Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”, and he continued, “take heed that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when you do your alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, 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. But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does. That your alms may be in secret: and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly.” In chapter six and verse five of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus gave His disciples instruction for, “when” they “pray” where we read:
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. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
The verse reads, “And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites are:” Matthew began with the words, “and when” which means “and at the time and moment” “you pray” which means “the disciples supplicate, worship and make prayers”, “you shall not be” or “the disciples were not to exist” “as the hypocrites are” or “like and in the manner as the actors, stage players, pretenders and dissemblers”. Jesus told His disciples at the time they are in “prayer” to God, they were not to be like the “pretenders and dissemblers”.
The verse goes on to say, “for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.” Matthew added the word, “for” which means “because, since and on account that” “they love” or “the hypocrites are fond of, welcome and treat affectionately” “to pray standing” which means “supplicating, worshiping and making prayers while standing up” “in the synagogues” or “within the assembling together of men or an assembly of Jews formally gathered together to offer prayers and listen to the reading and expositions of the scriptures” “and in the corners” which means “and within the external or internal angle or secret place” “of the streets” which refers to “belonging to the broad way, open square or wide plat”, “that they may be seen” or “so the hypocrites may be brought forth into the light, caused to ship and shed light” “of men” which refers to “people whether male or female”. Jesus shared how “hypocrites” like to make themselves known to others within the “synagogues” and “street corners” so people could watch them “praying and worshiping”.
Finally the verse says, “Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.” Matthew ended this verse with Jesus' word, “Verily” or “so it is, so be it and may it be fulfilled” “I say” which means “Jesus utters, declares and proclaims” “unto you” or “toward the disciples”, “they have their reward” or “the hypocrites hold, receive and keep their own wages, tribute and recompense”. Jesus certified that those who give so as to be “seen” have already received their “recompense” for “giving”.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how “praying” is already presumed by Jesus, however, His disciples were not to “pray” like “hypocrites”. God desires a relationship with people through His Son Jesus, and when they obey His ways, they shall not only “give” in a “secret” manner, but also “pray” without making a public show of it. Those who choose to “pray” publicly to be seen of men shall therein receive all the “reward” for their “prayer” they shall ever know.
Next time Jesus tells His disciples, “when you pray, enter into your closet”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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