Matthew 6:1-15 : Easy-to-Read Version
Jesus Teaches About Giving
6 1"Be careful! When you do good things, don't do those things in front of people. Don't do those things for people to see you. If you do that, then you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2"When you give to poor people, don't announce that you are giving. Don't do like the hypocrites* do. They blow trumpets before they give so that people will see them. They do that in the synagogues* and on the streets. They want other people to give honor to them. 3So when you give to poor people, give very secretly. Don't let any person know what you are doing. 4Your giving should be done in secret. Your Father can see the things that are done in secret. And he will reward you.
Jesus Teaches About Prayer (Lk. 11:2-4)
5"When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites.* The hypocrites love to stand in the synagogues* and on the street corners and pray loudly. They want people to see them pray. I tell you the truth. They already have their full reward. 6When you pray, you should go into your room and close the door. Then pray to your Father. He is there in that secret place. Your Father can see the things that are done in secret. And he will reward you. 7"And when you pray, don't be like those people that don't know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing. Don't pray like that. They think that God will hear them because of the many things they say. 8Don't be like those people. Your Father knows the things you need before you ask him. 9So when you pray, you should pray like this: 'Our Father in heaven, we pray that your name will always be kept holy. 10We pray that your kingdom will come, and that the things you want will be done here on earth, the same as in heaven. 11Give us the food we need for each day. 12Forgive the sins we have done, the same as we have forgiven the people that did wrong to us. 13Don't let us be tempted (tested); but save us from the Evil One (the devil).'* 14Yes, if you forgive other people for the things they do wrong, then your Father in heaven will also forgive you for the things you do wrong. 15But if you don't forgive the wrong things people do to you, then your Father in heaven will not forgive the wrong things you do.
hypocrites Bad people that act like they are good. synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings. Verse 13 Some Greek copies add: "For the kingdom and the power and the glory belong to you forever and ever. Amen."