And when you pray, you shall 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. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.
when.
Matthew 7:7,8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: …
Matthew 9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.
Matthew 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
thou shalt not.
Matthew 6:2 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.
Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Job 27:8-10 For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? …
for.
Matthew 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
Mark 12:38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
Luke 11:43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
Verily.
Matthew 6:2 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.
Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Luke 14:12-14 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee…
do not be like the hypocrites
The 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 corners
Standing 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 behavior 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 men
The 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 have their full reward
The 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.
• 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).
• “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).
• 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).
• 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).
• 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).
• 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 heaven’s reward redirects attention from self to God, yielding joy that endures (Hebrews 11:6).
Jesus teaches that prayer is expected, but it must be sincere. Imitating showy hypocrites who crave public admiration empties prayer of its true purpose and forfeits heavenly 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.
(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 have 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.
Verses 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 have, etc. (ver. 2, note).