Elberfelder Bible - unrevised version (ca. 1900)

1Habet achtG4337, daß ihr euerG5216 AlmosenG1654 nichtG3361 gebetG4160 vorG1715 den MenschenG444, um von ihnenG846 gesehenG4314 G2300 zu werden; wenn aber nichtG1490, so habtG2192 ihr keinenG3756 LohnG3408 beiG3844 euremG5216 VaterG3962, derG3588 inG1722 den HimmelnG3772 ist. 2WennG3752 du nunG3767 AlmosenG1654 gibstG4160, sollstG4537 du nichtG3361 vorG1715 dirG4675 her posaunenG4537 lassen, wieG5618 die HeuchlerG5273 tunG4160 inG1722 den SynagogenG4864 undG2532 aufG1722 den StraßenG4505, damitG3704 sie vonG5259 den MenschenG444 geehrtG1392 werden. WahrlichG281, ich sageG3004 euchG5213, sie habenG568 ihrenG846 LohnG3408 dahinG568. 3DuG4675 aberG1161, wenn du AlmosenG1654 gibstG4160, so laßG1097 deineG4675 LinkeG710 nichtG3361 wissenG1097, wasG5101 deineG4675 RechteG1188 tutG4160; 4damitG3704 deinG4675 AlmosenG1654 imG1722 VerborgenenG2927 seiG5600, undG2532 deinG4675 VaterG3962, derG3588 imG1722 VerborgenenG2927 siehtG991, wirdG846 dirG4671 vergeltenG591 G1722 G5318. 5UndG2532 wennG3752 du betestG4336, sollstG2071 du nichtG3756 seinG2071 wieG5618 die HeuchlerG5273; dennG3754 sie liebenG5368 es, inG1722 den SynagogenG4864 undG2532 anG1722 den EckenG1137 der StraßenG4113 stehendG2476 zu betenG4336, damitG3704 sie von den MenschenG444 gesehenG5316 werdenG302. WahrlichG281, ich sageG3004 euchG5213 ,G3754 sie habenG568 ihrenG846 LohnG3408 dahinG568. 6DuG4771 aberG1161, wennG3752 du betestG4336, so geheG1525 inG1519 deineG4675 KammerG5009 undG2532, nachdem du deineG4675 TürG2374 geschlossenG2808 hast, beteG4336 zu deinemG4675 VaterG3962, derG3588 im VerborgenenG2927 ist, undG2532 deinG4675 VaterG3962, derG3588 imG1722 VerborgenenG2927 siehtG991, wird dirG4671 vergeltenG591 G1722 G5318. 7Wenn ihr aberG1161 betetG4336, solltG945 ihr nichtG3361 plappernG945 wieG5618 die von den NationenG1482; dennG1063 sie meinenG1380, daßG3754 sie umG1722 ihresG846 vielen RedensG4180 willen werden erhörtG1522 werden. 8SeidG3666 ihnenG846 nunG3767 nichtG3361 gleichG3666; dennG1063 euerG5216 VaterG3962 weißG1492, wasG3739 ihr bedürfetG2192 G5532, eheG4253 ihrG5209 ihnG846 bittetG154. 9BetetG4336 ihrG5210 nunG3767 alsoG3779: UnserG2257 VaterG3962, derG3588 du bist inG1722 den HimmelnG3772, geheiligtG37 werde deinG4675 NameG3686; 10deinG4675 ReichG932 kommeG2064; deinG4675 WilleG2307 gescheheG1096, wieG2532 G5613 imG1722 HimmelG3772 also auch aufG1909 ErdenG1093. 11UnserG2257 nötigesG1967 BrotG740 gibG1325 unsG2254 heuteG4594; 12undG2532 vergibG863 unsG2254 unsereG2257 SchuldenG3783, wieG2532 G5613 auch wirG2249 unserenG2257 SchuldnernG3781 vergebenG863; 13undG2532 führeG1533 unsG2248 nichtG3361 inG1519 VersuchungG3986, sondernG235 erretteG4506 unsG2248 vonG575 dem BösenG4190. - 14DennG1063 wennG1437 ihr den MenschenG444 ihreG846 VergehungenG3900 vergebetG863, so wird euerG5216 himmlischerG3770 VaterG3962 auchG2532 euchG5213 vergebenG863; 15wennG3362 ihr aberG1161 den MenschenG444 ihreG846 VergehungenG3900 nichtG3362 vergebetG863, so wird euerG5216 VaterG3962 auch eureG5216 VergehungenG3900 nichtG3761 vergebenG863. 16WennG3752 ihr aberG1161 fastetG3522, so sehetG1096 nichtG3361 düsterG4659 aus wieG5618 die HeuchlerG5273; dennG1063 sie verstellenG853 ihreG846 AngesichterG4383, damitG3704 sie den MenschenG444 als FastendeG3522 erscheinenG5316. WahrlichG281, ich sageG3004 euchG5213 ,G3754 sie habenG568 ihrenG846 LohnG3408 dahinG568. 17DuG4771 aberG1161, wenn du fastestG3522, so salbeG218 deinG4675 HauptG2776 undG2532 wascheG3538 deinG4675 AngesichtG4383, 18damitG3704 du nichtG3361 den MenschenG444 als ein FastenderG3522 erscheinestG5316, sondernG235 deinemG4675 VaterG3962, derG3588 imG1722 VerborgenenG2927 ist; undG2532 deinG4675 VaterG3962, derG3588 imG1722 VerborgenenG2927 siehtG991, wird dirG4671 vergeltenG591 G1722 G5318. 