Jesus employs the rare Greek term "eleemosynē" (charitable giving) only here in Matthew, creating a unique linguistic bridge between Jewish almsgiving traditions and his revolutionary teaching on hidden righteousness.
Matthew 6
Teaching on Almsgiving
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.
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.
3But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,
4so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Teaching on Prayer
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.
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.
7In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
8Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.
9Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.
10Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.
13Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’
14“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15But if you don’t forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Teaching on Fasting
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.
17But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
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.
Treasures in Heaven
19“Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;
20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;
21for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light.
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!
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.
Do Not Be Anxious
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?
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?
27“Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
28Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,
29yet I tell you that even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.
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?
31“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’
32For the Gentiles seek after all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
33But seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness; and all these things will be given to you as well.
34Therefore don’t be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day’s own evil is sufficient.
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Theme
In Matthew 6, Jesus teaches about authentic spiritual practices versus religious hypocrisy, addressing three key disciplines: giving, prayer, and fasting. He emphasizes that these acts should be done in secret for God's approval rather than public recognition, providing the Lord's Prayer as a model for genuine communication with God. The chapter concludes with teachings on storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth and trusting God for daily provision instead of being consumed by anxiety about material needs.
Context
This chapter continues the Sermon on the Mount from chapters 5-7, moving from the Beatitudes and moral teachings to practical instructions for spiritual life.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-4 Teaching on Almsgiving Jesus warns against giving charity publicly for human praise, advocating for secret generosity that God will reward.
- 5-15 Teaching on Prayer Instructions on private prayer versus public display, including the Lord's Prayer as a model and emphasis on forgiveness.
- 16-18 Teaching on Fasting Guidance on fasting in secret rather than making a public show of religious discipline.
- 19-24 Treasures in Heaven Jesus contrasts earthly wealth with heavenly treasures and warns against serving both God and money.
- 25-34 Do Not Be Anxious Teaching on trusting God for provision and focusing on His kingdom rather than worrying about material needs.
Teaching on Almsgiving
6:1–6:4 gospel instruction warning
Jesus warns against performing charitable acts for human recognition, teaching that true mercy should be done in secret for God's reward.
person_contrast
Jesus employs the rare Greek term "eleemosynē" (charitable giving) only here in Matthew, creating a unique linguistic bridge between Jewish almsgiving traditions and his revolutionary teaching on hidden righteousness.
Teaching on Prayer
6:5–6:15 gospel instruction contemplative
Jesus teaches proper prayer, condemning public displays and providing the Lord's Prayer as a model emphasizing God's kingdom, provision, and forgiveness.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely pairs "forgive us our debts" with "as we forgive our debtors" in the Lord's Prayer, making human forgiveness a prerequisite for divine forgiveness.
Teaching on Fasting
6:16–6:18 gospel instruction warning
Jesus instructs that fasting should be done secretly without outward display, contrasting true spiritual discipline with hypocritical religious performance.
person_contrast
Jesus uniquely pairs fasting with cosmetic language ("anoint," "wash," "disfigure") found nowhere else in his teachings, transforming spiritual discipline into a lesson about authentic versus performative appearance.
Treasures in Heaven
6:19–6:24 gospel instruction solemn
Jesus teaches about storing treasures in heaven rather than on earth, using metaphors of light and darkness to emphasize spiritual priorities. He concludes that one cannot serve both God and material wealth.
person_contrast
Jesus employs three distinct metaphors—treasure storage, eye as lamp, and master-servant relationships—to create an escalating argument that material attachment fundamentally corrupts spiritual perception.
Do Not Be Anxious
6:25–6:34 gospel instruction peaceful
Jesus instructs his followers not to be anxious about material needs, using examples from nature to demonstrate God's faithful provision. He emphasizes seeking God's kingdom first as the remedy for worry.
person_contrast
Jesus employs six different nature metaphors (birds, lilies, grass, field, ravens, flowers) in this passage—more concentrated botanical and zoological imagery than anywhere else in Matthew's Gospel.
Insights
Jesus uniquely pairs "forgive us our debts" with "as we forgive our debtors" in the Lord's Prayer, making human forgiveness a prerequisite for divine forgiveness.
