Thursday, September 14, 2006

For His Eyes Only

1 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men (A) to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father Who is in heaven.

2 "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they (B) may be honored by men. (C) Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

3 "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving will be in secret; and (D) your Father Who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

5 "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to (E) stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners (F) so that they may be seen by men. (G) Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

6 "But you, when you pray, (H) go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father Who is in secret, and (I) your Father Who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

7 "And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their (J) many words.

8 "So do not be like them; for (K) your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

~ ~ ~

16 "(A) Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. (B) Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

17 "But you, when you fast, (C) anoint your head and wash your face 18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father Who is in secret; and your (D) Father Who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

-Matthew 6:1-8, 16-18