Matthew 6:5-6

 

 

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Seemon on the Mount by Carl Heinrich Bloch (1834-1890)

Click to enlarge
"Sermon on the Mount"
(Bloch)

 

 Matthew 6:5 "When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: Kai hotan proseuchesthe, (2PPMS) ouk esesthe (2PFMI) hos hoi hupokritai; hoti philousin (3PPAI) en tais sunagogais kai en tais goniais ton plateion hestotes (RAPMPN) proseuchesthai, (PMN) hopos phanosin (3PAPS) tois anthropois; amen lego (1SPAI) humin apechousin (3SPPAI) ton misthon auton.

Amplified: Also when you pray, you must 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 people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward in full already (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
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.
NLT: And now about prayer. 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 assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. (
NLT - Tyndale House)
Philips: And then, when you pray, don't be like the play-actors. They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at street-corners so that people may see them at it. Believe me, they have had all the reward they are going to get. (
New Testament in Modern English)
Wuest: And whenever you are praying you shall not be as the actors on the stage of life, because they are fond of praying in the synagogues and while standing at the corners of avenues in order that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I am saying to you, They have their reward and the receipt for the same in full. (
Wuest: Expanded Translation: Erdmans)

Young's Literal: 'And when thou mayest pray, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites, because they love in the synagogues, and in the corners of the broad places -- standing -- to pray, that they may be seen of men; verily I say to you, that they have their reward.

REFERENCES

Albert Barnes
Brian Bell
Chip Bell
John Calvin
Rich Cathers
Oswald Chambers
Thomas Constable
Ron Daniels
Bob Deffinbaugh
John Gill
Guglielmo, Joe
David Guzik
Danny Hall
Danny Hall
Matthew Henry
Gregg Herrick
F B Hole
IVP Commentary
Jamieson, F. B
S Lewis Johnson
Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Hampton Keathley
John Lightfoot
John MacArthur
John MacArthur
J Vernon McGee
Phil Newton
A W Pink
John Piper
John Piper
A T Robertson
Gil Rugh
J C Ryle
J C Ryle
Chuck Smith
Marvin Vincent
Steve Zeisler
Precept Ministries
Our Daily Bread
Notes

Matthew 6
Matthew 6:5-15
Matthew 6:5-8 Amen. Wow! (Prayer)
Matthew 6
Matthew Sermon Notes
Matthew 6:6; Matthew 6:6
Matthew
Matthew Sermon Notes
Matthew 6:1-18 Fatal Failures of Religion -Externalism
Matthew 6
Matthew Sermon Notes
Matthew 6
Matthew 6.1-18 An Audience of One
Matthew 6.1-18 Restoration Hardware

Matthew 6
Matthew 6:1-8 Exposition
Matthew Commentary
Matthew 6
Matthew 6
Matthew Audio - 101 Messages!
Matthew 6:5-8 Jesus On Prayer
Matthew 6:The Practice of Righteousness
Matthew 6
Matthew 6:5-8 Praying Without Hypocrisy
Matthew 6:5 The Purpose of Prayer
Matthew 145 Mp3 Audios - Thru the Bible
Matthew 6:1-8,16-18 No Hypocrisy
Matthew 6:5-8: Prayer
Matthew 6:5-15: Hallowed Be Thy Name
Matthew 6:5-9a: Sweet "Our" of Prayer
Matthew 6
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18 Righteousness in Worship  

Matthew 6 Commentary
Matthew 6:1-8 Expository Thoughts
Matthew 186 Sermons
Matthew 6
Matthew 6:1-14, 16-18: Honored by Men, or By God?
Inductive Study on Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 6:1 Matthew 6:5 Matthew 6:5 Matthew 6:5-15
Matthew 6:1-18

WHEN YOU PRAY, YOU ARE NOT TO BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES; FOR THEY LOVE TO STAND AND PRAY IN THE SYNAGOGUES AND ON THE STREET CORNERS SO THAT THEY MAY BE SEEN BY MEN: Kai hotan proseuchesthe, (2PPMS) ouk esesthe (2PFMI) hos hoi hupokritai; hoti philousin (3PPAI) en tais sunagogais kai en tais goniais ton plateion hestotes (RAPMPN) proseuchesthai, (PMN) hopos phanosin (3PAPS) tois anthropois (Mt 7:7,8; 9:38; 21:22; Psalms 5:2; 55:17; Proverbs 15:8; Isaiah 55:6,7; Jeremiah 29:12; Daniel 6:10; 9:4-19; Luke 18:1; John 16:24; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2,3; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:15,16) (Mt 6:2; 23:14; Job 27:8-10; Isaiah 1:15; Luke 18:10,11; 20:47)

Related resource - The Kneeling Christian

Ironside calls on us to...

