Matthew – Chapter 6

New Testament34 Verses

Chapter Summary

Chapter 6 of Matthew begins: "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…" Solomon stands at the center of this chapter. Across its 34 verses, two threads run through the text: family and covenant relationships and prayer. Read slowly, this chapter rewards the kind of prayerful attention the Church calls lectio divina.

1Take 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.

2Therefore 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.

3But when thou dost alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth.

4That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

5And 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.

6But 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.

7And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard.

8Be not you therefore like to them for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him.

9Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.

12And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

13And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen.

14For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences.

15But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.

16And 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.

17But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face;

18That 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.

19Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through, and steal.

20But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal.

21For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also.

22The light of thy body is thy eye. If thy eye be single, thy whole body shall be lightsome.

23But 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!

24No 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.

25Therefore 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?

26Behold 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?

27And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit?

28And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin.

29But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.

30And 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?

31Be not solicitous therefore, saying: What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed?

32For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things.

33Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.

34Be not therefore solicitous for to morrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.

Important Verses in Matthew 6

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.

Matthew 6:1

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.

Matthew 6:24

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?

Matthew 6:30

Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you.

Matthew 6:33

Historical Context

Matthew belongs to the New Testament and was composed for jewish Christians, shown that Jesus fulfills the Scriptures of Israel. Chapter 6 of 28 belongs to the early movement of the book, where the narrative or argument is still unfolding. It is a narrative passage recounting concrete events in salvation history with 34 verses in the Douay-Rheims translation. Historical attention falls on Solomon, the principal figures named in this chapter. The chapter begins: "Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your…" It concludes: "Be not therefore solicitous for to morrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the…" Read against its original backdrop, Matthew wrote for Jewish Christians, presenting Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets—the Son of David, the new Moses who delivers the Sermon on the Mount. Scholarly and ecclesial tradition places the composition of Matthew around About AD 70-85; early tradition places a first version among Jewish Christians.

Who Wrote It

The Apostle Matthew (Levi), the former tax collector, according to unanimous early tradition

When It Was Written

About AD 70-85; early tradition places a first version among Jewish Christians

Catholic Commentary

Read at the narrative level, this chapter describes real persons, decisions, and consequences within Jesus as the fulfillment of Jewish hopes. A pivotal line is verse 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." The passage repeatedly touches on family and covenant relationships.

The Church teaches that every passage of Scripture must be read in light of Christ and the Magisterium (CIC 721). Here, Matthew shows Christ as the new Moses and true Israel (CIC 577). The spiritual sense invites believers to recognize family and covenant relationships as part of God's pedagogy of salvation.

Applied to the life of faith, the passage supports the Church's conviction that All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Whether read privately or heard in the liturgy, Matthew 6 calls for a response of faith, repentance, and charity.

Main Teachings

  • The family is the first school of faith, where love, obedience, and forgiveness are learned.
  • God invites His people to approach Him confidently in prayer, trusting that He hears and answers.
  • God's mercy is greater than any sin; He calls us to receive His forgiveness and extend it to others.

People in This Chapter

Solomon1 mention

Reflection for Today

Sacred Scripture presents Matthew Chapter 6 as a unique stage in salvation history, not merely as background to other books.

St. Leo the Great and other Fathers of the Church meditated on texts like this one, seeing in them instruction for the spiritual life. Matthew shows Christ as the new Moses and true Israel (CIC 577). The passage calls believers to grasp that All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Consider praying with this chapter again at day's end, offering God gratitude for one insight received. The Church encourages daily contact with Scripture (CIC 2340) so that Christ's mind may be formed in us.

💡Catholic Reflection • Church Teachings

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Matthew Chapter 6 about?

Matthew 6 contains 34 verses. It opens with "Take heed that you do not your justice before men, to be seen by them: otherwise you shall not have a reward of your…" and closes with "Be not therefore solicitous for to morrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the…". The book as a whole is gospel.

What is a key verse in Matthew 6?

One of the most significant verses is verse 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." It is often cited in Catholic teaching and preaching.

Who appears in Matthew Chapter 6?

This chapter mentions Solomon.

Who wrote Matthew and when?

The Apostle Matthew (Levi), the former tax collector, according to unanimous early tradition. About AD 70-85; early tradition places a first version among Jewish Christians.

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