do not be like the hypocritesThe term "hypocrites" refers to those who perform religious acts for show rather than from genuine devotion. In the cultural context of first-century Judaism, a hypocrite was someone who wore a mask, akin to an actor. Jesus warns against insincerity in religious practices, emphasizing the need for authenticity in one's relationship with God.
For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street cornersStanding was a common posture for prayer in Jewish culture, and synagogues were central places of worship and community gathering. Praying on street corners suggests a desire for public attention. This behior reflects a misuse of religious practices for personal glory rather than for honoring God. The emphasis is on the location and posture that draw public attention, contrasting with the private, humble approach Jesus advocates.
to be seen by menThe motivation of the hypocrites is to gain human approval and admiration. This phrase highlights the danger of seeking validation from people rather than from God. It connects to the broader biblical theme of God knowing the heart, as seen in 1 Samuel 16:7, where God looks at the heart rather than outward appearances.
Truly I tell you, they already he their full rewardThe phrase "Truly I tell you" underscores the authority of Jesus' teaching. The "full reward" refers to the temporary and superficial praise from people, which is the only reward the hypocrites will receive. This contrasts with the eternal rewards promised to those who seek God's approval. The concept of reward is further explored in passages like Matthew 6:6, where private prayer is rewarded by the Father.
Persons / Places / Events1. Jesus ChristThe speaker of this verse, providing instruction on the proper attitude and approach to prayer.2. HypocritesIndividuals who perform religious acts for outward show rather than genuine devotion. In the context of this verse, they are those who pray publicly to gain attention and admiration from others.
3. SynagoguesJewish places of worship where the hypocrites would stand to pray, seeking public recognition.
4. Street CornersPublic places where the hypocrites would also pray to be seen by others, emphasizing their desire for human approval.
5. PrayerThe act of communicating with God, which Jesus is teaching about in this passage.
Teaching PointsSincerity in PrayerTrue prayer is about a sincere heart, not outward appearances. God values the authenticity of our communication with Him over the formality or visibility of our prayers.Avoiding HypocrisyWe must guard against performing religious acts for the sake of human approval. Our focus should be on pleasing God, not impressing others.
Private DevotionWhile public prayer has its place, private prayer is crucial for a genuine relationship with God. It allows for personal, intimate communication with the Father.
The Reward of PrayerThe reward for prayer should not be human recognition but the spiritual growth and closeness to God that comes from genuine prayer.
Examining MotivesRegularly examine your motives in prayer. Are you seeking God's will and presence, or are you looking for personal gain or recognition?
Bible Study Questions and Answers1. What is the meaning of Matthew 6:5?2. How can we oid being like "hypocrites" when we pray, as in Matthew 6:5?3. What does Matthew 6:5 teach about the importance of private prayer?4. How does Matthew 6:5 connect with 1 Thessalonians 5:17 on prayer?5. Why is sincerity crucial in prayer according to Matthew 6:5?6. How can we cultivate a genuine prayer life based on Matthew 6:5?7. What does Matthew 6:5 teach about the nature of genuine prayer?8. How does Matthew 6:5 challenge public displays of religiosity?9. Why does Jesus criticize hypocrites in Matthew 6:5?10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Matthew 6?11. What does the Bible say about prayer beads?12. Matthew 6:5–6: If praying in private is commanded, how do we reconcile public prayers in church or corporate worship? 13. Is public prayer acceptable?14. What defines a prayer closet?What Does Matthew 6:5 MeanAnd when you pray• Jesus assumes His disciples will pray, not merely suggests it.
• Prayer is a normal, continual practice for believers (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Luke 11:2).
• By introducing the subject this way, the Lord underscores that communion with the Father is essential, not optional (Philippians 4:6).
do not be like the hypocrites• “Hypocrites” are people whose outward piety masks an unchanged heart (Matthew 23:27; Isaiah 29:13).
• The warning is about imitation of false religion, not elimination of public prayer.
• Genuine prayer flows from sincerity before the God who “searches every heart” (1 Chronicles 28:9).
For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners• The posture or place is not condemned; Scripture records faithful people praying publicly—Solomon at the temple (1 Kings 8:22) and the early church together (Acts 4:24).
• What is condemned is loving the setting because it supplies an admiring audience.
• When prayer is turned into a performance, the heart shifts from God to self-promotion (Luke 18:10-14).
to be seen by men• Motive is the decisive issue: “For man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
• Seeking human applause steals glory that belongs to God alone (Isaiah 42:8).
• True devotion pursues the Father’s approval, not public recognition (Colossians 3:23-24).
Truly I tell you• Jesus’ solemn formula guarantees the certainty of what follows (Matthew 24:35).
• His authority is final; ignoring His words carries real loss (John 12:48).
they already he their full reward• Earthly praise is the only return hypocrites receive; nothing more awaits them from the Father (Matthew 6:1).
• Any applause ends quickly; eternal reward is forfeited (2 Corinthians 5:10).
• Living for heen’s reward redirects attention from self to God, yielding joy that endures (Hebrews 11:6).
summaryJesus teaches that prayer is expected, but it must be sincere. Imitating showy hypocrites who cre public admiration empties prayer of its true purpose and forfeits heenly reward. God prizes a heart that seeks His face rather than human applause, and He alone grants lasting reward to those who pray for His glory.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) Standing in the synagogues.--The Jewish custom, more or less prevalent throughout the East, and for a time retained at certain seasons in the Christian Church, was to pray standing, with outstretched, uplifted hands, and there was nothing in the attitude as such that made it an act of ostentatious devotion; nor would there he been any ostentation in thus joining in the common prayer of the congregation assembled in the synagogue. What our Lord's words point to, was the custom of going into the synagogue, as men go now into the churches of Latin Christendom, to offer private devotion (as, e.g., in the parable of the Pharisee and the publican), and of doing this so as to attract notice, the worshipper standing apart as if absorbed in prayer, while secretly glancing round to watch the impression which he might be making on others who were looking on.In the corners of the streets.--Not the same word as in Matthew 6:3, but the broad, open places of the city. There, too, the Pharisees might be seen, reciting their appointed prayers--probably the well-known eighteen acts of devotion which were appointed for the use of devout Israelites--and with the tallith or veil of prayer over their head.
