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Selected Verse: Matthew 6:1 - Strong Concordance

Verse         Translation Text
Mt 6:1 Strong Concordance Take heed [4337] that ye do [4160] not [3361] your [5216] alms [1654] before [1715] men [444], to be seen [4314] [2300] of them [846]: otherwise [1490] ye have [2192] no [3756] reward [3408] of [3844] your [5216] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772].
  King James 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.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
FURTHER ILLUSTRATION OF THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE KINGDOM--ITS UNOSTENTATIOUSNESS. (Mat. 6:1-18)

Take heed that ye do not your alms--But the true reading seems clearly to be "your righteousness." The external authority for both readings is pretty nearly equal; but internal evidence is decidedly in favor of "righteousness." The subject of the second verse being "almsgiving" that word--so like the other in Greek--might easily be substituted for it by the copyist: whereas the opposite would not be so likely. But it is still more in favor of "righteousness," that if we so read the first verse, it then becomes a general heading for this whole section of the discourse, inculcating unostentatiousness in all deeds of righteousness--Almsgiving, Prayer, and Fasting being, in that case, but selected examples of this righteousness; whereas, if we read, "Do not your alms," &c., this first verse will have no reference but to that one point. By "righteousness," in this case, we are to understand that same righteousness of the kingdom of heaven, whose leading features--in opposition to traditional perversions of it--it is the great object of this discourse to open up: that righteousness of which the Lord says, "Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Mat 5:20). To "do" this righteousness, was an old and well-understood expression. Thus, "Blessed is he that doeth righteousness at all times" (Psa 106:3). It refers to the actings of righteousness in the life--the outgoings of the gracious nature--of which our Lord afterwards said to His disciples, "Herein is My Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be My disciples" (Joh 15:8).

before men, to be seen of them--with the view or intention of being beheld of them. See the same expression in Mat 5:28. True, He had required them to let their light so shine before men that they might see their good works, and glorify their Father which is in heaven (Mat 5:16). But this is quite consistent with not making a display of our righteousness for self-glorification. In fact, the doing of the former necessarily implies our not doing the latter.

otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven--When all duty is done to God--as primarily enjoining and finally judging of it--He will take care that it be duly recognized; but when done purely for ostentation, God cannot own it, nor is His judgment of it even thought of--God accepts only what is done to Himself. So much for the general principle. Now follow three illustrations of it.

Almsgiving (Mat 6:2-4).
 
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2 Therefore [3767] when [3752] thou doest [4160] thine alms [1654], do [4537] not [3361] sound a trumpet [4537] before [1715] thee [4675], as [5618] the hypocrites [5273] do [4160] in [1722] the synagogues [4864] and [2532] in [1722] the streets [4505], that [3704] they may have glory [1392] of [5259] men [444]. Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], They have [568] their [846] reward [3408].
3 But [1161] when thou [4675] doest [4160] alms [1654], let [1097] not [3361] thy [4675] left hand [710] know [1097] what [5101] thy [4675] right hand [1188] doeth [4160]:
4 That [3704] thine [4675] alms [1654] may be [5600] in [1722] secret [2927]: and [2532] thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] seeth [991] in [1722] secret [2927] himself [846] shall reward [591] thee [4671] openly [1722] [5318].
16 Let your [5216] light [5457] so [3779] shine [2989] before [1715] men [444], that [3704] they may see [1492] your [5216] good [2570] works [2041], and [2532] glorify [1392] your [5216] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772].
28 But [1161] I [1473] say [3004] unto you [5213], That [3754] whosoever [3956] looketh [991] on a woman [1135] to [4314] lust after [1937] her [846] hath committed adultery [3431] with her [846] already [2235] in [1722] his [846] heart [2588].
8 Herein [1722] [5129] is [1392] my [3450] Father [3962] glorified [1392], that [2443] ye bear [5342] much [4183] fruit [2590]; so [2532] shall ye be [1096] my [1699] disciples [3101].
3 Blessed [0835] are they that keep [08104] judgment [04941], and he that doeth [06213] righteousness [06666] at all times [06256].
20 For [1063] I say [3004] unto you [5213], That [3754] except [3362] your [5216] righteousness [1343] shall exceed [4052] [4119] the righteousness of the scribes [1122] and [2532] Pharisees [5330], ye shall in no case [3364] enter [1525] into [1519] the kingdom [932] of heaven [3772].