Jesus uniquely pairs fasting with cosmetic language ("anoint," "wash," "disfigure") found nowhere else in his teachings, transforming spiritual discipline into a lesson about authentic versus performative appearance.
Jesus employs three distinct metaphors—treasure storage, eye as lamp, and master-servant relationships—to create an escalating argument that material attachment fundamentally corrupts spiritual perception.
Jesus employs six different nature metaphors (birds, lilies, grass, field, ravens, flowers) in this passage—more concentrated botanical and zoological imagery than anywhere else in Matthew's Gospel.
Cross-References
Connected passages across Scripture
Matthew 6:1 5 references
Lexicals 5
John 1:14 Lexical
The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of gr…
Luke 6:23 Lexical
Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing t…
Matthew 10:32 Lexical
Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven.
Luke 10:21 Lexical
In that same hour, Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that y…
Matthew 18:14 Lexical
Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.
Matthew 6:2 2 references
Matthew 6:3 2 references
Matthew 6:6 4 references
Lexicals 4
Matthew 25:10 Lexical
While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and th…
Mark 11:25 Lexical
Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father, who is in heaven, may als…
Luke 11:2 Lexical
He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come. May your…
Acts 28:8 Lexical
The father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery. Paul entered in to him, prayed, and laying his hands on him, heal…
Matthew 6:7 1 reference
Matthew 6:8 3 references
Lexicals 3
John 13:1 Lexical
Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the…
Luke 11:13 Lexical
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the…
Matthew 7:11 Lexical
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven g…
Matthew 6:9 3 references
Matthew 6:10 1 reference
Matthew 6:11 1 reference
Matthew 6:13 1 reference
Matthew 6:14 1 reference
Matthew 6:15 1 reference
Matthew 6:16 1 reference
Matthew 6:19 2 references
Matthew 6:20 2 references
Matthew 6:21 1 reference
Matthew 6:22 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 11:34 Lexical
The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is…
Luke 11:36 Lexical
If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp wi…
1 Corinthians 12:17 Lexical
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
Matthew 5:29 Lexical
If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that…
1 Corinthians 12:16 Lexical
If the ear would say, “Because I’m not the eye, I’m not part of the body,” it’s not therefore not part of the body.
Matthew 6:23 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 11:34 Lexical
The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore when your eye is good, your whole body is also full of light; but when it is…
Luke 11:36 Lexical
If therefore your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly full of light, as when the lamp wi…
John 3:19 Lexical
This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for thei…
Acts 26:18 Lexical
to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive…
1 Corinthians 12:17 Lexical
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be?
Matthew 6:24 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 16:13 Lexical
No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will hold to one and de…
1 John 4:20 Lexical
If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen,…
Luke 18:10 Lexical
“Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.
Luke 17:35 Lexical
There will be two grinding grain together. One will be taken and the other will be left.”
Luke 7:41 Lexical
“A certain lender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
Matthew 6:25 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 12:22 Lexical
He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your bod…
Luke 12:23 Lexical
Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.
Romans 14:21 Lexical
It is good to not eat meat, drink wine, nor do anything by which your brother stumbles, is offended, or is made weak.
1 Corinthians 10:7 Lexical
Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”
Luke 17:8 Lexical
Wouldn’t he rather tell him, ‘Prepare my supper, clothe yourself properly, and serve me while I eat and drink. Afterward…
Matthew 6:26 5 references
Lexicals 5
Luke 12:24 Lexical
Consider the ravens: they don’t sow, they don’t reap, they have no warehouse or barn, and God feeds them. How much more…
Matthew 25:24 Lexical
“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did…
Matthew 25:26 Lexical
“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where…
John 4:36 Lexical
He who reaps receives wages and gathers fruit to eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice togeth…
Mark 4:32 Lexical
yet when it is sown, grows up and becomes greater than all the herbs, and puts out great branches, so that the birds of…
Matthew 6:27 1 reference
Matthew 6:28 1 reference
Matthew 6:29 1 reference
Matthew 6:30 2 references
Matthew 6:32 1 reference
Matthew 6:33 1 reference
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