Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

Matthew 5
⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
⁴⁶ If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.
⁴⁷ If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.
⁴⁸ But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 6
¹ “Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.
² When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.
³ But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.
⁴ Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
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 reward 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 people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.