1 Take heed that ye do not your akns before men to be seen of thern ; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is iu heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine ahns, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the Bvnagogues and m the streets, tliat they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
3 But when thou doest ahns, let not thy left hand know what thy right h'and doeth :
4 That thine alms may be in secret : and thy Father which seeth iu secret himself shall reward thee openly.
5 And when thou prayest, thou Shalt not be as the hypocrites are : for
they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets," that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is iu secret ; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do : for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
8 Be not ye therefore like unto them : for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
In this part of the sermon on the mount the Lord Jesus gives us instruction on two subjects. One is that of giving alms. The other is that of prayer. Both were subjects to which the Jews attached great importance.