Think of the privilege of sitting at the feet of the great intercessor Himself and hearing Him tell us how to pray! It is indeed a priceless opportunity not to be despised or passed on to disciples of some other age.

When you pray - Not "if" you pray. Prayer is the believer's lifeline to God. Spurgeon puts it this way...

Prayer pulls the rope below and the great bell rings above in the cars of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly; others give but an occasional pluck at the rope; but he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might. (Feathers for Arrows)

Stand - The posture is not the problem, for posture is irrelevant if the motive of the heart is to please God. Many postures are associated with prayer: prostrate (Num 16:22; Josh 5:14; Dan 8:17; Matt 26:39; Rev 11:16), kneeling (2 Chronicles 6:13; Dan 6:10; Luke 22:41, Acts 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5), sitting (2Sam 7:18), and standing (1Sam 1:26; Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, 13).

A T Robertson commenting on synagogues and on street corners" writes that...

These were the usual places of prayer (synagogues) and the street corners where crowds stopped for business or talk. If the hour of prayer overtook a Pharisee here, he would strike his attitude of prayer like a modern Moslem that men might see that he was pious. (Robertson, A.  Word Pictures in the New Testament)

Pray (4336) (proseuchomai from prós = toward, facing, emphasizing direct approach in seeking God's face + eúchomai = wish, pray, a technical term for invoking a deity and so covers every aspect of such invocation: to request, entreat, vow, consecrate etc) (Click for in depth study of the related noun proseuche) means literally to prayer to or before. The prefix "pros" conveys the sense of being immediately before God and hence would also include the ideas of adoration, devotion, and worship.

The basic idea of this verb is to bring something, and in prayer this pertains to bringing prayer requests. In early Greek culture an offering was brought with a prayer that it be accepted. Later the idea was changed slightly, so that the thing brought to God was the prayer. In later Greek, prayers appealed to God for His presence. This word for prayer encompasses all the aspects of prayer: submission, confession, petition, intercession, praise, and thanksgiving.

The root noun proseuche is the more general word for prayer and is used only of prayer to God. Lawrence Richards writes that proseuchomai...

"In classical Greek was the technical term for calling on a deity. The NT transforms the classical stiffness into the warmth of genuine conversation. Such entreaty in the NT is addressed to God or Jesus and typically is both personal and specific." (Richards, L: Expository Dictionary)

Wuest picks up on this meaning translating it

"by prayer whose essence is that of worship and devotion".

In Jesus' day the pious Jews prayed publicly at set times, commonly, in the morning, afternoon, and evening (Ps. 55:17; Dan. 6:10; Acts 3:1). The Jewish historian Josephus points out that sacrifices, including prayers, were offered “twice a day, in the early morning and at the ninth hour.” Jesus makes no mention of appropriate times for His focus is that of an appropriate attitude on any occasion on which one prays

Jesus is warning citizens of the Kingdom of heaven of the danger of emulating the "righteousness" (according to man's standard of what is righteous, not God's standard!) which they had seem in the lives and religious activities of the scribes and Pharisees.

Hypocrite (
Click for in depth discussion) is the man or woman who puts on a mask and pretends to be what he or she is not in the innermost person. Hypocrite describes the insincere person who pretends to be pious or virtuous when he or she really is not. The parallel thought is what others see what's on the outside. We call this reputation. God sees what's really present on the inside. We call this character. God is interested in our character, not our reputation.

Who do we seek to please in our various religious activities? Are we "playing the part" like an actor/actress or are we seeking to please only our Father Who art in heaven? Do we pray in order to cause others to think highly of us? Do we pray to somehow impress even ourselves that we are spiritual? Do we pray in order to gain merit with God?