16 Let your [5216] light [5457] so [3779] shine [2989] before [1715] men [444], that [3704] they may see [1492] your [5216] good [2570] works [2041], and [2532] glorify [1392] your [5216] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772].
8 And [1161] Zacchaeus [2195] stood [2476], and said [2036] unto [4314] the Lord [2962]; Behold [2400], Lord [2962], the half [2255] of my [3450] goods [5224] I give [1325] to the poor [4434]; and [2532] if [1536] I have taken [4811] any thing [1536] from any man [5100] by false accusation [4811], I restore [591] him fourfold [5073].
27 Pure [2513] religion [2356] and [2532] undefiled [283] before [3844] God [2316] and [2532] the Father [3962] is [2076] this [3778], To visit [1980] the fatherless [3737] and [2532] widows [5503] in [1722] their [846] affliction [2347], and to keep [5083] himself [1438] unspotted [784] from [575] the world [2889].
10 Only [3440] they would that [2443] we should remember [3421] the poor [4434]; the same [846] [5124] which [3739] I [4704] also [2532] was forward [4704] to do [4160].
16 Moreover [1161] when [3752] ye fast [3522], be [1096] not [3361], as [5618] the hypocrites [5273], of a sad countenance [4659]: for [1063] they disfigure [853] their [846] faces [4383], that [3704] they may appear [5316] unto men [444] to fast [3522]. Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], [3754] They have [568] their [846] reward [3408].
17 But [1161] thou [4771], when thou fastest [3522], anoint [218] thine [4675] head [2776], and [2532] wash [3538] thy [4675] face [4383];
18 That [3704] thou appear [5316] not [3361] unto men [444] to fast [3522], but [235] unto thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] secret [2927]: and [2532] thy [4675] Father [3962], which [3588] seeth [991] in [1722] secret [2927], shall reward [591] thee [4671] openly [1722] [5318].
5 And [2532] when [3752] thou prayest [4336], thou shalt [2071] not [3756] be [2071] as [5618] the hypocrites [5273] are: for [3754] they love [5368] to pray [4336] standing [2476] in [1722] the synagogues [4864] and [2532] in [1722] the corners [1137] of the streets [4113], that [3704] they may [302] be seen [5316] of men [444]. Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], [3754] They have [568] their [846] reward [3408].
6 But [1161] thou [4771], when [3752] thou prayest [4336], enter [1525] into [1519] thy [4675] closet [5009], and [2532] when thou hast shut [2808] thy [4675] door [2374], pray [4336] to thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] secret [2927]; and [2532] thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] seeth [991] in [1722] secret [2927] shall reward [591] thee [4671] openly [1722] [5318].
2 Therefore [3767] when [3752] thou doest [4160] thine alms [1654], do [4537] not [3361] sound a trumpet [4537] before [1715] thee [4675], as [5618] the hypocrites [5273] do [4160] in [1722] the synagogues [4864] and [2532] in [1722] the streets [4505], that [3704] they may have glory [1392] of [5259] men [444]. Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], They have [568] their [846] reward [3408].
3 But [1161] when thou [4675] doest [4160] alms [1654], let [1097] not [3361] thy [4675] left hand [710] know [1097] what [5101] thy [4675] right hand [1188] doeth [4160]:
4 That [3704] thine [4675] alms [1654] may be [5600] in [1722] secret [2927]: and [2532] thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] seeth [991] in [1722] secret [2927] himself [846] shall reward [591] thee [4671] openly [1722] [5318].
19 Lay [2343] not [3361] up [2343] for yourselves [5213] treasures [2344] upon [1909] earth [1093], where [3699] moth [4597] and [2532] rust [1035] doth corrupt [853], and [2532] where [3699] thieves [2812] break through [1358] and [2532] steal [2813]:
20 But [1161] lay up [2343] for yourselves [5213] treasures [2344] in [1722] heaven [3772], where [3699] neither [3777] moth [4597] nor [3777] rust [1035] doth corrupt [853], and [2532] where [3699] thieves [2812] do [1358] not [3756] break through [1358] nor [3761] steal [2813]:
21 For [1063] where [3699] your [5216] treasure [2344] is [2076], there [1563] will [2071] your [5216] heart [2588] be [2071] also [2532].
