Matthew 6 1

Matthew 6:1 kjv

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.

Matthew 6:1 nkjv

"Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:1 niv

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:1 esv

"Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 6:1 nlt

"Watch out! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6 verses

Matthew 6 1 Meaning

Matthew 6:1 warns believers against performing righteous acts—such as giving to the needy, praying, or fasting—with the primary intention of being seen and praised by people. The verse establishes the foundational principle for the specific instructions that follow in Matthew 6. It emphasizes that the reward for genuine piety comes solely from God, our Heavenly Father, and that seeking human applause diminishes or nullifies any divine recompense. The core message is that spiritual actions should be driven by a sincere devotion to God, rather than a desire for outward recognition.

Matthew 6 1 Context

Matthew 6:1 is the introductory statement for a crucial section within the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). It directly follows Jesus' discourse on righteousness in Matthew 5, particularly the call for a righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 5:20). While Matthew 5 focuses on internalizing the Mosaic Law and the true spirit behind its commands, Matthew 6 pivots to external acts of piety. Jesus critiques the prevailing religious practices of His time, especially among those who performed acts of charity, prayer, and fasting in public, driven by a desire for human acclaim rather than a genuine devotion to God. The verse serves as a general principle, introducing three specific examples in Matthew 6:2-18, contrasting the hypocritical display with the secret devotion that God rewards.

Matthew 6 1 Word analysis

• Take heed (προσέχετε - prosechete): A strong imperative, a warning to pay careful attention. It implies caution and awareness, highlighting the danger of straying from the right path. It is a command to be vigilant.
• that you do not (μὴ ποιῆτε - mē poiēte): A prohibitive injunction, meaning "do not be doing" or "stop doing." It's not a suggestion but a firm command against a specific kind of action.
• your alms / your righteousness (τὴν δικαιοσύνην ὑμῶν - tēn dikaiosynēn hymōn):
  • Most ancient and reliable Greek manuscripts read dikaiosynēn (righteousness) rather than eleēmosynēn (alms). While "alms" (charitable giving) is certainly one form of righteousness, dikaiosynēn encompasses a broader range of religious duties including giving, praying, and fasting, as explained in the subsequent verses (6:2, 6:5, 6:16).
  • This critical textual variant underscores that the warning applies to all religious or moral actions intended to please God, not just financial donations. It speaks to the integrity of one's entire life lived before God.
• before men (ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων - emprosthen tōn anthrōpōn): "In the presence of" or "in front of people." It points to visibility and public performance. It highlights the human audience as opposed to the divine.
• to be seen of them (πρὸς τὸ θεαθῆναι αὐτοῖς - pros to theathenai autois): This phrase expresses the purpose or motive. The Greek word theathēnai implies being seen as if in a theatre, to be an object of spectacle or observation. It indicates the self-serving intention of drawing attention and applause. This is the heart of the prohibition—not public acts themselves, but the intention behind them.
• otherwise (εἰ δὲ μή γε - ei de mē ge): A phrase indicating a contrary outcome or consequence. It introduces the negative result if the warning is ignored.
• you have no reward (οὐκ ἔχετε μισθόν - ouk exete misthon): Emphatically states a complete lack of recompense. "Reward" (misthos) refers to a divine remuneration for faithful service or obedience, not necessarily material wealth, but spiritual blessing, honor, or affirmation from God. The absence of this reward implies spiritual fruitlessness for actions done with wrong motives.
• of your Father which is in heaven (παρὰ τοῦ Πατρὸς ὑμῶν τοῦ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς - para tou Patros hymōn tou en tois ouranois): Directly attributes the source of true reward. God, as the benevolent and omniscient Father, sees all, including secret motives, and is the ultimate bestower of all blessing and praise. This contrasts sharply with fleeting human praise.

Words-group analysis:

• "Take heed that you do not your righteousness before men": This phrase establishes the central prohibition against hypocrisy in spiritual duties. The initial emphasis on "take heed" signals a vital spiritual principle.
• "to be seen of them": This specifies the condemned motive. It's not the public act itself that is wrong, but the desire for public adulation that taints the act and renders it void of divine reward. This speaks directly to the internal disposition of the heart.
• "otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven": This defines the dire spiritual consequence. By seeking human praise, one forfeits God's eternal reward. It sets up a binary choice: either praise from man or reward from God, but not both for the same action motivated wrongly.

Matthew 6 1 Bonus section

The concept of "righteousness" (dikaiosynē) being the original word in Matthew 6:1 (as opposed to "alms" eleēmosynē found in later manuscripts and versions like KJV) is crucial for a complete understanding of the verse. Scholars widely agree that dikaiosynē is more likely authentic, broadening the verse's scope. This means that all acts done to align with God's will (including charity, prayer, fasting, and other commandments) are subject to this principle of right motivation. This verse initiates a distinct theological unit contrasting false piety (for human praise) with true piety (for divine approval), thereby acting as a powerful lens through which all religious devotion should be examined. It teaches that even good deeds can become sin if driven by selfish ambition rather than pure devotion to God.

Matthew 6 1 Commentary

Matthew 6:1 lays the spiritual groundwork for authentic Christian living, especially concerning public acts of piety. Jesus isn't forbidding visible good works (which He commanded in Matt 5:16), but rather condemning the motivation behind them. The core issue is sincerity: are we seeking the applause of people or the approval of God? Any righteous act, however outwardly commendable, becomes spiritually empty if its primary aim is human recognition. God, who sees in secret, is the only legitimate audience and rewarder. This verse challenges believers to introspect their hearts, ensuring their spiritual disciplines (like giving, praying, and fasting, as explained in subsequent verses) are acts of sincere worship and obedience to God alone, rather than performances for others.For example, contributing to charity should stem from a compassionate heart seeking to honor God, not for public recognition or to improve social standing. Similarly, prayer is a private communication with God, not a public display of presumed piety. Fasting is a personal devotion, not a hunger strike to elicit praise for one's self-control.