Mateo 6:5

Filipino Cebuano Bible

5 "Ug sa magaampo kamo, ayaw kamo panig-ingon sa mga maut; kay sila, aron makita sila sa mga tawo, mahigugma sa pag-ampo nga magatindog sa sulod sa mga sinagoga ug diha sa mga likoanan sa kadalanan. Sa pagkatinuod, magaingon ako kaninyo, nga sila nakadawat na sa ilang balus.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

when: Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:8, Matthew 9:38, Matthew 21:22, Psalms 5:2, Psalms 55:17, Proverbs 15:8, Isaiah 55:6, Isaiah 55:7, Jeremiah 29:12, Daniel 6:10, Daniel 9:4-19, Luke 18:1, John 16:24, Ephesians 6:18, Colossians 4:2, Colossians 4:3, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, James 5:15, James 5:16

thou shalt not: Matthew 6:2, Matthew 23:14, Job 27:8-10, Isaiah 1:15, Luke 18:10, Luke 18:11, Luke 20:47

for: Matthew 23:6, Mark 12:38, Luke 11:43

Verily: Matthew 6:2, Proverbs 16:5, Luke 14:12-14, James 4:6

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:14 - and laid 2 Kings 10:16 - Come with me Psalms 145:18 - call upon Zechariah 7:5 - did Malachi 1:13 - should I accept Matthew 5:12 - for great Matthew 6:1 - to be Matthew 6:16 - be Matthew 18:3 - Verily Matthew 21:31 - Verily Mark 14:18 - Verily Luke 5:33 - and make Luke 6:24 - for Luke 8:51 - he suffered Luke 16:15 - Ye Luke 18:12 - fast John 7:4 - there Galatians 6:12 - as desire Colossians 3:24 - ye shall Hebrews 11:6 - a rewarder

Gill's Notes on the Bible

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 u,) that a man that prays ought to take heed to do; and the first he mentions is "standing"; for, says he, no man may pray

אלא מעימד, "but standing"; if he is sitting in a ship, or in a cart, if he can stand, he must stand; if not, he may sit in his place and pray.''

Several hints of this custom there are in the Misna w.

"On their fast days they used to bring out the ark into the streets-- עמדו בתפלה, "and they stood in prayer", or praying; and caused an old man to go down before the ark, who was used to recite prayers, and he said them.''

Again x,

"whoever עומד בתפלה, "stood praying", and remembered that any uncleanness attended him, he might not break off, but he might shorten.''

Yea, standing itself is interpreted of praying; for it is said y,

"and Abraham rose up early in the morning to the place, where he stood, ואין תפלה אלא בעמידה, "and there is no prayer but standing";''

though sometimes they prayed sitting, as David did, 2 Samuel 7:18 so it is said of R. Jose, and R. Eleazar, that יתבו וצלי, "they sat and prayed", and afterwards rose up and went on their way z. So it was likewise customary to go to the synagogues, and there pray; and indeed they were places built and appointed for this purpose.

"Wherever there were ten Israelites, a house ought to be provided, in which they may go to prayer at every time of prayer; and this place is called a synagogue a.''

Hence some have thought, that not such places are here designed, but any assembly, or concourse of people gathered together upon any occasion; but such an interpretation will find no place, when the following things are observed.

"For ever let a man go, morning and evening, to the synagogue; for no prayer is heard at any time, but in the synagogue; and everyone that hath a synagogue in his city, and does not pray in it with the congregation, is called a bad neighbour b.''

Again c,

"he that prays in the house of the Lord, is as if he offered up a pure offering.''

Now, partly on account of the publicness of the place, and partly because they thought their prayers were only heard there, therefore they chose to pray in the synagogues; and also in

the corners of the streets, where two streets met, and they might be the more easily seen. This was also a common thing to pray in the streets:

"says R. Jochanan, I saw R. Jannai stand and pray in the streets of Tzippore d.''

And a little after, it is said of another, that he stood and prayed

באסרטיא, "in the streets"; though such places were not reckoned holy, as the synagogues were.

"The street of a city, (says Maimonides e,) although the people pray in it at fasts and stations, because that there is a great collection of people, and the synagogues cannot hold them, has no holiness in it, because it is accidental, and not appointed for prayer.''

Wherefore streets were only used in case of necessity, or by such of the Pharisees, who chose to be seen of men. A reason is given for this practice in another place f, where it is asked,

"why do they go out to the streets, i.e. on their fast days? to show that we are reckoned as if we were carried captive before thee: says Joshua ben Levi, because they prayed in "secret", and were not answered; therefore they went without, ויתפרסמו, "that they might be made public".''

Now let it be observed, that neither the posture, nor places of prayer, are condemned by our Lord, but their view in all to

be seen of men; and a considerable emphasis lies upon the word "love"; they loved "standing" in prayer, rather than any other posture, because they could be better seen; and they loved to be in the synagogues and streets, rather than in their closets; they liked public better than private prayer, because it gained them applause among men.