19SammeltG2343 euchG5213 nichtG3361 SchätzeG2344 aufG1909 der ErdeG1093, woG3699 MotteG4597 undG2532 RostG1035 zerstörtG853, undG2532 woG3699 DiebeG2812 durchgrabenG1358 undG2532 stehlenG2813; 20sammeltG2343 euchG5213 aberG1161 SchätzeG2344 imG1722 HimmelG3772, woG3699 wederG3777 MotteG4597 nochG3777 RostG1035 zerstörtG853, undG2532 woG3699 DiebeG2812 nichtG3756 durchgrabenG1358 nochG3761 stehlenG2813; 21dennG1063 woG3699 deinG5216 SchatzG2344 istG2076, daG1563 wirdG2071 auchG2532 deinG5216 HerzG2588 seinG2071. 22Die LampeG3088 des LeibesG4983 istG2076 das AugeG3788; wennG1437 nunG3767 deinG4675 AugeG3788 einfältigG573 istG5600, so wird deinG4675 ganzerG3650 LeibG4983 lichtG5460 seinG2071; 23wennG1437 aberG1161 deinG4675 AugeG3788 böseG4190 istG5600, so wird deinG4675 ganzerG3650 LeibG4983 finsterG4652 seinG2071. WennG1487 nunG3767 das LichtG5457, das inG1722 dirG4671 istG2076, FinsternisG4655 ist, wie großG4214 die FinsternisG4655! 24NiemandG3762 kannG1410 zweiG1417 HerrenG2962 dienenG1398; dennG1063 entwederG2228 wirdG3404 er den einenG1520 hassenG3404 undG2532 den anderenG2087 liebenG25, oderG2228 er wird einemG1520 anhangenG472 undG2532 den anderenG2087 verachtenG2706. Ihr könnetG1410 nichtG3756 GottG2316 dienenG1398 undG2532 dem MammonG3126. 25DeshalbG1223 G5124 sageG3004 ich euchG5213: Seid nichtG3361 besorgtG3309 für euerG5216 LebenG5590, wasG5101 ihr essenG5315 undG2532 wasG5101 ihr trinkenG4095 sollt, noch fürG3366 eurenG5216 LeibG4983, wasG5101 ihr anziehenG1746 sollt. IstG2076 nichtG3780 das LebenG5590 mehrG4119 als die SpeiseG5160, undG2532 der LeibG4983 mehr als die KleidungG1742 ? 26SehetG1689 hinG1519 auf die VögelG4071 des HimmelsG3772, daßG3754 sie nichtG3756 säenG4687 nochG3761 erntenG2325, nochG3761 inG1519 ScheunenG596 sammelnG4863, undG2532 euerG5216 himmlischerG3770 VaterG3962 ernährtG5142 sieG846. SeidG1308 ihrG5210 nichtG3756 vielG3123 vorzüglicher alsG1308 sieG846 ? 27WerG1537 G5101 aberG1161 unter euchG5216 vermagG1410 mit SorgenG3309 seinerG1909 G846 GrößeG2244 eineG1520 ElleG4083 zuzusetzenG4369 ? 28UndG2532 warumG5101 seid ihr umG4012 KleidungG1742 besorgtG3309 ? BetrachtetG2648 die LilienG2918 des FeldesG68, wieG4459 sie wachsenG837: sie mühenG2872 sich nichtG3756, auchG3761 spinnenG3514 sie nichtG3761. 29Ich sageG3004 euchG5213 aberG1161, daßG3754 selbstG3761 nichtG3761 SalomonG4672 inG1722 allG3956 seinerG846 HerrlichkeitG1391 bekleidetG4016 war wieG5613 eineG1520 von diesenG5130. 30WennG1487 aberG1161 GottG2316 das GrasG5528 des FeldesG68, das heuteG4594 istG5607 undG2532 morgenG839 inG1519 den OfenG2823 geworfenG906 wird, alsoG3779 kleidetG294, nichtG3756 vielmehrG4183 G3123 euchG5209, KleingläubigeG3640 ? 31So seid nunG3767 nichtG3361 besorgtG3309, indem ihr sagetG3004: wasG5101 sollen wir essenG5315 ? oderG2228: wasG5101 sollen wir trinkenG4095 ? oderG2228: wasG5101 sollen wir anziehenG4016 ? 32dennG1063 nachG1934 allemG3956 diesemG5023 trachtenG1934 die NationenG1484; dennG1063 euerG5216 himmlischerG3770 VaterG3962 weißG1492, daßG3754 ihr diesG5130 allesG537 bedürfetG5535. 33TrachtetG2212 aberG1161 zuerstG4412 nach dem ReicheG932 GottesG2316 undG2532 nach seinerG846 GerechtigkeitG1343, undG2532 diesG5023 allesG3956 wirdG4369 euchG5213 hinzugefügtG4369 werden. 34So seid nunG3767 nichtG3361 besorgtG3309 aufG1519 den morgenden TagG839, dennG1063 der morgende Tag wird fürG3588 sich selbstG1438 sorgenG3309. Jeder TagG2250 hat an seinemG846 ÜbelG2549 genugG713.  