Unger adds that...

the hypocrite is a double person, natural and artificial. The first he keeps to himself, and the other he puts on, as he does his clothes, to make his appearance before men. Hypocrites have been divided into four classes: (1) The worldly hypocrite, who makes a profession of religion and pretends to be religious, merely from worldly considerations (Matt. 23:5). (2) The legal hypocrite, who relinquishes his vicious practices, in order thereby to merit heaven, while at the same time having no real love for God (Ro 10:3). (3) The evangelical hypocrite, whose religion is nothing more than a bare conviction of sin; who rejoices under the idea that Christ died for him, and yet has no desire to live a holy life (Matt. 13:20). (4) The enthusiastic hypocrite, who has an imaginary sight of his sins and of Christ and talks of remarkable impulses and high feelings, etc., while living in the most scandalous practices (2 Cor. 11:14). (Unger, M. F., Harrison, R. K., Vos, H. F., Barber, C. J., & Unger, M. F. The New Unger's Bible dictionary. Chicago: Moody Press)

Vine writes that a hypocrite is

primarily one who answers; then, a stage–actor; it was a custom for Greek and Roman actors to speak in large masks with mechanical devices for augmenting the force of the voice; hence the word became used metaphorically of a dissembler (one who hides by putting on a false pretense, concealing the real facts, their true intentions and genuine feelings), a hypocrite. It is found only in the Synoptists (Matthew - Luke), and always used by the Lord, fifteen times in Matthew; elsewhere, Mark 7:6; Luke 6:42; 11:44 (in some mss.); Luke12:56; 13:15.

When (not if but when) you give, pray and fast, don't be an play actor hiding behind your mask of religious activity trying to convince people you are someone you devoted to God and pious, when you really are not. By way of application it would be wise to apply this warning by our Lord to all our "religious activities". Be honest and ask yourself "Why am I doing what I am doing at church?"

The Pharisees were like actors in a play, speaking from under a mask. Their mask was that of self-righteousness which men would look at and be deceived thinking that they were something they were not. They were not praying to honor God but themselves! They sought the esteem of men not that of God. Praying in an inner room as Jesus instructs below would have been the last thing these pseudo-pious hypocrites would do. Who would hear their lengthy and embellished oratory?

Phil Newton writes...

You can picture the scene. The rabbi calls upon Brother So-and-so to pray in the synagogue, and then he begins the most polished, flowery prayer that the congregation had ever heard. Once he sat down the members of the congregation were awed by his knowledge and use of language and obvious spirituality! He sat with a smug grin, knowing that he had impressed the whole congregation by what he had said. Jesus declared that he got what he wanted, the approval of men. But he did not receive what he prayed for in the least.

Charles Spurgeon was alarmed when he heard one of his students begin his prayer, “O Thou that art encinctured with an auriferous zodiac!” The man proved to be an imposter that finally became a playwright and actor, abandoning his wife and the ministry. His desire for the attention of men exposed the sinful motives that dictated his prayer.  (Read his full message on Matthew 6:1-18)

Our Daily Bread explains that...

A hypocrite is a pretender. He is a person who does not act his real self but disguises himself to be another. God hates hypocrisy but loves sinners. In all the records of the Gospels, Jesus spoke to sinners with sympathy, kindness, and forgiveness. But to the hypocritical religious leaders, He used the strongest possible language of condemnation. He called them blind guides, whitewashed tombs, and vipers (Matthew 23:24,27,33).

The biggest hypocrite of all, however, is the man or woman who refuses to come to Christ because there are so many hypocrites in the church. Such a person is being inconsistent. Business is full of hypocrites, but that does not stop him from doing business. Society is full of them, but he does not decide to become a hermit. Hell is full of hypocrites, so if a person doesn't like hypocrites he had better make sure he's not going there.

If your excuse for not bowing before Christ and accepting Him as your Savior and Lord is that you don't like hypocrites, will you let me show you the biggest hypocrite of all? I say this in love, dear friend. Look in the mirror. Stop pretending. If you can't think of a better excuse, you have no excuse! —M R De Haan 
(
Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

One day before God's judgment bar
All sham and pretense will take flight,
We'll all be known for who we are—
There'll be no hiding from His sight. —D. De Haan

There's no bigger hypocrite than the person who pretends he doesn't need Jesus.

R A. Torrey explains that...

