3 Nephi 13

Chapter Overview

What happens in 3 Nephi 13

Continuing His sermon, Christ teaches about sincere worship -- giving alms, praying, and fasting in secret rather than for public approval. He delivers the Lord's Prayer and teaches the Nephites to lay up treasures in heaven and to trust in God's providential care.

Scripture

Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting in secret

Study note

Christ warns against performing righteous acts to be seen by others. True almsgiving, prayer, and fasting are done in secret, seen only by the Father who rewards openly. This teaching strikes at the heart of religious hypocrisy, redirecting worship from performance to sincerity.

1 Verily, verily, I say that I would that ye should do alms unto the poor; but take heed that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them; otherwise ye have no reward of your Father who is in heaven.

2 Therefore, when ye shall do your alms do not sound a trumpet before you, as will hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth;

4 That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.

5 And when thou prayest thou shalt not do as the hypocrites, for they love to pray, standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

8 Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.

The Lord's Prayer

Study note

Jesus teaches the people to pray with a pattern that acknowledges God's holiness, submits to His will, asks for daily provision, seeks forgiveness, and pleads for deliverance from evil. The Lord's Prayer, given now to the Nephites as it was in Galilee, reveals the universal pattern for approaching the Father.

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

10 Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

12 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

13 For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

14 For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you;

15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Fasting and treasures in heaven

Study note

Jesus teaches that fasting should be sincere before God, not a public performance. He then redirects the people from earthly accumulation to heavenly treasure, where the heart is anchored. His warning is clear: disciples cannot serve both God and wealth.

16 Moreover, when ye fast be not as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance, for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward.

17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face;

18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father, who is in secret; and thy Father, who seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;

20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

22 The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 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 and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and Mammon.

Trust in God's providence and seek first His kingdom

Study note

In some of the most comforting words in scripture, Christ tells the people not to worry about food, drink, or clothing. He points to the lilies of the field and the birds of the air as evidence of the Father's care. The instruction to 'seek ye first the kingdom of God' is given as the antidote to anxiety, with the promise that all needful things will be added.

25 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he looked upon the twelve whom he had chosen, and said unto them: Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people. Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin;

29 And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, even so will he clothe you, if ye are not of little faith.

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof.

Key Themes

Themes in 3 Nephi 13

Sincerity in worship over public performanceThe Lord's Prayer as a model for communion with GodHeavenly treasures over earthly wealthFreedom from anxiety through trust in GodSeeking first the kingdom of GodSingle-mindedness in devotion

Prophetic Connections

How this chapter points to Christ

3 Nephi 13:1-4 Matthew 6:1-4

The teaching on secret almsgiving is nearly identical to Matthew's account of the Sermon on the Mount.

3 Nephi 13:9-13 Matthew 6:9-13

The Lord's Prayer is given in the same form as in Matthew, establishing it as the universal pattern of prayer.

3 Nephi 13:25-34 Matthew 6:25-34

The teaching about lilies, sparrows, and not worrying parallels Matthew's account verbatim, with Christ's tender assurance of the Father's care.

3 Nephi 13:5-8 Matthew 6:5-8

Christ teaches that prayer should be offered in private sincerity rather than public display, using the same language found in Matthew's Sermon on the Mount.

3 Nephi 13:14-15 Matthew 6:14-15

The teaching that forgiveness of others is a prerequisite for receiving divine forgiveness echoes the Matthean Sermon and reinforces the Lord's Prayer.

3 Nephi 13:19-24 Matthew 6:19-24

Christ's teaching about treasures in heaven rather than on earth, and that no man can serve two masters, parallels the Matthean Sermon's teachings on undivided devotion to God.

Apply This Today

Living 3 Nephi 13

Christ's teaching to 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness' is the master key to a life of peace. When we prioritize our relationship with God above every other concern, anxiety loses its grip. The Father who clothes the lilies and feeds the sparrows will not forget His children.

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