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 5-15. - Prayer. Verses 5-8. - Matthew only. Verse 5. - And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be, etc.; Revised Version, plural. Ver. 5 is addressed to the disciples generally, ver. 6 to them individually. (For the future, cf. Matthew 5:48, note.) As the hypocrites are (ver. 2, note). The 'Didache,' § 8, following this passage, says, "Neither pray ye as the hypocrites," referring, like our Lord, to practices affected chiefly by the Pharisees. For they love (ὅτι φιλοῦσι). Not to be translated "they are wont." Our Lord points out the cause of this their custom. It was not that the synagogue was more convenient (he is, of course, thinking of their private prayers), or that they were accidentally overtaken by the prayer-hour when in the street, but their innate love of display made them choose these places "that they may be seen of men" (cf. ver. 16, and contrast ver. 2). To pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets; to stand and pray, etc. (Revised Version), giving, however, slightly more emphasis on "stand" than its position warrants. The emphasis is really on the place, not on the posture, which was only what was usual among Jews (cf. Mark 11:25; Luke 18:11, 13). There is no thought of taking up their position, standing still (σταθέντες, Acts 5:20; cf. Luke 18:11, 40). (For the practice here condemned by our Lord, cf. Lightfoot, 'Hor. Hebr.,' "R. Jochauau said, I saw R. Jannai standing and praying in the streets of Tsippor, and going four cubits, and then praying the Additionary Prayer.") They he, etc. (ver. 2, note). Parallel Commentaries ...GreekAndΚαὶ (Kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. whenὅταν (hotan)ConjunctionStrong's 3752: When, whenever. From hote and an; whenever; also causatively inasmuch as.you pray,προσεύχησθε (proseuchēsthe)Verb - Present Subjunctive Middle or Passive - 2nd Person PluralStrong's 4336: To pray, pray for, offer prayer. From pros and euchomai; to pray to God, i.e. Supplicate, worship.do not beἔσεσθε (esesthe)Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 2nd Person PluralStrong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.likeὡς (hōs)AdverbStrong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.theοἱ (hoi)Article - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.hypocrites.ὑποκριταί (hypokritai)Noun - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's 5273: From hupokrinomai; an actor under an assumed character, i.e. a dissemblerForὅτι (hoti)ConjunctionStrong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.they loveφιλοῦσιν (philousin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralStrong's 5368: From philos; to be a friend to (an individual or an object), i.e. He affection for; specially, to kiss.to prayπροσεύχεσθαι (proseuchesthai)Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or PassiveStrong's 4336: To pray, pray for, offer prayer. From pros and euchomai; to pray to God, i.e. Supplicate, worship.standingἑστῶτες (hestōtes)Verb - Perfect Participle Active - Nominative Masculine PluralStrong's 2476: A prolonged form of a primary stao stah'-o; to stand, used in various applications.inἐν (en)PrepositionStrong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.theταῖς (tais)Article - Dative Feminine PluralStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.synagoguesσυναγωγαῖς (synagōgais)Noun - Dative Feminine PluralStrong's 4864: From sunago; an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish 'synagogue'; by analogy, a Christian church.andκαὶ (kai)ConjunctionStrong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. onἐν (en)PrepositionStrong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.theταῖς (tais)Article - Dative Feminine PluralStrong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.streetπλατειῶν (plateiōn)Noun - Genitive Feminine PluralStrong's 4113: A street, public square, broad way. Feminine of platus; a wide 'plat' or 'place', i.e. Open square.cornersγωνίαις (gōniais)Noun - Dative Feminine PluralStrong's 1137: A corner; met: a secret place. Probably akin to gonu; an angle.to be seenφανῶσιν (phanōsin)Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Passive - 3rd Person PluralStrong's 5316: Prolongation for the base of phos; to lighten, i.e. Show.by men.ἀνθρώποις (anthrōpois)Noun - Dative Masculine PluralStrong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.Trulyἀμὴν (amēn)Hebrew Word Strong's 281: Of Hebrew origin; properly, firm, i.e. trustworthy; adverbially, surely.I tellλέγω (legō)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person SingularStrong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command. you,ὑμῖν (hymin)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person PluralStrong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.they already heἀπέχουσιν (apechousin)Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person PluralStrong's 568: To he in full, be far, it is enough. From apo and echo; to he out, i.e. Receive in full; to keep away, i.e. Be distant.theirαὐτῶν (autōn)Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person PluralStrong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.reward.μισθὸν (misthon)Noun - Accusative Masculine SingularStrong's 3408: (a) pay, wages, salary, (b) reward, recompense, punishment. Apparently a primary word; pay for service, good or bad.LinksMatthew 6:5 NIVMatthew 6:5 NLTMatthew 6:5 ESVMatthew 6:5 NASBMatthew 6:5 KJVMatthew 6:5 BibleApps.comMatthew 6:5 Biblia ParalelaMatthew 6:5 Chinese BibleMatthew 6:5 French BibleMatthew 6:5 Catholic BibleNT Gospels: Matthew 6:5 When you pray you shall not be (Matt. Mat Mt)