HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1236
MAT T H EW 7
12
13
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
miserable and disheveled so people will admire
them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that
is the only reward they will ever get. 17 But 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. 21 Wherever 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 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 cannot serve
God and be enslaved to money.
25 “That is why I tell you not to worry about
• Worry
MAT T H E W 6 :2 7
There is little in life we have less control
over than the weather. Yet have you
ever found yourself worrying about the
meteorological future? Probably more
picnics are ruined by worry than by
rain! Jesus encourages us not to worry
about that which we cannot control or
about that which is not important. Worry
instead, he says, about your priorities
and the condition of your soul. When you
find yourself overcome with worry, take a
careful look at the priorities of your heart.
When God is firmly established at the
center of our focus and desires, worry
loses its grip on our lives.
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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? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly
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. 30 And 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?’ 32 These 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 tomorrow 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. 2 For 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? 5 Hypocrite! 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.
7
Effective Prayer
7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you
ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep
on knocking, and the door will be opened to
you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone
who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks,
the door will be opened.
9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf
of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or
if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake?
Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know
6:13a Or And keep us from being tested. 6:13b Or from evil.
Some manuscripts add For yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen. 6:17 Greek anoint your head.
6:33 Some manuscripts do not include of God. 7:2a Or For
God will judge you as you judge others. 7:2b Or The measure
you give will be the measure you get back. 7:3 Greek your
brother’s eye; also in 7:5. 7:4 Greek your brother. 7:6 Greek
Don’t give the sacred to dogs.