Thematic Bible: Motive


Thematic Bible

















Take care not to practise your charity before men in order to be noticed; otherwise you get no reward from your Father in heaven. No, When you give alms, make no flourish of trumpets like the hypocrites in the synagogues and the streets, so as to win applause from men; I tell you truly, they do get their reward. When you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, read more.
so as to keep your alms secret; then your Father who sees what is secret will reward you openly. Also, when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, for they like to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street-corners, so as to be seen by men; I tell you truly, they do get their reward. When you pray, go into your room and shut the door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you. Do not pray by idle rote like pagans, for they suppose they will be heard the more they say; you must not copy them; your Father knows your needs before you ask him. Let this be how you pray: 'our Father in heaven, thy name be revered, thy Reign begin, thy will be done on earth as in heaven! give us to-day our bread for the morrow, and forgive us our debts as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors, and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.' For if you forgive men their trespasses, then your heavenly Father will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men, your Father will not forgive your trespasses either. When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they look woebegone to let men see they are fasting; I tell you truly, they do get their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that your fast may be seen not by men but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is secret will reward you.