Matthew 6:5
3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
6 But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
7 And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
- KJV
- And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: 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.
- WEB
- “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.
- ASV
- And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.
- DARBY
- And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets so that they should appear to men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
- BLB
- And when you⁺ may pray, you⁺ shall not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets so that they might be seen by men. Truly I say to you⁺, they have their reward in full.
- ÅB
- «Og når dere ber skal dere ikke være som hyklerne. For de vil gjerne stå og be i synagogene og på gatehjørnene for å vise seg for menneskene. I sannhet sier jeg dere: De har allerede fått sin lønn.
- OTB
- "Og når du ber, skal du ikke være som hyklerne, for de elsker å stå og be i synagogene og på gatehjørnene for å bli sett av andre. Sannelig, jeg sier dere, de har fått sin belønning i fullt monn.
- B1930
- Og når I beder, skal I ikke være som hyklerne; for de vil gjerne stå og bede i synagogene og på gatehjørnene, for å vise sig for menneskene; sannelig sier jeg eder: De har allerede fått sin lønn.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Matthew 6:2
So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.
Read in contextLuke 18:10–11
“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Read in contextLuke 18:13
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
Read in contextMark 11:25
And when you stand to pray, if you hold anything against another, forgive it, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your trespasses as well.”
Read in contextIsaiah 55:6–7
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
Read in contextJeremiah 29:12
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Read in contextIsaiah 1:15
When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.
Read in contextJames 4:6
But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Read in context