Matthew Henry - Concise Commentary
 1   Our Lord next warned against hypocrisy and outward show in religious duties. What we do, must be done from an inward principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be praised of men. In these verses we are cautioned against hypocrisy in giving alms. Take heed of it. It is a subtle sin; and vain-glory creeps into what we do, before we are aware. But the duty is not the less necessary and excellent for being abused by hypocrites to serve their pride. The doom Christ passes, at first may seem a promise, but it is their reward; not the reward God promises to those who do good, but the reward hypocrites promise themselves, and a poor reward it is; they did it to be seen of men, and they are seen of men. When we take least notice of our good deeds ourselves, God takes most notice of them. He will reward thee; not as a master who gives his servant what he earns, and no more, but as a Father who gives abundantly to his son that serves him.

 5   It is taken for granted that all who are disciples of Christ pray. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. If prayerless, then graceless. The Scribes and Pharisees were guilty of two great faults in prayer, vain-glory and vain repetitions. Verily they have their reward; if in so great a matter as is between us and God, when we are at prayer, we can look to so poor a thing as the praise of men, it is just that it should be all our reward. Yet there is not a secret, sudden breathing after God, but he observes it. It is called a reward, but it is of grace, not of debt; what merit can there be in begging? If he does not give his people what they ask, it is because he knows they do not need it, and that it is not for their good. So far is God from being wrought upon by the length or words of our prayers, that the most powerful intercessions are those which are made with groanings that cannot be uttered. Let us well study what is shown of the frame of mind in which our prayers should be offered, and learn daily from Christ how to pray.