We should never utter one syllable of prayer, either in public or in private, until we are definitely conscious that we have come into the presence of God and are actually praying to Him.... I can remember when that thought transformed my prayer life. I was brought up to pray. I was taught to pray so early in life that I have not the slightest recollection of who taught me to pray.... Nevertheless, prayer was largely a mere matter of form. There was little real thought of God, and no real approach to God. And even after I was converted, yes, even after I had entered the ministry, prayer was largely a matter of form. But the day came when I realized what real prayer meant, realized that prayer was having an audience with God, actually coming into the presence of God and asking and getting things from Him. And the realization of that fact transformed my prayer life. Before that, prayer had been a mere duty, and sometimes a very irksome duty, but from that time on prayer has been not merely a duty but a privilege, one of the most highly esteemed privileges of life. Before that, the thought that I had was, "How much time must I spend in prayer?" The thought that now possesses me is, "How much time may I spend in prayer without neglecting the other privileges and duties of life?" (Torrey, R A: The Power of Prayer) (Bolding added)

TRULY I SAY TO YOU, THEY HAVE THEIR REWARD IN FULL: amen lego (1SPAI) humin apechousin (3SPPAI) ton misthon auton (Mt 7:7,8; 9:38; 21:22; Psalms 5:2; 55:17; Proverbs 15:8; Isaiah 55:6,7; Jeremiah 29:12; Daniel 6:10; 9:4-19; Luke 18:1; John 16:24; Ephesians 6:18; Colossians 4:2,3; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:15,16) (Mt 6:2; 23:14; Job 27:8-10; Isaiah 1:15; Luke 18:10,11; 20:47) (Mt 23:6; Mark 12:38; Luke 11:43) (Mt 6:2; Proverbs 16:5; Luke 14:12-14; James 4:6)

Truly (Amen) - The following conclusion is trustworthy; valid and binding. Only the Lord Jesus uses amen at beginning of a sentence (in this case the beginning of the concluding clause) which guarantees the truth of what He is saying and also affirms His authority

Ironside comments that Jesus first warns us

against mere formality in prayer and pretended piety, rather than concern for the glory of God. He demands reality. There were those of the Pharisees who looked on prayer as having a certain degree of merit in itself (even as Mohammedans, Romanists, and others do now). Formal prayers were recited in public places, and the longer the prayer the more intense was the impression made on those who stood by. They were inclined to judge a man's piety by the length of his devotions. Jesus warned His disciples against such an abuse of prayer. He did not forbid their praying in public places. In 1 Timothy 2:8 ("I want men in every place to pray...") this is definitely implied. But He did inveigh against praying to be seen of men, or engaging in any other religious exercise for ostentation.

Dwight Pentecost applies Jesus' warning to our modern church noting that...

While man’s faith in God will manifest itself in a man’s relationship to men, a man’s faith in God is a matter between himself and God alone. When one’s religion is used to impress men, God disavows it as providing any basis for His approval. Multitudes assemble themselves in churches, not out of a heart of love and devotion to God, nor because they recognize a sense of obligation to come together with God’s people around His Word to fellowship with the Father. They gather together to maintain an image, a reputation before men. They go through empty forms of worship, devoid of any reality. They are there to impress men, and the Lord said they will get what they want. They will have their reward, but not from God. (Pentecost, J. D. Design for living: Lessons in Holiness from the Sermon on the Mount. Kregel Publications)

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PRAYING IN PUBLIC - When Jesus told people to pray in secret, He didn't mean that praying in public is wrong. What He condemned are insincere prayers made only to impress people. We may all sense that subtle temptation at times.

A group of delegates from a Christian conference stopped at a busy restaurant for lunch and were seated at several different tables around the room. Just before eating, one member announced in a loud voice, "Let's pray!" Chairs shifted and heads turned. Then followed a long-winded "blessing" that did more to cool the food than warm hearts. Finally, amid snickers and grumbling, came the welcome "Amen."

Contrast that story with another scene. A history teacher at a large state university was having lunch with his family in the school cafeteria. As they began their meal, their little 3-year- old cried out, "O Daddy, we forgot to pray!" "Well, honey" said the man "would you pray for us?" "Dear Jesus," she began, "thank You for our good food and all these nice people. Amen." From
nearby tables came "amens" from professors and students alike who were touched by that child's simple and sincere prayer.

May all our public praying be like that. - D J. De Haan (
Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)

Though lines to heaven should ever be
Attuned to praying ceaselessly,
Let's take that extra special care
To guard our words in public prayer.--HGB

If we pray to catch the ear of man,
we can't expect to reach the ear of God.

