Matthew 6

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is…” Naming Father and Take keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:” The line’s distinctive content terms include hand, alms, doest. Its relationship to verses 2 and 4 shows what work it does in this passage.

“That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and…” Naming Verily keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Naming Father keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Naming Father and Hallowed keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Give us this day our daily bread.” Naming Give keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” The line’s distinctive content terms include forgive, debtors, debts. Its relationship to verses 11 and 13 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for…” Naming Amen keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Naming Father keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may…” Naming Moreover and Verily keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;” The line’s distinctive content terms include anoint, face, fastest. Its relationship to verses 16 and 18 shows what work it does in this passage.

“That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and…” Naming Lay keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not…” The line’s distinctive content terms include break, corrupt, heaven. Its relationship to verses 19 and 21 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these…” Naming Father and Gentiles keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.