22 The light [3088] of the body [4983] is [2076] the eye [3788]: if [1437] therefore [3767] thine [4675] eye [3788] be [5600] single [573], thy [4675] whole [3650] body [4983] shall be [2071] full of light [5460].
23 But [1161] if [1437] thine [4675] eye [3788] be [5600] evil [4190], thy [4675] whole [3650] body [4983] shall be [2071] full of darkness [4652]. If [1487] therefore [3767] the light [5457] that is [2076] in [1722] thee [4671] be darkness [4655], how great [4214] is that darkness [4655]!
24 No man [3762] can [1410] serve [1398] two [1417] masters [2962]: for [1063] either [2228] he will hate [3404] the one [1520], and [2532] love [25] the other [2087]; or else [2228] he will hold [472] to the one [1520], and [2532] despise [2706] the other [2087]. Ye cannot [3756] [1410] serve [1398] God [2316] and [2532] mammon [3126].
25 Therefore [1223] [5124] I say [3004] unto you [5213], Take no [3361] thought [3309] for your [5216] life [5590], what [5101] ye shall eat [5315], or [2532] what [5101] ye shall drink [4095]; nor yet for [3366] your [5216] body [4983], what [5101] ye shall put on [1746]. Is [2076] not [3780] the life [5590] more than [4119] meat [5160], and [2532] the body [4983] than raiment [1742]?
26 Behold [1689] [1519] the fowls [4071] of the air [3772]: for [3754] they sow [4687] not [3756], neither [3761] do they reap [2325], nor [3761] gather [4863] into [1519] barns [596]; yet [2532] your [5216] heavenly [3770] Father [3962] feedeth [5142] them [846]. Are [1308] ye [5210] not [3756] much [3123] better than [1308] they [846]?
27 [1161] Which [1537] [5101] of you [5216] by taking thought [3309] can [1410] add [4369] one [1520] cubit [4083] unto [1909] his [846] stature [2244]?
28 And [2532] why [5101] take ye thought [3309] for [4012] raiment [1742]? Consider [2648] the lilies [2918] of the field [68], how [4459] they grow [837]; they toil [2872] not [3756], neither [3761] do they spin [3514]:
29 And yet [1161] I say [3004] unto you [5213], That [3754] even [3761] Solomon [4672] in [1722] all [3956] his [846] glory [1391] was [4016] not [3761] arrayed [4016] like [5613] one [1520] of these [5130].
30 Wherefore [1161], if [1487] God [2316] so [3779] clothe [294] the grass [5528] of the field [68], which to day [4594] is [5607], and [2532] to morrow [839] is cast [906] into [1519] the oven [2823], shall he not [3756] much [4183] more [3123] clothe you [5209], O ye of little faith [3640]?
31 Therefore [3767] take no [3361] thought [3309], saying [3004], What [5101] shall we eat [5315]? or [2228], What [5101] shall we drink [4095]? or [2228], Wherewithal [5101] shall we be clothed [4016]?
32 (For [1063] after [1934] all [3956] these things [5023] do the Gentiles [1484] seek [1934] for [1063] your [5216] heavenly [3770] Father [3962] knoweth [1492] that [3754] ye have need [5535] of all [537] these things [5130].
33 But [1161] seek ye [2212] first [4412] the kingdom [932] of God [2316], and [2532] his [846] righteousness [1343]; and [2532] all [3956] these things [5023] shall be added [4369] unto you [5213].
34 Take [3309] therefore [3767] no [3361] thought [3309] for [1519] the morrow [839]: for [1063] the morrow [839] shall take thought [3309] for the things [3588] of itself [1438]. Sufficient [713] unto the day [2250] is the evil [2549] thereof [846].
16 Moreover [1161] when [3752] ye fast [3522], be [1096] not [3361], as [5618] the hypocrites [5273], of a sad countenance [4659]: for [1063] they disfigure [853] their [846] faces [4383], that [3704] they may appear [5316] unto men [444] to fast [3522]. Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], [3754] They have [568] their [846] reward [3408].
17 But [1161] thou [4771], when thou fastest [3522], anoint [218] thine [4675] head [2776], and [2532] wash [3538] thy [4675] face [4383];
18 That [3704] thou appear [5316] not [3361] unto men [444] to fast [3522], but [235] unto thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] secret [2927]: and [2532] thy [4675] Father [3962], which [3588] seeth [991] in [1722] secret [2927], shall reward [591] thee [4671] openly [1722] [5318].
5 And [2532] when [3752] thou prayest [4336], thou shalt [2071] not [3756] be [2071] as [5618] the hypocrites [5273] are: for [3754] they love [5368] to pray [4336] standing [2476] in [1722] the synagogues [4864] and [2532] in [1722] the corners [1137] of the streets [4113], that [3704] they may [302] be seen [5316] of men [444]. Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], [3754] They have [568] their [846] reward [3408].
6 But [1161] thou [4771], when [3752] thou prayest [4336], enter [1525] into [1519] thy [4675] closet [5009], and [2532] when thou hast shut [2808] thy [4675] door [2374], pray [4336] to thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] secret [2927]; and [2532] thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] seeth [991] in [1722] secret [2927] shall reward [591] thee [4671] openly [1722] [5318].
7 But [1161] when ye pray [4336], use [945] not [3361] vain repetitions [945], as [5618] the heathen [1482] do: for [1063] they think [1380] that [3754] they shall be heard [1522] for [1722] their [846] much speaking [4180].
8 Be [3666] not [3361] ye [3666] therefore [3767] like [3666] unto them [846]: for [1063] your [5216] Father [3962] knoweth [1492] what things [3739] ye have [2192] need of [5532], before [4253] ye [5209] ask [154] him [846].
9 After this manner [3779] therefore [3767] pray [4336] ye [5210]: Our [2257] Father [3962] which [3588] art in [1722] heaven [3772], Hallowed be [37] thy [4675] name [3686].
10 Thy [4675] kingdom [932] come [2064]. Thy [4675] will [2307] be done [1096] in [1909] earth [1093], as [2532] [5613] it is in [1722] heaven [3772].
11 Give [1325] us [2254] this day [4594] our [2257] daily [1967] bread [740].
12 And [2532] forgive [863] us [2254] our [2257] debts [3783], as [2532] [5613] we [2249] forgive [863] our [2257] debtors [3781].
13 And [2532] lead [1533] us [2248] not [3361] into [1519] temptation [3986], but [235] deliver [4506] us [2248] from [575] evil [4190]: For [3754] thine [4675] is [2076] the kingdom [932], and [2532] the power [1411], and [2532] the glory [1391], for [1519] ever [165]. Amen [281].
14 For [1063] if [1437] ye forgive [863] men [444] their [846] trespasses [3900], your [5216] heavenly [3770] Father [3962] will also [2532] forgive [863] you [5213]:
15 But [1161] if [3362] ye forgive [863] not [3362] men [444] their [846] trespasses [3900], neither [3761] will your [5216] Father [3962] forgive [863] your [5216] trespasses [3900].
1 Take heed [4337] that ye do [4160] not [3361] your [5216] alms [1654] before [1715] men [444], to be seen [4314] [2300] of them [846]: otherwise [1490] ye have [2192] no [3756] reward [3408] of [3844] your [5216] Father [3962] which [3588] is in [1722] heaven [3772].
2 Therefore [3767] when [3752] thou doest [4160] thine alms [1654], do [4537] not [3361] sound a trumpet [4537] before [1715] thee [4675], as [5618] the hypocrites [5273] do [4160] in [1722] the synagogues [4864] and [2532] in [1722] the streets [4505], that [3704] they may have glory [1392] of [5259] men [444]. Verily [281] I say [3004] unto you [5213], They have [568] their [846] reward [3408].
3 But [1161] when thou [4675] doest [4160] alms [1654], let [1097] not [3361] thy [4675] left hand [710] know [1097] what [5101] thy [4675] right hand [1188] doeth [4160]:
4 That [3704] thine [4675] alms [1654] may be [5600] in [1722] secret [2927]: and [2532] thy [4675] Father [3962] which [3588] seeth [991] in [1722] secret [2927] himself [846] shall reward [591] thee [4671] openly [1722] [5318].
41 But rather [4133] give [1325] alms [1654] of such things as ye have [1751]; and [2532], behold [2400], all things [3956] are [2076] clean [2513] unto you [5213].
15 As for me, I will behold [02372] thy face [06440] in righteousness [06664]: I shall be satisfied [07646], when I awake [06974], with thy likeness [08544].
14 And judgment [04941] is turned away [05253] backward [0268], and justice [06666] standeth [05975] afar off [07350]: for truth [0571] is fallen [03782] in the street [07339], and equity [05229] cannot [03201] enter [0935].