3 Nephi 13
People in this chapter
In chapter 12 the Savior took the commandments inward: anger, lust, and retaliation are matters of the heart. In this chapter He does the same for worship. Giving to the poor, praying, and fasting are all good. The question He asks is who they are for.
Tap any highlighted phrase to jump to the commentary that unpacks it.
3 Nephi 13:1-4Do Alms unto the Poor
1Verily, 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. 2Therefore, 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.
Jesus wants His people to give to the poor. He warns them not to give so that others will notice and praise them.
3But when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth; 4That thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father who seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.
If we give to be praised, the praise is all the reward we get. If we give quietly, Heavenly Father sees and rewards us.
3 Nephi 13:5-8Enter into Thy Closet
5And 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. 6But 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.
Jesus tells us to pray privately, in a closed room, to our Father in Heaven. Prayer is a conversation with Him, not a performance for others.
7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen, for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them, for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him.
God does not need many words or repeated phrases. He already knows what we need. Prayer is for drawing close to Him.
3 Nephi 13:9-15After This Manner Therefore Pray Ye
9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 10Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus gives a pattern for prayer. It begins by speaking to Heavenly Father with love and reverence.
11And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 12And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 13For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 14For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
We ask God to forgive us in the same way we forgive others. Jesus says plainly that if we will not forgive others, our Father will not forgive us.
3 Nephi 13:16-18When Ye Fast
16Moreover, 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. 17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy face; 18That 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.
Jesus teaches that fasting is between us and Heavenly Father. We should not try to look hungry or sad so that others will know we are fasting.
3 Nephi 13:19-24Where Your Treasure Is
19Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; 20But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. 21For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Earthly treasures can be ruined or stolen. Treasures in heaven last forever. Whatever we treasure most is where our heart will go.
22The light of the body is the eye; if, therefore, thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23But 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! 24No 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.
If our eye is focused on God, our whole life fills with light. We cannot give our hearts to God and to money at the same time.
3 Nephi 13:25-34Ye Are They Whom I Have Chosen
25And 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?
Jesus turns to the twelve disciples. He tells them that, since they are called to serve the people, they should trust Heavenly Father to provide what they need.
26Behold 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? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin; 29And yet I say unto you, that even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, 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.
Birds do not plant or harvest, and God feeds them. Flowers do not work or sew, and God clothes them more beautifully than a king. He will care for His children.
31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take 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.
Heavenly Father knows what we need. If we put His kingdom first, He will take care of the rest. We can live one day at a time.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- PrayerScriptures on prayer to the Father, the subject of verses 5-13.
- Lord's PrayerThe prayer Jesus gave as a pattern, in Matthew 6, Luke 11, and 3 Nephi 13.
- Alms, AlmsgivingGiving to the poor, the subject of verses 1-4.
- Fast, FastingScriptures on fasting with purpose, the subject of verses 16-18.
- ForgiveScriptures on receiving and extending forgiveness (vv. 11, 14-15).
- MammonThe meaning of the word in verse 24.
Where this echoes in Scripture
Do Alms unto the Poor
- Mosiah 4:26I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath.
- Mosiah 4:19For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God?
- Alma 1:27They did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy.
- Matthew 6:1-4Thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
Enter into Thy Closet
- Alma 34:26Ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.
- 3 Nephi 19:24They did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray.
- 3 Nephi 18:20Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.
- Matthew 26:44He left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.
After This Manner Therefore Pray Ye
- Matthew 26:39Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
- 3 Nephi 11:11I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning.
- Luke 11:2-4When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.The prayer as Luke records it.
- D&C 64:10I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
When Ye Fast
- Alma 17:3They had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation.
- Helaman 3:35They did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility.
- Isaiah 58:6-7Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness... to deal thy bread to the hungry?
- Moroni 6:5The church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray.
Where Your Treasure Is
- Jacob 2:18-19Before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God.
- 2 Nephi 9:30Their hearts are upon their treasures; wherefore, their treasure is their god.
- D&C 88:67If your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light.
- Luke 12:15A man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
Ye Are They Whom I Have Chosen
- John 15:16Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.
- Luke 22:35When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.
- Matthew 6:25-34Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin.
- D&C 84:80-81Take ye no thought for the morrow, for what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, or wherewithal ye shall be clothed.The same counsel to missionaries in this dispensation.