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Explanation for:
Matthew
6
:
5
And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.
10
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"They have already attained their recompense, not the reward of God, but their own; for they seek honor from people for whom they have performed good deeds and practiced virtues."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"In this passage, He designates those who pray with ostentation as hypocrites. This characterization is accurate, for they feign communication with God while merely seeking the attention of others, rendering their actions not genuine prayer but rather absurd displays.\\n\\nAs you approach this divine realm, akin to entering a magnificent palace—not one fashioned by human hands, but a far more awe-inspiring heavenly abode—maintain a sense of reverence. You find yourself among the hosts of angels, the assembly of archangels, and harmonizing with the seraphim. All the celestial beings exhibit profound decorum, offering their solemn praises and sacred hymns to the Sovereign of all, God. Therefore, merge your supplications with theirs and take delight in their divine splendor. You do not pray to mere mortals but to the all-present God, who perceives you before you articulate a word and understands your innermost thoughts. Pray in this manner, and you will receive abundant blessings. Your Father, as the Lord states, who sees what is concealed, shall reward you openly—not merely granting you gifts but giving you a reward. God has committed to acknowledging your prayers and, in doing so, bestowing upon you great honor. As He remains unseen, He desires that your prayers reflect this same quality of invisibility."},{"author-name":"Anonymous Commentary (Opus Imperfectum)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":4,"exegesis-text":"We refer to a type of prayer that is uniquely offered by an individual as a gift to God from the depths of their being. Each truth that a person embodies is realized according to their capacity, and it is through this ability that they produce results. Prayer, however, is expressed in accordance with one’s faith, and it is through this belief that one communicates. Would you like to grasp the immense value of prayer? No righteous deed is comparable to prayer in its resemblance to incense, as revealed in the book of Revelation, where we see the mighty angel standing before the altar with a censer filled with incense, and it is declared, “These are the prayers of the saints” (Rev. 8:3; Rev. 5:8). Just as well-crafted incense brings joy to a person’s senses, the prayer of a righteous individual brings delight to the Lord. Are you curious about its esteemed nature? As soon as it is spoken, angels receive it with reverence and present it to God, just as the archangel assures Tobiah, “I have lifted up thy prayer before God” (Tob. 12:12).\\n\\nEveryone reaps what they sow; what one plants is what one will gather. People often pray for the approval of others rather than for God’s ear; thus, they earn praise from men but not from the Divine. Their prayers are insincere, as they do not truly engage in prayer; they seek empty accolades, trading the semblance of godliness for worthless praise. Such prayers do not find favor with God, nor do the accolades of men enhance their value. Words endure only as long as they are voiced; once the utterance fades away, the goodness encapsulated within those words dissipates as well."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"He refers to these individuals as hypocrites because, although they seem to be attentive to God, in truth, they are focused on pleasing people, from whom they receive their reward."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Stogny, in Slavic and Russian interpretations, refers to narrow passageways that allow only a few to traverse, whereas paths, as understood in the same traditions, denote the broader thoroughfares that enable many to journey along together."},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When you engage in prayer, it is a solemn elevation of the spirit towards God, seeking His assistance or expressing gratitude and worship. It is a heartfelt dialogue infused with spiritual devotion. This is particularly evident in synagogues and similar settings. However, the insincere, such as the Pharisees, demonstrated the same attitude in their prayers as in their acts of charity; they preferred to pray in public spaces to gain the recognition and admiration of others. It is clear that the Savior does not condemn the act of praying in synagogues—designated areas for communal prayer—nor does He reject prayers offered outside of these places when they are genuine and stem from a sincere heart. The Lord only forbids prayers made in such contexts when the intent is to seek the applause and acknowledgment of people rather than to honor God."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"After imparting the lesson on charity, the Lord focuses on the significance of prayer. WHEN YOU PRAY, lifting your thoughts and heart to God to humbly seek His mercy, express gratitude for His blessings, and exalt His holy name, DO NOT be like the hypocrites, WHO PREFER TO PRAY IN SYNAGOGUES AND AT STREET CORNERS, intentionally stopping at intersections to PRAY FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF BEING NOTICED BY OTHERS. TRULY I TELL YOU, THEY HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR REWARD. St. John Chrysostom remarks that these hypocrites, under the pretense of praying, are merely seeking the attention of others, presenting themselves not as sincere supplicants, but as absurd figures. A true seeker of prayer sets aside all distractions, focusing solely on the One who has the power to grant his requests. The Saviour did not indicate that such individuals would be denied a reward, but rather that their reward comes entirely from those they wish to impress—humans. They offer nothing to God and therefore will receive nothing from Him. Furthermore, they position God as lesser than themselves, turning themselves into idols deserving of admiration from others."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Amphiteatrov)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896e9b7a2ebaf99e4620a_Philaret%20(Amphiteatrov).