Bible / Matthew
Matthew 6
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision (1749–1752), the traditional Catholic English Bible, translated from the Latin Vulgate. If you read a modern Bible, this is the same Scripture in older English; some names are spelled differently (Cesarea for Caesarea, Apocalypse for Revelation). About this translation
1 Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your Father who is in heaven. CCC · Fathers
2 Therefore when thou dost an alms-deed, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honoured by men. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. CCC
3 But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth. CCC · Fathers
4 That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee. CCC
5 And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. CCC
6 But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret, and thy father who seeth in secret will repay thee. CCC
7 And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard. CCC
8 Be not you therefore like to them for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him. CCC
9 Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 1 CCC
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. CCC
11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread. CCC
12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. CCC · Fathers
13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen. CCC · Fathers
14 For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences. CCC · Fathers
15 But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences. CCC
16 And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward. CCC · Fathers
17 But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee. CCC
19 Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through, and steal. Fathers
20 But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal.
21 For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also. CCC
22 The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be lightsome. Fathers
23 But if thy eye be evil thy whole body shall be darksome. If then the light that is in thee, be darkness: the darkness itself how great shall it be!
24 No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. CCC · Fathers
25 Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment? CCC
26 Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they? CCC
27 And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit?
28 And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin.
29 But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.
30 And if the grass of the field, which is to day, and to morrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith?
31 Be not solicitous therefore, saying: What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? CCC
32 For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. CCC
33 Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. CCC
34 Be not therefore solicitous for to morrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. CCC
Where our lessons quote this chapter
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text. The Catechism uses modern verse numbers, so these are listed by chapter.
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1430 “Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and…”
- CCC 1434 “The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on…”
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
“no reward from your Father which is in heaven.”
Quoted in First Apology, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 155), Chapter XV. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1063 “In the book of the prophet Isaiah, we find the expression "God of truth" (literally "God of the Amen"), that is, the…”
- CCC 1430 “Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and…”
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
- CCC 2447 “The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1430 “Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and…”
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
- CCC 2447 “The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily…”
“… do likewise." And, "For I was an hungered, and ye gave Me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave Me drink; I was naked and ye clothed Me." And, "When thou doest thine alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1430 “Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and…”
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
- CCC 2447 “The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1063 “In the book of the prophet Isaiah, we find the expression "God of truth" (literally "God of the Amen"), that is, the…”
- CCC 1430 “Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and…”
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1430 “Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and…”
- CCC 1693 “Christ Jesus always did what was pleasing to the Father, and always lived in perfect communion with him. Likewise Christ's disciples are…”
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
- CCC 2655 “In the sacramental liturgy of the Church, the mission of Christ and of the Holy Spirit proclaims, makes present, and communicates the…”
- CCC 2691 “The church, the house of God, is the proper place for the liturgical prayer of the parish community. It is also the…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2608 “From the Sermon on the Mount onwards, Jesus insists on conversion of heart: reconciliation with one's brother before presenting an offering on…”
- CCC 2668 “The invocation of the holy name of Jesus is the simplest way of praying always. When the holy name is repeated often…”
- CCC 2766 “But Jesus does not give us a formula to repeat mechanically. As in every vocal prayer, it is through the Word of…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 268 “of all the divine attributes, only God's omnipotence is named in the Creed: to confess this power has great bearing on our…”
- CCC 443 “Peter could recognize the transcendent character of the Messiah's divine sonship because Jesus had clearly allowed it to be so understood. To…”
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
- CCC 2759 “Jesus "was praying at a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
- CCC 2632 “Christian petition is centered on the desire and search for the Kingdom to come, in keeping with the teaching of Christ. There…”
- CCC 2759 “Jesus "was praying at a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1165 “When the Church celebrates the mystery of Christ, there is a word that marks her prayer: "Today!" - a word echoing the…”
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
- CCC 2659 “We learn to pray at certain moments by hearing the Word of the Lord and sharing in his Paschal mystery, but his…”
- CCC 2759 “Jesus "was praying at a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1425 “YOU were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of…”
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
- CCC 2759 “Jesus "was praying at a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to…”
