Lent · Year B
Ash Wednesday
February 10, 2027
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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Commentary
Commentary on Matthew 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 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 Commentary Precept Austin
A verse-by-verse study hub gathering word notes, quotes, and cross references on secret almsgiving.
Matthew 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 Work Theology of Work
Background on Matthew's ethics of hidden generosity and where treasure is truly stored.
The Church Fathers
Sermons & Reflections
Questions preachers ask
Why is Matthew 6 the Ash Wednesday Gospel?
Jesus teaches that giving, prayer, and fasting be done in secret before the Father, and that treasure be laid up in heaven, setting the tone for Lent.
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