English Standard Version
Matthew 6:5
5"And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
Matthew 6:5 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)“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 others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
- New King James Version (NKJV)“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.
Context of Matthew 6:5
3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6But when 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. 7"And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Read all of Matthew 6Matthew 6:5 word by word
Καὶ ὅταν προσεύχησθε, οὐκ ἔσεσθε ὡς οἱ ὑποκριταί, ὅτι φιλοῦσιν ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς καὶ ἐν ταῖς γωνίαις τῶν πλατειῶν ἑστῶτες προσεύχεσθαι ὅπως φανῶσιν τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ἀπέχουσιν τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
- thou prayestπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
- thou shaltεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- notοὐou · noG3756
- asὥσπερhōsper · just asG5618
- the hypocritesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the hypocritesὑποκριτήςhupokritēs · hypocriteG5273
- forὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- they loveφιλέωphileō · to loveG5368
- standingἵστημιhistēmi · to standG2476
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the synagoguesσυναγωγήsunagōgē · synagogueG4864
- the cornersγωνίαgōnia · cornerG1137
- of the streetsπλατεῖαplateia · wide street/roadG4113
- thatὅπωςhopōs · thatG3704
- ·ἄνan · ifG302
- they may be seenφαίνωphainō · to shine/appearG5316
- of menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- They haveἀπέχωapechō · to have in fullG568
- theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- rewardμισθόςmisthos · wageG3408
Cross-references for Matthew 6:5
- Matthew 7:7"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
- Matthew 9:38therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
- Matthew 21:22And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."
- Psalms 5:2Give attention to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you do I pray.
- Psalms 55:17Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.
- Proverbs 15:8The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.
- Isaiah 55:6"Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near;
- Jeremiah 29:12Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
- Daniel 6:10When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
- Daniel 9:4I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,
- Luke 18:1And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
- John 16:24Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
- Ephesians 6:18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
- Colossians 4:2Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17pray without ceasing,
- James 5:15And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
Commentaries on Matthew 6:5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5And when thou prayest - . , prayer, is compounded of with, and a vow, because to pray right, a man binds himself to God, as by a vow, to live to his glory, if he will grant him his grace, etc. signifies to pour out prayers or vows, from well, and , I pour out; probably alluding to the offerings or libations which were poured out before, or on the altar. A proper idea of prayer is, a pouring out of the soul unto God, as a free-will offering, solemnly and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5And when thou prayest - Hypocrites manifested the same spirit about prayer as almsgiving; it was done in public places. The word “synagogues,” here, clearly means, not the place of worship of that name, but places where many were accustomed to assemble - near the markets or courts, where they could be seen of many. Our Lord evidently could not mean to condemn prayers in the synagogues. It might be said that he condemned ostentatious prayer there, while…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-8Verses 5-8 It is taken for granted that all who are disciples of Christ pray. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. If prayerless, then graceless. The Scribes and Pharisees were guilty of two great faults in prayer, vain-glory and vain repetitions. "Verily they have their reward;" if in so great a matter as is between us and God, when we are at prayer, we can look to so poor a thing as the…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 5When you pray: Jews prayed regularly at 9 am and 3 pm (see Acts 3:1). They often gathered for public prayer. Hypocrites purposely chose public places at these times so everyone would notice them.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. And when thou prayest, thou shalt--or, preferably, "when ye pray ye shall." not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets--(See on Mt 6:2). that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have, &c.--The standing posture in prayer was the ancient practice, alike in the Jewish and in the early Christian Church. But of course this conspicuous posture opened the way for the…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 6:5
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 6
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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