 9   Christ saw it needful to show his disciples what must commonly be the matter and method of their prayer. Not that we are tied up to the use of this only, or of this always; yet, without doubt, it is very good to use it. It has much in a little; and it is used acceptably no further than it is used with understanding, and without being needlessly repeated. The petitions are six; the first three relate more expressly to God and his honour, the last three to our own concerns, both temporal and spiritual. This prayer teaches us to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and that all other things shall be added. After the things of God's glory, kingdom, and will, we pray for the needful supports and comforts of this present life. Every word here has a lesson in it. We ask for bread; that teaches us sobriety and temperance: and we ask only for bread; not for what we do not need. We ask for our bread; that teaches us honesty and industry: we do not ask for the bread of others, nor the bread of deceit, Prov 20:17; nor the bread of idleness, Prov 31:27, but the bread honestly gotten. We ask for our daily bread; which teaches us constantly to depend upon Divine Providence. We beg of God to give it us; not sell it us, nor lend it us, but give it. The greatest of men must be beholden to the mercy of God for their daily bread. We pray, Give it to us. This teaches us a compassion for the poor. Also that we ought to pray with our families. We pray that God would give it us this day; which teaches us to renew the desires of our souls toward God, as the wants of our bodies are renewed. As the day comes we must pray to our heavenly Father, and reckon we could as well go a day without food, as without prayer. We are taught to hate and dread sin while we hope for mercy, to distrust ourselves, to rely on the providence and grace of God to keep us from it, to be prepared to resist the tempter, and not to become tempters of others. Here is a promise, If you forgive, your heavenly Father will also forgive. We must forgive, as we hope to be forgiven. Those who desire to find mercy with God, must show mercy to their brethren. Christ came into the world as the great Peace-maker, not only to reconcile us to God, but one to another.

 16   Religious fasting is a duty required of the disciples of Christ, but it is not so much a duty itself, as a means to dispose us for other duties. Fasting is the humbling of the soul, Pss 35:13; that is the inside of the duty; let that, therefore, be thy principal care, and as to the outside of it, covet not to let it be seen. God sees in secret, and will reward openly.

 19   Worldly-mindedness is a common and fatal symptom of hypocrisy, for by no sin can Satan have a surer and faster hold of the soul, under the cloak of a profession of religion. Something the soul will have, which it looks upon as the best thing; in which it has pleasure and confidence above other things. Christ counsels to make our best things the joys and glories of the other world, those things not seen which are eternal, and to place our happiness in them. There are treasures in heaven. It is our wisdom to give all diligence to make our title to eternal life sure through Jesus Christ, and to look on all things here below, as not worthy to be compared with it, and to be content with nothing short of it. It is happiness above and beyond the changes and chances of time, an inheritance incorruptible. The worldly man is wrong in his first principle; therefore all his reasonings and actions therefrom must be wrong. It is equally to be applied to false religion; that which is deemed light is thick darkness. This is an awful, but a common case; we should therefore carefully examine our leading principles by the word of God, with earnest prayer for the teaching of his Spirit. A man may do some service to two masters, but he can devote himself to the service of no more than one. God requires the whole heart, and will not share it with the world. When two masters oppose each other, no man can serve both. He who holds to the world and loves it, must despise God; he who loves God, must give up the friendship of the world.

 25   There is scarcely any sin against which our Lord Jesus more warns his disciples, than disquieting, distracting, distrustful cares about the things of this life. This often insnares the poor as much as the love of wealth does the rich. But there is a carefulness about temporal things which is a duty, though we must not carry these lawful cares too far. Take no thought for your life. Not about the length of it; but refer it to God to lengthen or shorten it as he pleases; our times are in his hand, and they are in a good hand. Not about the comforts of this life; but leave it to God to make it bitter or sweet as he pleases. Food and raiment God has promised, therefore we may expect them. Take no thought for the morrow, for the time to come. Be not anxious for the future, how you shall live next year, or when you are old, or what you shall leave behind you. As we must not boast of tomorrow, so we must not care for to-morrow, or the events of it. God has given us life, and has given us the body. And what can he not do for us, who did that? If we take care about our souls and for eternity, which are more than the body and its life, we may leave it to God to provide for us food and raiment, which are less. Improve this as an encouragement to trust in God. We must reconcile ourselves to our worldly estate, as we do to our stature. We cannot alter the disposals of Providence, therefore we must submit and resign ourselves to them. Thoughtfulness for our souls is the best cure of thoughtfulness for the world. Seek first the kingdom of God, and make religion your business: say not that this is the way to starve; no, it is the way to be well provided for, even in this world. The conclusion of the whole matter is, that it is the will and command of the Lord Jesus, that by daily prayers we may get strength to bear us up under our daily troubles, and to arm us against the temptations that attend them, and then let none of these things move us. Happy are those who take the Lord for their God, and make full proof of it by trusting themselves wholly to his wise disposal. Let thy Spirit convince us of sin in the want of this disposition, and take away the worldliness of our hearts.