not spin thread,
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29yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
In plain English: yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
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30But 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?
In plain English: If God clothes the grass of the field this way, grass that is here today and thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not clothe you much more, you of little faith?
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31“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’
In plain English: So do not be anxious and say, "What will we eat?" or "What will we drink?" or "What will we wear?"
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32For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
In plain English: The Gentiles seek after all these things. Your heavenly Father knows that you need all of them.
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33But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
In plain English: But first seek God's Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (literally: added to you).
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34Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
In plain English: So do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious about itself. Each day has enough trouble (or: evil) of its own.
The Greek word: "Evil" is kakia, which the dictionary gives as badness, and as trouble when it is something that happens to a person. It is in 1 verse of Matthew, this one. In the whole New Testament it is in 11 verses, and this Bible gives "wickedness" in 6, "malice" in 6 and "evil" in 3.
What changes: Read as "evil", each day has its own wrong in it. Read as "trouble", each day has its own hardship. The plain line gives both.
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