A little time with Scripture.
SCRIPTURE READER

Matthew 6:1-4

World English Bible · Public domain

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Matthew 6:1-4

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.

World English Bible (WEB). Public-domain translation. Publisher: eBible.org. Local WEB chapter text; additional external requests use bible-api.com.

A few questions for reading in context
  • Who is speaking, and to whom?
  • What is happening before and after this passage?
  • What kind of writing is this—poetry, narrative, letter, or another form?
  • What does the passage say before I consider how to apply it?