Matthew 6

Christ teachest how men must give alms, 1. Pray, 5. Fast 16 What treasure to lay up, 19. Hhow thhe understanding, must be disposed, 22. That men cannot serve two masters, 24. That we must commit the care of bodily necessaries to God , 25 and seek the Kingdom of God before all things, 33.

1. Take heed that ye do not your alms [The Ggreek word Eleemosyne, from whence Alms comes, signifies in general a work of mercy, and in special liberality to the poor, because that must proceed from compassion 1 Cor 13.3. some Ggreek Copies hhave rightetousness.] before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward with your father which is in the Heavens.

2. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, cause not a Trumpet to be sounded before thee, like as the dissemblers do [Gr. hypocrites: which word signifies the Actors in a stage – play, which shew themselves for other persons then they are indeed] in the Synagoggues, and in the streets, that they may be honour which they seek of men, is their reward.]

3. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left [hand] know, what thy right hand doth. [That is, do it in the most secret manner, without seeking glory by]

4. That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father whhich seeth in secret, he shall reward thee openly. [Namely oftentimes hhere, but especially hereafter in the last judgemnet, see Matth 25.34]

5. And when thou prayest, [Namely, in particular For publique prayer also in the Assembles, are acceptable to God, and have special promises, Matth 18.19.] thou shalt not be like the hypocrites: For they love to pray standing in the synagogues, [namely out of the time publique players] and in the corner of the streets, that they may be seen of men. [or, to make a shew before men.] verily, i say unto you , thay they have – away their reward.

6. But thou when thou prayest, enter into thy inner chamber, [The Greek word signifies a place or chamber, where men lay away or shut up anything] having shhut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret, and they Father whhich seethh in secret, shall recompence thee openly

7. And whhen thou prayeth, use no vain rehearfall of words, [Ggr. Battolaggia, that is , when any words or expressions, are often repeated , without need or earnestness] like as the Heathen for they think that they shall he hhead for their multitude of words

8. Be therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what thy have need of, before ye pray to him.

9. Terefore pray ye thus? [That is to say, order all your prayer according to this form. Not that we are bound only oe always to these words; for in necessities that may fall out, it is also awful further to enlarge some petitions; and also to expresse thhem in orther words. See John 17 and Acts 4:24.] Our Fathher, which [art] in Heavens. [that is, in the third Heaven, 2 Cor 12.2. where he most of all manifest his Majestry and Glory, Psalms 103:19.] Hallowed be thy Name[that is to say magnified by us in words and deeds.]

10. Thy Kingdome come, [Namely, both of grace in this world, and of glory in Heaven] Thy will be done as in Heaven, [namely by the holy Angels, Psalms 103:20,21 and of the belsed and perfect souls, Hheb. 12. 23.] [to] also upin earth.

11. Ggive us this day, our daily bread [That is, sufficient and necessary for the preservation of our life, for thie day: or our appointed portion, Proverbs 30. v.8.] bread [that is to say, all necessaries for the body, Genesis 3. v. 19.]

12. And for give us our debts, [that is, sins, Luke 11:4. which make us debtors to suffer punishment; seeMat 18, verse. 24.] as we also forgive our debtors.

13. And elad us not [Or, bring us not; thhat is, give us not over] into temptation, namely, of satan of the world, and pof our own flesh; to bring us to sin, or to evil, See James 1:13,14.] but deliver us from evil one. For tine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory for ever and ever Amen [It is an Hebrew word, and is much to sya, Let it be, or, So be it, Or, it is surely so. Se Deuteronomy 27:15. Nehem 8.7.]

14. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will you Father forgive your trespasses, [Gr, slips whereby are understood all manner of sins.]

16. And whhen thou fastest [Namely, in particular; for in public necessities or fasts, it is unlawful to shew a sad contenance, if be done without hypocrisie.] shew not a sad contenance, as the hypocrites do: for they disfigure their faces, [Gr. obscure, or marre] that they may be seen of men when they fast, Verily i say unto you, that they have – away their reward.

17. But thou when thou fastest, anoint thine head, [Chhrist speakes here according to the custome of the Jews; who in times of rejoycing, anointed and washhed themselves, Psalms 23:5. Amos 6:6. Luke 7:46] and wash thy face.

18. That is may not be seen of men whhen thou fastest, but by Father which is in secret: and thy Father whichh seeth in secret, shall recompance thee in openly.

19. Gather not to your selves treasures upon earth, [Namely, principally, or so as to make your works of it without due considaration of the Heavenly treasure,] where the moth and the rust [Gr. eating; eating – in] corrupt them, and where theeves digge thorow and steal.

20. But gather your selves treasures in Heaven, where neither the moth nor the rust corrupts them, and where theeves do not digge thorow and steal.

21. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22. The candle of the body is the eye, [That is, as the body by the eye, so all that a man doth, or leaves undone, is guided and orderd by the understanding] if therefor thine be single; thy whole body shall be inlightened

23. But if thine eye be evil, [That is, blinded or corrupted] thy whole body shall be darkness, how great [shall] the darkeness [it self be]

24. No man can serve two Masters, [Namely, which are contrary to one onether.] for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will adhere to the one, [or, keep himself to the one] and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God, and Mammon. [This is a Syriack word, and signifies, gain, or treasures, which men oftentimes honour and serve as a God .]

25. Therefor i say unto you, Be careful [Namely, with an anxious and immoderate care, springing from want faith, and hendering the care of our salvation. Otherwise, we ought also to take care for these things] for your life, [Gr. soul; whereby is meant the life; See Job 2:6. Matth 2. verse. 20] what ye shall eat, and what ye shall drink; neither for your body, wherewith ye shall cloth your selves: Is not the life more then meat, and body then raiment?

26. Behold, the fowls of the Heaven, [That is, of the Air, see Psalms 8:9.] that they sowe not , neither reap, nor gather into Barns; and [yet] your Heavenly Father feeds the same. Do not ye [very] much excel them? [Gr. Do not ye differ very muchh from them.]

27. Whic of you, i pray, by taking thought, can adde one ell [Ggr. one cubit, that is, the length of the arm, from the elbow, to the end of the middle finger. Or, a foot and half] to his lengt?

28. And why are ye careful for raiment? Consider the Lillies of the filed, how they grow, they labour not, neither they spin:

29. And i say unto you, the even Salomon in sll his glory [Read thereof, 1 Kings 4.] was not arrayed like one of these.

30. Now if God so clothhe the grass of the field, which to day is, and tomorrow is cast into the Oven, [That is, which shortly after, being withered, is good for nothing else almost, but to heat Ovens withal.] shall be not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?

31. Therefore be not careful, saying: what shall we eat? or what shall we drink? or wherewith shall we clothe us?

32. For all these things do thhe Gentiles seek: [namely, with enxiety and trouble, as their happinesse lay therein] For your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33. But seek first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, [Namely, Gods, as appeas out of the Greek Text: that is, which is acceptable to God, will stand before him, and is revealed to us in the Gospel.] and shall these things shall be cast unto you. [Gr. laid – unto, or, superadded; namely, as over – measure, or somewhat given over and above see Psalms 127:2.]

34. Therefore be not careful against the morrow: For the morrow shall take care of its own things, [each] day care and trouble, which happens every day.]