 

Matthew  6:6 "But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (NASB: Lockman)

Greek: su de hotan proseuche, (2SPMS) eiselthe (2SAAM) eis to tameion sou kai kleisas (AAPMSN) ten thuran sou proseuchai (2SAAM)  to patri sou to en to krupto; kai o pater sou o blepon (PAPMSN) en to krupto apodosei (3SFAI) soi.

Amplified: But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open. (Amplified Bible - Lockman)
KJV: But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
NLT: But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. (
NLT - Tyndale House)
Philips: But when you pray, go into your own room, shut your door and pray to your Father privately. Your Father who sees all private things will reward you. (
New Testament in Modern English)
Wuest: But, as for you, whenever you are praying, enter into your secret and well-guarded place, and having closed your door, pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.  (
Wuest: Expanded Translation: Erdmans)

Young's Literal: 'But thou, when thou mayest pray, go into thy chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who is seeing in secret, shall reward thee manifestly.

BUT YOU, WHEN YOU PRAY, GO INTO YOUR INNER ROOM, CLOSE YOUR DOOR AND PRAY TO YOUR FATHER WHO IS IN SECRET: su de hotan proseuche, (2SPMS) eiselthe (2SAAM) eis to tameion sou kai kleisas (AAPMSN) ten thuran sou proseuchai (2SAAM) to patri sou to en to krupto (Mt 14:23; 26:36-39; Genesis 32:24-29; 2 Kings 4:33; Isaiah 26:20; John 1:48; Acts 9:40; 10:9,30) (Psalms 34:15; Isaiah 65:24; John 20:17; Romans 8:5; Ephesians 3:14)

But (de) introduces the diametrically opposite approach we are to have to prayer.

When - Not "if" you pray but "when"! Let us pray.

You is plural in Mt 6:5 and 6:7 but here it is singular emphasizing private, personal one on one communion as between a child who goes into his father's study and has his ear. The basis of all prayer is that of the Fatherhood of God and our relationship to Him as His children. Don't forget this foundational principle of prayer.

Inner room (5009) (tameion) describes any place of privacy. The idea is to go into the inner room of a house, normally without any windows opening outside, so that you have the most private location possible. This is a direct contrast with the hypocrites who sought out the most prominent public place to pray. The focus is on the intimacy of communion with God in one’s heart, which is at the center of all prayer, whether it happens to be given publicly or privately. Secret prayer alone with God is one of the best barometers of one's devotion to Christ because in the secret place for this is no one (or only One!) present to be impressed by your words.

Spurgeon told the following illustration regarding enclosing one's self in the inner room...

A little boy, who was accustomed to spend some time every day in prayer, went up into a hayloft, and when he climbed into the hayloft, he always pulled the ladder up after him. Someone asked him why he did so. He answered, "As there is no door, I pull up the ladder." Oh, that we could always in some way cut the connection between our soul and the intruding things which lurk below! There is a story told of some person, I never knew who it was, who desired to see me on a Saturday night, when I had shut myself up to make ready for the Sabbath. He was very great and important, and so the maid came to say that someone desired to see me. I bade her say that it was my rule to see no one at that time. Then he was more important and impressive still, and said, "Tell Mr. Spurgeon that a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ desires to see him immediately." The frightened servant brought the message; but the sender gained little by it, for my answer was, "Tell him I am busy with his Master, and cannot see servants now." (Barbed Arrows from the Quiver of C. H. Spurgeon)

Although prayer is private communication between God and and His child, Jesus is not forbidding public prayer (which even carried out - Mt 14:19, 15:36), but the motive behind such prayer. Public praying that is an overflow of much prayer in secret.. The early church met together for collective prayer (Acts 2:42; 12:12; 13:3; 14:23; 20:36). Jesus' main point was not so much where believers pray, but why we pray. Is it for men or for God?  Public versus private prayer however does potentially provide a measure or test of one's motives, for the person who prays more in public than in private reveals that he or she is less interested in God's approval than in human praise.

AND YOUR FATHER WHO SEES WHAT IS DONE IN SECRET WILL REWARD YOU: kai o pater sou o blepon (PAPMSN) en to krupto apodosei (3SFAI) soi.

Sees (991) (blepo) means perceive with your eyes. Blepo