New King James Version
Matthew 6:2
2Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
Matthew 6:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the 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.
- New International Version (NIV)“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
- English Standard Version (ESV)"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
- New Living Translation (NLT)When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get.
Context of Matthew 6:2
1“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 3But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.
Read all of Matthew 6Matthew 6:2 word by word
Ὅταν οὖν ποιῇς ἐλεημοσύνην, μὴ σαλπίσῃς ἔμπροσθέν σου, ὥσπερ οἱ ὑποκριταὶ ποιοῦσιν ἐν ταῖς συναγωγαῖς καὶ ἐν ταῖς ῥύμαις ὅπως δοξασθῶσιν ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων. ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν· ἀπέχουσιν τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Thereforeοὖνoun · therefore/thenG3767
- whenὅτανhotan · when(-ever)G3752
- thou doestποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- almsἐλεημοσύνηeleēmosunē · charityG1654
- do notμήmē · notG3361
- sound a trumpetσαλπίζωsalpizō · to sound a trumpetG4537
- beforeἔμπροσθενemprosthen · beforeG1715
- theeσύsu · youG4771
- asὥσπερhōsper · just asG5618
- the hypocritesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the hypocritesὑποκριτήςhupokritēs · hypocriteG5273
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- the synagoguesσυναγωγήsunagōgē · synagogueG4864
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- the streetsῥύμηrhumē · laneG4505
- thatὅπωςhopōs · thatG3704
- they may have gloryδοξάζωdoxazō · to glorifyG1392
- ofὑπόhupo · by/under: byG5259
- menἄνθρωποςanthrōpos · a humanG444
- Verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- They haveἀπέχωapechō · to have in fullG568
- theirαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- rewardμισθόςmisthos · wageG3408
Cross-references for Matthew 6:2
- Job 31:16“If I have kept the poor from their desire, Or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,
- Psalms 37:21The wicked borrows and does not repay, But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
- Psalms 112:9He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever; His horn will be exalted with honor.
- Proverbs 19:17He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, And He will pay back what he has given.
- Ecclesiastes 11:2Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, For you do not know what evil will be on the earth.
- Isaiah 58:7Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
- Luke 11:41But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.
- Luke 12:33Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.
- John 13:29For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus had said to him, “Buy those things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor.
- Acts 9:36At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.
- Acts 10:2a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always.
- Acts 11:29Then the disciples, each according to his ability, determined to send relief to the brethren dwelling in Judea.
- Acts 24:17“Now after many years I came to bring alms and offerings to my nation,
- Romans 12:8he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
- 2 Corinthians 9:6But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
- Galatians 2:10They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.
Commentaries on Matthew 6:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Therefore when thou doest thine alms - In the first verse the exhortation is general: Take Ye heed. In this verse the address is pointed - and Thou - man - woman - who readest - hearest. Do not sound a trumpet - It is very likely that this was literally practised among the Pharisees, who seemed to live on the public esteem, and were excessively self-righteous and vain. Having something to distribute by way of alms, it is very probable they caused this to…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do - The word “hypocrite” is taken from “stage-players,” who act the part of others, or speak not their own sentiments, but the sentiments of others. It means here, and in the New Testament generally, those who “dissemble” or hide their real sentiments, and assume or express other feelings than their own - those who, for purposes of ostentation, gain, or applause, put on the appearance of religion. It…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2The hypocrites: see study note on Matthew 23:13. a trumpet: they would blow these during important ceremonies, like times of public fasts.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee--The expression is to be taken figuratively for blazoning it. Hence our expression to "trumpet." as the hypocrites do--This word--of such frequent occurrence in Scripture, signifying primarily "one who acts a part"--denotes one who either pretends to be what he is not (as here), or dissembles what he really is (as in Lu 12:1, 2). in the synagogues and in the streets--the places…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 6:2
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries