Matthew 6:5–8

Private Prayer

6:5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues7 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,8 close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you.9 6:7 When10 you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. 6:8 Do11 not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

7	sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.
8	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).
9	tc See the tc note on “will reward you” in 6:4: The problem is the same and the ms support differs only slightly.
10	tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
11	tn Grk “So do not.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated.