Matthew 6:1-6 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 6:1-4

As we must do better than the scribes and Pharisees in avoiding heart-sins, heart-adultery, and heart-murder, so likewise in maintaining and keeping up heart-religion, doing what we do from an inward, vital principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be applauded of men; that is, we must watch against hypocrisy, which was the leaven of the Pharisees, as well as against their doctrine, Luke 12:1. Almsgiving, prayer, and fasting, are three great Christian duties?the three... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 6:5-8

In prayer we have more immediately to do with God than in giving alms, and therefore are yet more concerned to be sincere, which is what we are here directed to. When thou prayest (Matt. 6:5). It is taken for granted that all the disciples of Christ pray. As soon as ever Paul was converted, behold he prayeth. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. For this shall every one that is godly pray. If prayerless, then graceless. ?Now, when... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 6:1-18

When we study the opening verses of Matthew 6:1-34 , we are immediately confronted with one most important question-- What is the place of the reward motive in the Christian life? Three times in this section Jesus speaks of God rewarding those who have given to him the kind of service which he desires ( Matthew 6:4 ,; Matthew 6:18 ). This question is so important that we will do well to pause to examine it before we go on to study the chapter in detail. It is very often stated that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:1

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men ,.... Some copies read, "take heed that ye do not your righteousness", &c.; which is a very good reading: but then, by "righteousness", is not meant righteousness, as comprehending all other righteous acts, as particularly alms, prayer, and fasting, hereafter mentioned; but alms only; nothing being more common with the Jews than to call alms צדקה , "righteousness": and whatever word Matthew made use of, there is no doubt to be made of it,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:2

Wherefore, when thou dost thine alms ,.... Christ proceeds to give some directions and cautions about giving of alms, that they might be done aright, and answer some valuable purposes for the glory of God, the good of others, and their own: 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 . The persons Christ has reference to were the Scribes and Pharisees, who did all they did to be seen of men; whom he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:3

But when thou dost alms ,.... Do it so privately, and with so much secrecy, that, if it was possible, thou mightest not know it thyself, much less make it known to others: let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth ; acquaint not thy nearest and dearest friend with it; let not one that sits at thy left hand know what thou art doing with thy right hand; it is a proverbial and hyperbolical phrase, expressing the secrecy of the action. It is a Jewish canon F16 Piske Tosephot in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:4

That thine alms may be in secret ,.... May be done in secret, and be kept a secret. The allusion seems to be to the secret chamber, where money was brought privately for the relief of the poor. "There were two chambers in the sanctuary, the one was לשכת חשאים , "the chamber of secrets", and the other the chamber of vessels: the chamber of secrets was that into which pious persons put בחשאי , "in secret", and the poor children of good men were maintained out of it privately F17 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:5

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites ,.... As the Scribes and Pharisees; whose posture in prayer, the places they chose to pray in, and the view they had therein, are particularly taken notice of: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men . It was their usual custom to pray "standing"; nay, it is established by their canons. "There are eight things, (says Maimonides F21 Hilch. Tephilla. c.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:6

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet ,.... Or "chamber", a secret place, fit for private retirement, meditation, and prayer. And when thou hast shut thy door ; see some such like phrases in Isaiah 26:20 where they are used to express security, here secrecy. Our Lord does not mean to exclude and condemn public prayer, in joining with few, or more persons, in such service; for he himself directs to it, and approves of it, Matthew 18:19 but his view is to instruct persons... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:1

That ye do not your alms - Δικαιοσυνην υμων μη ποιειν , perform not your acts of righteousness - such as alms-giving, fasting, and prayer, mentioned immediately after. Instead of δικαιοσυνην , righteousness, or acts of righteousness, the reading in the text, that which has been commonly received is ελεημοσυνην , alms. But the first reading has been inserted in several editions, and is supported by the Codd. Vatican and Bezae, some others, and several versions, all the Itala except one,... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 6:1-4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 6:5-8

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 6:1-18

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 6:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 6:1

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