Matthew 6 8

Matthew 6:8 kjv

Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Matthew 6:8 nkjv

"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Matthew 6:8 niv

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:8 esv

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Matthew 6:8 nlt

Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!

Matthew 6 verses

Matthew 6 8 Meaning

Matthew 6:8 asserts that believers should not imitate the verbose and repetitive prayer practices of pagans. The core reason provided is that God, who is identified as "your Father," already possesses complete and intimate knowledge of His children's needs even before they articulate them in prayer. This teaching highlights God's omniscience and profound care, implying that prayer is not for informing Him, but for aligning the believer's heart and will with His, fostering dependency, and expressing worship and trust.

Matthew 6 8 Context

Matthew 6:8 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), specifically within His teaching on prayer (Matthew 6:5-15). Jesus contrasts the spiritual disciplines of His followers with the ostentatious and superficial practices of religious hypocrites and pagan worshippers. Having previously warned against praying in public to be seen by others (Mt 6:5-6), Jesus then addresses the manner of prayer in private, cautioning against "empty phrases" and "babbling" characteristic of Gentiles (Mt 6:7). Verse 8 provides the theological underpinning for this caution: the very nature of God, as an all-knowing and loving Father, renders such prayer superfluous and misplaced. This sets the stage for the model prayer that Jesus subsequently teaches (Mt 6:9-13), demonstrating a proper, sincere, and humble approach to God. Historically, pagan worship often involved elaborate rituals and repetitions, attempting to persuade, placate, or inform deities believed to be finite, capricious, or potentially ignorant of human needs. Jesus directly confronts this anthropomorphic view of divinity, affirming God's infinite knowledge and loving relationship with His children.

Matthew 6 8 Word analysis

• Therefore (οὖν, oun): This particle denotes a logical connection, indicating that the command in this verse is a direct conclusion drawn from the warning in the preceding verse (Mt 6:7) about not praying like the Gentiles.
• do not be like them (μὴ οὖν ὁμοιωθῆτε αὐτοῖς, mē oun homoiōthēte autois):
  • like them (αὐτοῖς, autois): Refers directly back to "the Gentiles" (τὰ ἔθνη, ta ethnē) in Mt 6:7. This identifies a pagan manner of prayer characterized by vain repetitions.
  • The command is against imitating their mindset and reasoning behind prayer, not merely a superficial imitation of their physical actions. Their thinking was that "they will be heard for their many words."
• for (γὰρ, gar): Introduces the reason or justification for the preceding command. It explains why believers should not pray like pagans.
• your Father (ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν, ho Patēr hymōn):
  • Father (Πατὴρ, Patēr): Emphasizes an intimate, relational bond with God, contrasting with the distant or demanding pagan deities. This is central to Jesus' revelation of God.
  • your: Highlights the personal, possessive relationship believers have with God through Christ.
• knows (οἶδεν, oiden): From oida, implying complete, perfect, inherent, and experiential knowledge. It is not knowledge gained from information, but from His own nature. This signifies God's omniscience.
• what you need (ὧν χρείαν ἔχετε, hōn chreian exete):
  • need (χρεία, chreia): Implies genuine necessities, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. It points to essential requirements for life and godliness, not simply wants or desires.
• before you ask him (πρὶν ὑμᾶς αἰτῆσαι αὐτόν, prin hymas aitēsai auton):
  • before you ask: This phrase is pivotal. It underscores God's pre-emptive and perfect foreknowledge. Prayer is not a mechanism to inform God of things He doesn't know. It establishes that prayer's purpose is not to change God's mind, but to align the petitioner's will and heart with His, fostering faith, dependence, and intimacy.

Words-group Analysis:

• "Therefore do not be like them": This phrase functions as a strong prohibition based on understanding God's character. It's a call for disciples to distinguish their spiritual practice from pagan religiosity, reflecting their new identity in God.
• "for your Father knows what you need": This segment presents the divine rationale. It pivots the focus from human effort (many words) to divine omniscience and paternal care. It provides deep comfort and security to the believer.
• "before you ask him": This critical clause clarifies the timing of God's knowledge, asserting its inherent and comprehensive nature. It radically reframes the purpose and power dynamics of prayer.

Matthew 6 8 Bonus section

• This verse doesn't diminish the necessity of prayer, but rather clarifies its true purpose. It explains why one should pray differently than pagans, setting the stage for how to pray effectively (the Lord's Prayer, Mt 6:9-13).
• The emphasis on "your Father" fundamentally shifts the prayer paradigm from a performance for a distant deity to an intimate conversation with a loving parent who genuinely cares.
• The understanding that God already knows our needs mitigates anxiety regarding material provisions, a theme Jesus expands upon later in Matthew 6:25-34. Our security is rooted in God's knowledge and power, not our eloquence or ability to persuade.
• This truth highlights that genuine prayer is less about asking for specific things we think we need, and more about seeking God's kingdom and His righteousness, trusting His perfect knowledge to supply our true necessities (Mt 6:33).

Matthew 6 8 Commentary

Matthew 6:8 is a profound statement on the nature of prayer, stemming from Jesus' revolutionary teaching about God as an intimate, loving Father. It dismantles the widespread notion, common among pagans and even some within Judaism, that prayer's efficacy lies in its verbosity, repetition, or persuasive rhetoric. Such practices stem from a misunderstanding of God – seeing Him as unaware, forgetful, or needing to be coerced.

Jesus corrects this by highlighting God's absolute omniscience ("knows what you need") and His paternal relationship with believers ("your Father"). This knowledge is not passive; it implies active care and provision. If God already knows our needs before we utter a single word, the purpose of prayer cannot be to inform or to impress Him with our devotion. Instead, prayer becomes an act of worship, dependence, communion, and aligning our will with His. It acknowledges His sovereignty and benevolence. It's not about changing God's mind, but changing us as we engage with His will. Prayer humbles us, fosters faith, and brings us into partnership with His purposes in the world. This teaching is a liberating truth, freeing believers from burdensome, ritualistic prayer and inviting them into a dynamic, relational dialogue with the one who cares for them deeply and intimately.