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Lent · Ash Wednesday · Year A

Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Giving to the Needy

February 18, 2026

A Hermit Praying, Gerrit Dou
A Hermit Praying, Gerrit Dou, c. 1670Minneapolis Institute of Art
A man alone in a ruin with the book open in front of him and the beads in his hands, and nobody within sight of him.Whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.Gerrit DouDou, who painted small and close, so that the whole picture is one man and the little light he has.Minneapolis Institute of ArtThe Minneapolis Institute of Art.Minneapolis Institute of Art
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 6:1-6, 16-21Mt 6:1-6, 16-21
Epistle2 Cor. 5:20b-6:102 Cor 5:20b-6:10
Old TestamentJoel 2:12-19Jl 2:12-19
PsalterPs. 51:1-13 (14-19)Ps 51:1-13 (14-19)

Overview & Insights

“Your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:4)

Jesus expects his disciples to practice a covenantal piety that centers on a longing for God’s kingdom to arrive and strives to please God, not humans.

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Take it further: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21Commentary on Mt 6:1-6, 16-21 Working Preacher

This is the exact Ash Wednesday gospel in the RCL, so the Luther Seminary commentary speaks straight to piety practiced in secret.

An Ash Wednesday Meditation SALT Project

SALT's ecumenical meditation frames almsgiving, prayer, and fasting as treasure stored in heaven rather than performed for show.

Ash Wednesday Sunday Connection Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

Catholic background and reflection questions for beginning Lent with the treasures-of-the-heart gospel.

Ash / Dust, Ash Wednesday Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church

An Episcopal preaching resource on mortality and repentance keyed to the Ash Wednesday texts.

Matthew 6 Commentary: Doing Good to Please GodMt 6 Commentary: Doing Good to Please God Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik works verse by verse through giving, prayer, and fasting done for God rather than for reputation.

Matthew 6:1-4 CommentaryMt 6:1-4 Commentary Precept Austin

A verse-by-verse study hub gathering word notes, quotes, and cross references on secret almsgiving.

Matthew 6:1 CommentariesMt 6:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators (Ellicott, Barnes, Meyer, Pulpit) stacked verse by verse for comparison.

Background & Word Study

Will This Be on the Test? Left Behind and Loving It

D. Mark Davis parses the Greek of the Sermon on the Mount's piety sayings clause by clause.

What is the connection between prayer and fasting? Psephizo · Ian Paul

Ian Paul's Anglican study of how fasting and prayer belong together in Jesus' teaching.

Matthew and WorkMt and Work Theology of Work

Background on Matthew's ethics of hidden generosity and where treasure is truly stored.

The Church Fathers

Matthew 6 - Catena Bible & CommentariesMt 6 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment gathered verse by verse from Augustine, Chrysostom, and other early voices.

Sermons & Reflections

Wednesday's Ashes Journey with Jesus

A literary lectionary essay on ashes, mortality, and the turn of the heart at the start of Lent.

Worship & Prayers

Ash Wednesday, Year B: Lectionary Planning Notes UMC Discipleship

United Methodist worship planning helps, prayers, and hymn suggestions for the whole liturgy.

Podcast

#1069: Ash Wednesday - February 18, 2026 Working Preacher (Sermon Brainwave)

Luther Seminary’s homiletics roundtable on this Sunday’s appointed texts, including Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21.

Art & Music

Art in the Christian Tradition Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt's image library gathers paintings and artwork for the Ash Wednesday readings.

Study Hub

The Text This Week: Ash Wednesday Textweek

A one-stop index linking commentaries, art, and sermons across the Ash Wednesday texts.

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