Take heed that you do not give to the poor in the presence of men, to be seen by them; otherwise you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.
2 Therefore when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may have admiration from men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
3 But when you give, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 That your giving may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret, will himself reward you openly.
5 And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites are; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
6 But when you pray, enter into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.
8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you need, even before you ask him.
9 [The Lord's Prayer has been repeated many, many times. But the real meaning has been hidden from most over the centuries. For that reason, a short explanation is added for each verse. Bracketed text is commentary or clarification.]
Therefore pray after this manner: Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed is your name. [Holy is your name.]
10 Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. [We wait on the revealing of your kingdom, which is within and around us, which does not come with visible or outward signs, to which we aspire to be translated while still on earth; so that your will may be done by us (with your thoughts, words, and deeds prompted by you to us) on the earth, just as your will is done by those in heaven. For when we are in your kingdom, we will hear you tell us what to say, judge as you tell us to judge, and do what you show us to do — as your beloved son Jesus did your will when he was on the earth.]
11 Give us this day our daily bread. [Jesus said: Do not labor for food which perishes, but for the food, which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give to you. I am the bread of life, the bread from heaven. For it is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63. Your daily bread is to quietly listen and hear the Lord speak words to you with encouragement, teachings, convictions, and commands. Blessed are those who hear the word of God [within your heart] and keep [obey] it. Luke 11:28. You must listen - hear, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21. All your holy ones are in your power. And they sit at your feet, each receiving your words. Deu 33:3]
12 And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.1 [Unless you give up anger, hate, and resentment, you will not be forgiven. If you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Forgiveness is more than with the mouth.]
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.2 For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. [Temptation: God will never allow a temptation to come on us, greater than we are capable of withstanding; but he definitely allows temptations to come our way so that we either grow stronger in resisting them, or in falling to them suffer the pain of sin, to motivate our improvement. Evil: The evil this prayer references is the evil in every man's heart, his own: selfishness, pride, covetousness, profane thoughts and words, lusts, sexual immorality, anger, greed, lying, cheating, drunkenness, stealing, etc. Jesus is the savior, the deliverer, the redeemer - who destroys the sin and evil in your heart, which has defiled you. Jesus, with your persistence to the end, will deliver you from the power of darkness, and will translate you into his kingdom while you are still on earth, Col 1:13, John 14:3,17:24 Eph 2:5-6.]