“… false witness; "not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing," or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: "Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you;”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter II. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“If then we entreat the Lord to forgive us, we ought also ourselves to forgive;”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“For this reason also He has taught us to say in prayer, "And forgive us our debts;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1969 “The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in…”
- CCC 2759 “Jesus "was praying at a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to…”
“If then we entreat the Lord to forgive us, we ought also ourselves to forgive;”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“doctrines, let us return to the word which has been handed down to us from the beginning; "watching unto prayer," and persevering in fasting; beseeching in our supplications the all-seeing God "not to lead us into temptation,”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter VII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 2608 “From the Sermon on the Mount onwards, Jesus insists on conversion of heart: reconciliation with one's brother before presenting an offering on…”
- CCC 2792 “Finally, if we pray the Our Father sincerely, we leave individualism behind, because the love that we receive frees us from it.…”
- CCC 2841 “This petition is so important that it is the only one to which the Lord returns and which he develops explicitly in…”
“… false witness; "not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing," or blow for blow, or cursing for cursing, but being mindful of what the Lord said in His teaching: "Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and it shall be forgiven unto you;”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter II. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“If then we entreat the Lord to forgive us, we ought also ourselves to forgive;”
Quoted in Letter to the Philippians, St. Polycarp of Smyrna (early 2nd century), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2608 “From the Sermon on the Mount onwards, Jesus insists on conversion of heart: reconciliation with one's brother before presenting an offering on…”
- CCC 2792 “Finally, if we pray the Our Father sincerely, we leave individualism behind, because the love that we receive frees us from it.…”
- CCC 2841 “This petition is so important that it is the only one to which the Lord returns and which he develops explicitly in…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1063 “In the book of the prophet Isaiah, we find the expression "God of truth" (literally "God of the Amen"), that is, the…”
“And let your good works shine before men, that they, seeing them, may glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Quoted in First Apology, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 155), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 575 “Many of Jesus' deeds and words constituted a "sign of contradiction", but more so for the religious authorities in Jerusalem, whom the…”
Read the Fathers
“Lay up treasure, therefore, in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt.”
Quoted in First Apology, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 155), Chapter XV. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 368 “The spiritual tradition of the Church also emphasizes the heart, in the biblical sense of the depths of one's being, where the…”
- CCC 2604 “The second prayer, before the raising of Lazarus, is recorded by St. John. Thanksgiving precedes the event: "Father, I thank you for…”
- CCC 2608 “From the Sermon on the Mount onwards, Jesus insists on conversion of heart: reconciliation with one's brother before presenting an offering on…”
- CCC 2729 “The habitual difficulty in prayer is distraction. It can affect words and their meaning in vocal prayer; it can concern, more profoundly,…”
- CCC 2848 “Lead us not into temptation" implies a decision of the heart: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also....…”
Read the Fathers
“And let your good works shine before men, that they, seeing them, may glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Quoted in First Apology, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 155), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 1753 “A good intention (for example, that of helping one's neighbor) does not make behavior that is intrinsically disordered, such as lying and…”
- CCC 2113 “Idolatry not only refers to false pagan worship. It remains a constant temptation to faith. Idolatry consists in divinizing what is not…”
- CCC 2424 “A theory that makes profit the exclusive norm and ultimate end of economic activity is morally unacceptable. the disordered desire for money…”
- CCC 2729 “The habitual difficulty in prayer is distraction. It can affect words and their meaning in vocal prayer; it can concern, more profoundly,…”
- CCC 2821 “This petition is taken up and granted in the prayer of Jesus which is present and effective in the Eucharist; it bears…”
- CCC 2848 “Lead us not into temptation" implies a decision of the heart: "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also....…”
“In like manner also, that [text] which says, "Ye cannot serve two masters,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2547 “The Lord grieves over the rich, because they find their consolation in the abundance of goods. "Let the proud seek and love…”
- CCC 2608 “From the Sermon on the Mount onwards, Jesus insists on conversion of heart: reconciliation with one's brother before presenting an offering on…”
- CCC 2830 “Our bread": the Father who gives us life cannot not but give us the nourishment life requires - all appropriate goods and…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 2416 “Animals are God's creatures. He surrounds them with his providential care. By their mere existence they bless him and give him glory.…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 305 “Jesus asks for childlike abandonment to the providence of our heavenly Father who takes care of his children's smallest needs: "Therefore do…”
Read the Catechism
Read the Catechism
- CCC 305 “Jesus asks for childlike abandonment to the providence of our heavenly Father who takes care of his children's smallest needs: "Therefore do…”
- CCC 1942 “The virtue of solidarity goes beyond material goods. In spreading the spiritual goods of the faith, the Church has promoted, and often…”
- CCC 2604 “The second prayer, before the raising of Lazarus, is recorded by St. John. Thanksgiving precedes the event: "Father, I thank you for…”
- CCC 2608 “From the Sermon on the Mount onwards, Jesus insists on conversion of heart: reconciliation with one's brother before presenting an offering on…”
- CCC 2632 “Christian petition is centered on the desire and search for the Kingdom to come, in keeping with the teaching of Christ. There…”
- Matthew 6:41 in modern Bibles
Read the Fathers
“And let your good works shine before men, that they, seeing them, may glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Quoted in First Apology, St. Justin Martyr (c. AD 155), Chapter XVI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
A modern English Catholic translation will be added once its publisher grants permission.