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"They present themselves as hypocrites when giving to the needy and similarly in their prayers. Instead of genuinely reaching out to God, they assume the appearances of those who pray, seeking only the empty praise of men. To achieve this superficial honor, they select places for prayer that are highly visible to many onlookers. Consequently, the Saviour renders this righteous verdict on their actions: Truly I say to you, they shall receive their reward. Their empty prayers earn them only fleeting glory from others. However, from the Heavenly Father, to whom they do not sincerely direct their hearts in their insincere prayers, what reward can they anticipate? Prayer remains the most powerful and, we may assert, the sole means through which we receive all blessings from God, from whom every good and perfect gift is given (James 1:17). Yet, this only holds true when it is the sincere prayer that Jesus describes: But you, when you pray, go into your room, and shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly (Matt. 6:6)."},{"author-name":"Kochomski S.W.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The primary message conveyed in the initial six verses of Matthew chapter 6, along with verses 16 to 18, emphasizes that acts of mercy and those that honor God—such as prayer and fasting—should not be performed for external approval or the pursuit of personal acclaim. When these actions are done for the sake of human admiration, that recognition becomes their sole reward. It is truly blessed to focus solely on honoring the Father in heaven, allowing the light of one's good deeds to shine before others, as Jesus instructed the disciples. However, for those whose hearts are prone to vanity, it is preferable to engage in fasting, prayer, and acts of kindness to one’s neighbors in such a manner that only God is aware of these deeds. In return, your Father will reward you in secret, which is to say, at the final judgment, in the presence of all angels and humanity."},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"When you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites who enjoy standing to pray in synagogues and on street corners for the sake of being seen by others. Instead, when you pray, enter your private room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you openly. With these words, Christ does not prohibit prayer in temples or public places, nor does He disallow charitable giving in front of others. Rather, He condemns the act of praying in order to be visible to people, as it is the pride that drives such behavior that is rebuked. Those who do so are not genuinely praying; their focus is not on God but rather on attracting the attention of others to gain respect as devout individuals. Such hypocrisy is denounced by the Lord. However, if an individual prays sincerely in the temple without seeking the attention of others, even striving to remain unnoticed, that prayer is not subject to criticism. A person devoted to prayer with a heart focused solely on God is oblivious to those around them; the fact that they might be seen praying does not diminish the value and strength of their prayer. Christ encourages humanity, as imperfect beings, to continually pursue perfection; yet, the journey is fraught with challenges such as passions, vanity, and pride. To help His disciples overcome these hurdles, Christ taught that even good deeds should not be performed with impure motives aimed at impressing others. To avoid the allure of human praise that can lead to arrogance, Christ advised that it is more virtuous to practice charity in secret and to pray alone, rather than risk temptation. A true disciple of Christ who has matured in faith can safely give alms and pray in public because their actions stem solely from love for God and others; the applause of men does not deter them. However, for those who are not yet spiritually resilient and whose vanity might be stirred by praise, the caution prescribed by Christ can safeguard them against downfall. Such individuals, while continuing to perform good works out of genuine love for God and their neighbors, should view their actions as fulfilling their duties and should not dwell on them as personal achievements. During prayer, they should seek to avoid the attention of others and engage in solitude as dictated by the state of their heart. If true isolation is necessary, they should retreat to a room and close the door to ensure their prayer is undisturbed. If seclusion is not physically practical, they should still aim to isolate themselves mentally, concentrating entirely on God, disregarding the distractions presented by those around them. If, for example, praying in the temple leads to distractions and pulls focus from God toward worldly concerns, it might be more prudent for such individuals to pray alone. Whenever possible, they should pray frequently and engage in silent communication with God, even when around others. Augustine noted that the \\"room\\" spoken of by Christ corresponds to the human heart, and the \\"door\\" represents the senses through which disordered and impure thoughts can enter, and the tempter continually knocks at this door. If it is found securely closed and locked, he departs. Ambrose of Milan echoed this sentiment: \\"Here lies the room of prayer, which you should always have with you; in this room, you ought primarily to seek solitude, even amidst crowds.\\" Chrysostom pointed out, \\"If you enter the room and close the doors only for show, the act serves no purpose. The Savior wants you to first cast away vanity from your heart before shutting the doors.\\" From deep within your heart, bring forth your voice, and let your prayer be a secret. In one of His discussions, Jesus presented the contrasting types of prayer exemplified by two men who went to the temple to pray: a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself: \\"God, I thank You that I am not like the other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all I possess.\\" But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling to even lift his eyes to heaven; he struck his chest and said, \\"God, be merciful to me, a sinner!\\" (Luke 18:10-13)."}]}
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