#ScriptureReflection - Matthew 6:1-18 (3.6.19)

May you all have a blessed & #SpiritFilled Ash Wednesday!
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Teaching About Almsgiving. ¹ “[But] take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. ² When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. ³ But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, ⁴ so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.

Teaching About Prayer. ⁵ “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. ⁷ In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

The Lord’s Prayer. ⁹ “This is how you are to pray:

Our Father in heaven,
    hallowed be your name,
¹⁰     your kingdom come,
    your will be done,
        on earth as in heaven.
¹¹     Give us today our daily bread;
¹²     and forgive us our debts,
        as we forgive our debtors;
¹³     and do not subject us to the final test,
        but deliver us from the evil one.

¹⁴    If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.

Teaching About Fasting. ¹⁶ “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. ¹⁷ But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, ¹⁸ so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.