Bible In Poetry: Gospel Of St. Matthew (Chapter 6) Poem by Dr John Celes

‘Let righteous deeds be performed then,
Such that the people don’t see them;
For, otherwise, you can’t expect
Reward from your heavenly Father! ’

‘When you give alms, give quietly;
Don’t like hypocrites blow trumpet,
In synagogues and in the streets
To win the praise of all others.’

‘When you give alms, let your left hand
Not know what your right is doing;
Let it be secret alms-giving,
So that, your Father repays you.’

‘Don’t pray like hypocrites who stand
In synagogues and street-corners,
And pray so that others can see.’
‘They have had their reward, ’ I say.

‘Go to your inner room to pray,
And close the door and in secret,
Ask your Father all that you want.
Your Father then will repay you! ’

‘Don’t babble like how pagans do,
Who think their prayers will be heard
Because they have so many words.
Your Father knows before you ask.’

Then, this is how you are to pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be your name;
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done on earth,
As it is in heaven.’

‘Give us today our bread;
Forgive our debts,
As we forgive our debtors;
Don’t bring us to the final test;
Deliver us from evil One! ’

‘Forgive transgressions of others;
Then forgive you, will your Father;
If you don’t forgive your brothers,
Neither will He, you, your Father.’

‘Don’t gloomy be, whenev’r you fast;
Your face shouldn’t show that you’re downcast;
The hypocrites reveal their fast;
Amen, I say, they’ve got reward.
Whenev’r you fast, anoint your head,
And wash your face to appear fresh;
Your Father alone should know it;
He’ll repay in a manner fit.’

‘Don’t store for yourself earth’s treasures,
Where moth-destroyed and decay sets,
And thieves break in to steal them off;
Store up your treasures in heaven,
Where moth or decay don’t destroy,
And thieves don’t break in to steal them.
For, where your treasures tends to lie,
Your heart will tend to stay near-by! ’

‘The eye serves as the body’s lamp;
If eye be sound, body has light;
If eye is bad, body has night;
If body’s light in darkness stays,
How much more darkness, one will face? ’

‘Know that one can’t serve two masters;
He’ll hate the one and love the next,
Or be devoted just to one.’
‘You can’t serve God and too mammon.’

‘Is life not more than food and drink?
Isn’t body more than just clothing? ’

‘Look at the birds of sky so blue;
They neither sow nor do they reap;
They gather nothing into barns;
Yet, your heav’nly Father feeds them! ’
Aren’t you more important than they? ’

‘Can one of you by worrying add
A single moment to life-span?
Why are you anxious of your clothes?
Learn from the flowers wild to grow;
They neither work nor do they spin;
I tell you, not ev’n Solomon
Was in his splendor, clothed alike,
The gorgeous flowers in the wild.’

‘If God so clothes the grass of fields,
Which grow to be thrown in fire,
Will He not provide more for you,
O you, of little faith. have you? ’

‘So, do not worry what to eat?
And do not worry what to drink?
And do not worry what to wear?
All such things, pagans also seek.
Your heav’nly Father knows your need.’

‘So, seek the kingdom of God first,
And seek His righteousness and love;
All things will be given besides.’

‘Do not worry about morrow;
Tomorrow takes care of itself;
Each day has share of own evil! ’

Copyright by Dr John Celes 5-29-2007