Matius 6:5-8

Private Prayer

6:5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues ¹  and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room, ²  close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. ³  6:7 When ⁴  you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. 6:8 Do ⁵  not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

[6:5]  ¹ sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.

[6:6]  ² sn The term translated room refers to the inner room of a house, normally without any windows opening outside, the most private location possible (BDAG 988 s.v. ταμεῖον 2).

[6:6]  ³ tc See the tc note on “will reward you” in 6:4: The problem is the same and the ms support differs only slightly.

[6:7]  ⁴ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[6:8]  ⁵ tn Grk “So do not.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated.