1.
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
alms = an alms. All the critical texts read "righteousness". referring to all the subjects that follow, Matthew 6:2 -- Matthew 7:11 . But this is conjecture, because "alms" is the first subject (Matthew 6:2 ). Dikaiosune, "righteousness", was subsequently substituted for eleemosune, "alms".
men. Greek. anthropos. App-123 .
to = in order to. Greek. pros to. App-104 .
seen. As in a theatre, so as to be admired. App-133 .
of = by (dat. not genitive case).
of = from. Greek. para.
heaven = heavens (plural) See note on verses: Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
2.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, 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. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
AS TO ALMS GIVING. hypocrites = actors: i.e. those who speak or act from under a mask. Used later of actual impiety, to which it led. Compare Matthew 23:28 ; Matthew 24:51 .Mark 12:15 .
that = so that.
of = by. Greek. hupo.
Verily. See note on Matthew 5:18 .
They have = They receive. Greek. apecho. In the Papyri, ( App-94 .) used constantly in formal receipts, as = it is received: i.e. those men who desired to be seen of men, were seen, and had received all they looked for. They got their reward, and had nothing more to come. So in verses: Matthew 6:5 , Matthew 6:16 . Luke 6:24 . Compare Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:18 . Philemon 1:15 .
3.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
know = get to know. Greek. ginosko. App-132 .
4.
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
seeth = looketh, or observeth. Greek. blepo. App-133 .
openly. Omitted by all the Greek texts. App-94 .
5.
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.
AS TO PRAYER. thou prayest, thou. All the critical Greek texts read "ye pray, ye".
prayest . . . pray. Greek. proseuchomai. See App-134 .
love = are fond of. Greek. phileo. App-135 .
streets = open places.
that = so that.
be seen = appear. Greek. phaino . App-106 .
6.
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.
closet = store-chamber. Hence a secret chamber where treasures were stored. Occurs only here, Matthew 24:26 , and Luke 12:3 , Luke 12:24 . Compare Isaiah 26:20 . 2 Kings 4:33 .
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.
use not vain repetitions = repeat not the same things over and over; explained in last clause. Greek. battologeo. Occurs only here.
heathen = Gentiles. Greek. ethnikos. Occurs only here, and Matthew 18:17 .
for = in. Greek. en .
much speaking. Greek. polulogia. Occurs only here.
8.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
knoweth. Greek. oida. Very significant in this connection.
9.
After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
After, &c. Compare "When". Luke 11:2-4 .
Our Father. See Exodus 4:22 .Deuteronomy 32:6 , &c. The idolater could say to his idol "Thou art my father", so Israel was bound to do So (Isaiah 63:16 ; Isaiah 64:8 ). The Talmud so teaches.
Which = Who.
heaven = heavens. See note on Matthew 6:10 .
Hallowed = Sanctified.
Thy. Note that the first three petitions are with respect to God, while the next four concern those who pray. God is to be put first in all prayer.
10.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Thy kingdom come. This is the great subject of the first period of the Lord's ministry. See App-119 , also App-112 , App-113 , and App-114 , and the Structure on pp. 1304, 1305, and 1315.
kingdom. See App-112 .
come. It was then being proclaimed, but was afterward rejected, and is now in abeyance. See App-112 , App-113 , App-114 and the Structure on pp. 1304, 1305, and 1315.
kingdom. See App-112 .
come. It was then being proclaimed, but was afterward rejected, and is now in abeyance. See App-112 , App-113 , App-114 . Hence this same petition is now correct, not the usual prayers for the "increase" or "extension" of it.
will = desire. Greek. thelo. See App-102 .
be done = be brought to pass, come to pass, be accomplished. Greek. ginomai. Compare Matthew 26:42 .
in = upon. Greek. epi. App-104 .
earth = the earth. Greek. ge. App-129 . All the texts ( App-94 .) omit the article.
heaven. Here it is sing, because it is in contrast with earth. Had it been sing in Matthew 6:9 , it would have implied that our Father was in heaven, but not on earth. In the Greek the two clauses are reversed: "as in heaven [so] upon earth also".
11.
Give us this day our daily bread.
daily. Greek. epiousios. A word coined by our Lord, and used only here and Luke 11:3 , by Him. Compounded from epi = upon ( App-104 .), and ousios = coming. This is derived from eimi = to come or go, which has the participle epiousa (not from eimi = to be, which would make the participle = epousa) . Therefore it means coming or descending upon, as did the manna, with which it is contrasted in John 6:32 , John 6:33 . It is the true bread from heaven, by which alone man can live the Word of God, which is prayed for here. Epiousion has the article and is separated from "this day" by the words "give to us"; "daily" here is from the Vulgate. Epiousios has been found in the Papyri ( Codd. Sergii) , but as these are, after all, not Greek (as shown by Prof. Nestle in 1900) but Armenian; the evidence for the word being Greek is still wanting.
12.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
our debts. Sin is so called because failure in the obligation involves expiation and satisfaction.
we = we also = that is only what we mortals do. "We" is thus emphatic ("also" is ignored by the Authorized Version)
forgive. All editions read "have forgiven". That prayer and plea was suited for that dispensation of the kingdom, but is reversed in this present dispensation. See Ephesians 4:32 . Then, forgiveness was conditioned; now, we forgive because we have been forgiven on account of Christ's merits.
13.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
lead = bring. Not the same word as in Matthew 4:1 .
temptation = trial. Compare James 1:12 , James 1:13 .
deliver = rescue.
from = away from. Greek. apo.
evil = the evil [one]. See App-128 .
For, &c. All the critical texts wrongly omit this doxology; for, out of about 500 codices which contain the prayer, only eight omit it. It is found also in the Syriac, Ethiopic, Armenian, Gothic, Sclavonic, and Georgian Versions.
for ever. Greek. eis tous aionas. App-151 . a.
14.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
if. Implying a contingency. Greek. ean (with Subj.) See App-118 . Forgiveness was conditional in that dispensation of the kingdom.
trespasses = lapses, varying in degree. Greek plural of paraptoma .
heavenly. Here the emphasis is on Father, the adjective ouranios being used, instead of the noun, in regimen. It occurs only here, verses: Matthew 6:26 , Matthew 6:32 , Matthew 6:13 , Luke 2:13 , Acts 26:19 ; and in the critical texts, additional in Matthew 5:48 ; Matthew 18:35 ; Matthew 23:9 .
also forgive you = forgive you also (emphasis on "you").
15.
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
16.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
AS TO FASTING. be = becorne.
disfigure . . . appear. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), aphanizousin . . . phanosin.
appear. App-106 .
17.
But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
wash. Greek. niptd. App-136 .
18.
That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
19.
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
AS TO RICHES. Lay . . . up = Treasure . . . up.
corrupt = cause to vanish.
20.
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
heart be also = heart also be.
22.
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.
light = lamp. Greek. luchnos. App-130 .
single = clear.
23.
But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
If. Assuming it as a fact.
be = is.
24.
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
No man = No one. Greek. oudeis. See App-105 .
can = is able to.
serve. As a bondservant.
masters. Greek. kurios. See App-98 .
hate: or care not for.
cannot = are not ( App-105 .) able to.
mammon = riches. An Aramaic word. See App-94 .Luke 16:13 .
25.
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
AS TO CARES, ETC. Therefore = On account of this (Greek. dia. App-104 .Matthew 6:2; Matthew 6:2 ).
Take no thought = Be not careful: i.e. full of care, or overanxious. Compare verses: Matthew 6:27 , Matthew 6:28 , Matthew 6:31 , Matthew 27:34 .
life = soul Greek. psuche.
more = [worth] more.
26.
Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Behold = Look attentively ( emblepo, App-133 .) at ( eis ).
of = which fly in. Genitive of Relation. App-17 .
air = the heaven. Sing, in contrast w i th earth. See note on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
your. Speaking to disciples. Contrast "them" with their creator.
27.
Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
of = from among. Greek. ek.
add = prolong.
cubit = span. Compare Luke 12:26 . Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6 , for a very small thing, as in Psalms 39:5 , where the Greek pechus is used as the rendering of Hebrew. 'ammah.
stature. Used elsewhere of age in John 9:21 , John 9:23 .Hebrews 11:11 , and of stature in Luke 19:3 . Doubtful in Matthew 6:27 . Luke 2:52 .Ephesians 4:13 .
28.
And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
for = about or concerning. Greek. peri . App-104 .
Consider = Consider carefully, so as to learn from. Greek. katamanthano. Occurs only here.
toil not. As men.
spin. As women. Consolation for both sexes.
29.
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
30.
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
if. Assuming the fact. See App-118 .
O ye of little faith. Note the four occurrences of this word ( oligopistos ). Here, rebuking care ; Matthew 8:26 , rebuking fear; Matthew 14:31 , rebuking doubt; Matthew 16:8 , rebuking reasoning. Luke 12:28 is parallel with Matthew 6:30 .
31.
Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
32.
(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Gentiles = nations.
33.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
the kingdom of God. See App-114 . Occurs five times: Matthew 6:33 ; Matthew 12:28 ; Matthew 19:24 ; Matthew 21:31 , Matthew 21:43 .
His: i.e. God. L T [A] WH R omit, and read "His righteousness and kingdom".
shall be added. Hebraism = come on afterward, as in Acts 3:12 , Acts 3:3 .Luke 20:11 . Septuagint for Hebrew. yasaph.
34.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
shall. Hebraism = is sure to, will certainly.
the things of. All the critical texts omit these words.
Sufficient, &c. This verse is not "omitted by Luke"; but it was not included by the Lord when repeated on a later occasion which Luke records. See App-97 .
is = be.