Streetlights New Testament - Flipbook - Page 23
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Teaching about Prayer and Fasting
5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites
who love to pray publicly on street corners
and in the synagogues where everyone can
see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the re
ward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray,
go away by yourself, shut the door behind you,
and pray to your Father in private. Then your
Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as
the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are
answered merely by repeating their words
again and again. 8Don’t be like them, for your
Father knows exactly what you need even be
fore you ask him! 9Pray like this:
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Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin
against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation,
but rescue us from the evil one.
14 “If you forgive those who sin against you,
your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if
you refuse to forgive others, your Father will
not forgive your sins.
16“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious,
as the hypocrites do, for they try to look mis
erable and disheveled so people will admire
them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is
the only reward they will ever get. 17But when
you fast, comb your hair and wash your face.
18 Then no one will notice that you are fasting,
except your Father, who knows what you do in
private. And your Father, who sees everything,
will reward you.
Teaching about Money and Possessions
19 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth,
where moths eat them and rust destroys them,
and where thieves break in and steal. 20 Store
your treasures in heaven, where moths and
rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break
in and steal. 21Wherever your treasure is, there
the desires of your heart will also be.
22 “Your eye is like a lamp that provides light
for your body. When your eye is healthy, your
whole body is filled with light. 23 But when
your eye is unhealthy, your whole body is
filled with darkness. And if the light you think
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you have is actually darkness, how deep that
darkness is!
24 “No one can serve two masters. For you
will hate one and love the other; you will be
devoted to one and despise the other. You can
not serve God and be enslaved to money.
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about
everyday life—whether you have enough food
and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life
more than food, and your body more than
clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don’t plant
or harvest or store food in barns, for your heav
enly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more
valuable to him than they are? 27 Can all your
worries add a single moment to your life?
28“And why worry about your clothing?
Look at the lilies of the field and how they
grow. They don’t work or make their clothing,
29 yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed
as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares
so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here
today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he
will certainly care for you. Why do you have so
little faith?
31 “So don’t worry about these things, saying,
‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will
we wear?’ 32These things dominate the thoughts
of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already
knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of
God above all else, and live righteously, and he
will give you everything you need.
34 “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for to
morrow will bring its own worries. Today’s
trouble is enough for today.
Do Not Judge Others
“Do not judge others, and you will not be
judged. 2For you will be treated as you treat
others. The standard you use in judging is the
standard by which you will be judged.
3“And why worry about a speck in your
friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?
4 How can you think of saying to your friend,
‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your
eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your
own eye? 5Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in
your own eye; then you will see well enough to
deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
6 “Don’t waste what is holy on people who
are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs!
They will trample the pearls, then turn and
attack you.
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Effective Prayer
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what
you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find.
