4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

Other Translations of Matthew 6:4

New International Version

4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

English Standard Version

4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

The Message

4 Just do it - quietly and unobtrusively. That is the way your God, who conceived you in love, working behind the scenes, helps you out.

New King James Version

4 that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.

New Living Translation

4 Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 6:4

Commentary on Matthew 6:1-4

(Read Matthew 6:1-4)

Our Lord next warned against hypocrisy and outward show in religious duties. What we do, must be done from an inward principle, that we may be approved of God, not that we may be praised of men. In these verses we are cautioned against hypocrisy in giving alms. Take heed of it. It is a subtle sin; and vain-glory creeps into what we do, before we are aware. But the duty is not the less necessary and excellent for being abused by hypocrites to serve their pride. The doom Christ passes, at first may seem a promise, but it is their reward; not the reward God promises to those who do good, but the reward hypocrites promise themselves, and a poor reward it is; they did it to be seen of men, and they are seen of men. When we take least notice of our good deeds ourselves, God takes most notice of them. He will reward thee; not as a master who gives his servant what he earns, and no more, but as a Father who gives abundantly to his son that serves him.

7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Other Translations of Matthew 6:7

New International Version

7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

English Standard Version

7 "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

The Message

7 "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God.

New King James Version

7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

New Living Translation

7 "When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 6:7

Commentary on Matthew 6:5-8

(Read Matthew 6:5-8)

It is taken for granted that all who are disciples of Christ pray. You may as soon find a living man that does not breathe, as a living Christian that does not pray. If prayerless, then graceless. The Scribes and Pharisees were guilty of two great faults in prayer, vain-glory and vain repetitions. "Verily they have their reward;" if in so great a matter as is between us and God, when we are at prayer, we can look to so poor a thing as the praise of men, it is just that it should be all our reward. Yet there is not a secret, sudden breathing after God, but he observes it. It is called a reward, but it is of grace, not of debt; what merit can there be in begging? If he does not give his people what they ask, it is because he knows they do not need it, and that it is not for their good. So far is God from being wrought upon by the length or words of our prayers, that the most powerful intercessions are those which are made with groanings that cannot be uttered. Let us well study what is shown of the frame of mind in which our prayers should be offered, and learn daily from Christ how to pray.