Verily I say unto you, they have their reward; they gain their point; they have what they seek for; and this is all they will have.

u Hilch. Tephilla. c. 5. sect. 1, 2. w Misn. Taanith, c. 2. sect. 1, 2. x Misn. Beracot, c. 3. sect. 5. y Zohar in Lev. fol. 47. 1. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 26. 2. z Zohar in Exod. fol. 4. 4. a Maimon. Hilch. Tephilla, c. 11. 1. b lb. c. 8. sect. 1. T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 8. 1. & Piske Tosephot Beracot, c. 1. art. 7. c T. Hieros. Beracot, fol. 8. 4. d Ib. fol. 8. 3. & 9. 1. e Hilch. Tephilla, c. 11. sect. 21. Vid. Maimon. & Bartenora in Misn. Megilla, c. 3. sect. 1. f T. Hieros. Taaniot, fol. 65. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And when thou prayest ... - Hypocrites manifested the same spirit about prayer as almsgiving; it was done in public places. The word “synagogues,” here, clearly means, not the place of worship of that name, but places where many were accustomed to assemble - near the markets or courts, where they could be seen of many. Our Lord evidently could not mean to condemn prayers in the synagogues. It might be said that he condemned ostentatious prayer there, while they neglected secret prayer; but this does not appear to be his design. The Jews were much in the habit of praying in public places. At certain times of the day they always offered their prayers. Wherever they were, they suspended their employment and paid their devotions. This is also practiced now everywhere by Muslims, and in many places by Roman Catholics. It seems, also, that they sought publicity, and regarded it as proof of great piety.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 6:5. And when thou prayest — Οταν προσευχη. Προσευχη, prayer, is compounded of προς with, and ευχη a vow, because to pray right, a man binds himself to God, as by a vow, to live to his glory, if he will grant him his grace, c. ευχομαι signifies to pour out prayers or vows, from ευ well, and χεω, I pour out probably alluding to the offerings or libations which were poured out before, or on the altar. A proper idea of prayer is, a pouring out of the soul unto God, as a free-will offering, solemnly and eternally dedicated to him, accompanied with the most earnest desire that it may know, love, and serve him alone. He that comes thus to God will ever be heard and blessed. Prayer is the language of dependence; he who prays not, is endeavouring to live independently of God: this was the first curse, and continues to be the great curse of mankind. In the beginning, Satan said, Eat this fruit; ye shall then be as God; i.e. ye shall be independent: the man hearkened to his voice, sin entered into the world, and notwithstanding the full manifestation of the deception, the ruinous system is still pursued; man will, if possible, live independently of God; hence he either prays not at all, or uses the language without the spirit of prayer. The following verses contain so fine a view, and so just a definition, of prayer, that I think the pious reader will be glad to find them here.

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Prayer is the soul's sincere desire,

Unuttered or expressed,

The motion of a hidden fire

That trembles in the breast:

Prayer is the burden of a sigh,

The falling of a tear,

The upward gleaming of an eye,

When none but God is near.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech

That infant lips can try;

Prayer, the sublimest strains that reach

The Majesty on high:

Prayer is the Christian's vital breath,

The Christian's native air,

His watch-word at the gates of death,

He enters heaven by prayer.

Prayer is the contrite sinner's voice,

Returning from his ways,

While angels in their songs rejoice,

And say, Behold he prays!

The saints in prayer appear as one,

In word, in deed, in mind,

When with the Father and the Son

Their fellowship they find.

Nor prayer is made on earth alone:

The Holy Spirit pleads;

And Jesus, on th' eternal throne,

For sinners intercedes.

"O Thou, by whom we come to God!

The Life, the Truth, the Way,

The path of prayer thyself hast trod,

Lord, teach us how to pray!"

MONTGOMERY.

Thou shalt not be as the hypocrites — υποκριται. From υπο under, and κρινομαι to be judged, thought: properly a stage-player, who acts under a mask, personating a character different from his own; a counterfeit, a dissembler; one who would be thought to be different from what he really is. A person who wishes to be taken for a follower of God, but who has nothing of religion except the outside.

Love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets — The Jewish phylacterical prayers were long, and the canonical hours obliged them to repeat these prayers wherever they happened to be; and the Pharisees, who were full of vain glory, contrived to be overtaken in the streets by the canonical hour, that they might be seen by the people, and applauded for their great and conscientious piety. See Lightfoot. As they had no piety but that which was outward, they endeavoured to let it fully appear, that they might make the most of it among the people. It would not have answered their end to kneel before God, for then they might have been unnoticed by men; and consequently have lost that reward which they had in view: viz. the esteem and applause of the multitude. This hypocritical pretension to devotion is common among the Asiatics. Both Hindoos and Mohammedans love to pray in the most public places, at the landing places of rivers, in the public streets, on the roofs of the covered boats, without the least endeavour to conceal their outside devotion, that they may be seen of men.