Matthew 6:2

6:1 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. alms: or, righteousness of your: or, with your

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, 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. do not: or, cause not a trumpet to be sounded

KJV

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Therefore when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may get glory from men. Most certainly I tell you, they have received their reward.

Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, 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.

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. Truly I say to you, They have their reward.

6:3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

What does Matthew 6:2 mean?

Matthew 6:2 is a verse in the book of Matthew, in the New Testament. In the original Greek, key words include οὖν (oun), ὅταν (hotan), ποιέω (poieo). It connects to 40 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Greek interlinear

Thereforeοὖνoun/oon/G3767apparently a primary word; (adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly:--and (so, truly), but, now (then), so (likewise then), then, therefore, verily, wherefore.

whenὅτανhotan/hot'-an/G3752from 3753 and 302; whenever (implying hypothesis or more or less uncertainty); also causatively (conjunctionally) inasmuch as:--as long (soon) as, that, + till, when(-soever), while.

thou

doestποιέωpoieo/poy-eh'-o/G4160apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare 4238.

thine

alms,ἐλεημοσύνηeleemosune/el-eh-ay-mos-oo'-nay/G1654from 1656; compassionateness, i.e. (as exercised towards the poor) beneficence, or (concretely) a benefaction:--alms(-deeds).

doσαλπίζωsalpizo/sal-pid'-zo/G4537from 4536; to trumpet, i.e. sound a blast (literally or figuratively):--(which are yet to) sound (a trumpet).

notμήme/may/G3361a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas 3756 expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas 3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether:--any but (that), X forbear, + God forbid, + lack, lest, neither, never, no (X wise in), none, nor, (can-)not, nothing, that not, un(-taken), without. Often used in compounds in substantially the same relations. See also 3362, 3363, 3364, 3372, 3373, 3375, 3378.

sound

trumpetσαλπίζωsalpizo/sal-pid'-zo/G4537from 4536; to trumpet, i.e. sound a blast (literally or figuratively):--(which are yet to) sound (a trumpet).

beforeἔμπροσθενemprosthen/em'-pros-then/G1715from 1722 and 4314; in front of (in place (literally or figuratively) or time):--against, at, before, (in presence, sight) of.

thee,σύsou/soo/G4675genitive case of 4771; of thee, thy:--X home, thee, thine (own), thou, thy.

asὥσπερhosper/hoce'-per/G5618from 5613 and 4007; just as, i.e. exactly like:--(even, like) as.

the

hypocritesὑποκριτήςhupokrites/hoop-ok-ree-tace'/G5273from 5271; an actor under an assumed character (stage-player), i.e. (figuratively) a dissembler ("hypocrite":--hypocrite.

doποιέωpoieo/poy-eh'-o/G4160apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare 4238.

inἐνen/en/G1722a primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), i.e. a relation of rest (intermediate between 1519 and 1537); "in," at, (up-)on, by, etc.:--about, after, against, + almost, X altogether, among, X as, at, before, between, (here-)by (+ all means), for (... sake of), + give self wholly to, (here-)in(-to, -wardly), X mightily, (because) of, (up-)on, (open-)ly, X outwardly, one, X quickly, X shortly, (speedi-)ly, X that, X there(-in, -on), through(-out), (un-)to(-ward), under, when, where(-with), while, with(-in). Often used in compounds, with substantially the same import; rarely with verbs of motion, and then not to indicate direction, except (elliptically) by a separate (and different) preposition.

the

synagoguesσυναγωγήsunagoge/soon-ag-o-gay'/G4864from (the reduplicated form of) 4863; an assemblage of persons; specially, a Jewish "synagogue" (the meeting or the place); by analogy, a Christian church:--assembly, congregation, synagogue.

andκαίkai/kahee/G2532apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.

the

streets,ῥύμηrhume/hroo'-may/G4505prolongation from 4506 in its original sense; an alley or avenue (as crowded):--lane, street.

thatὅπωςhopos/hop'-oce/G3704from 3739 and 4459; what(-ever) how, i.e. in the manner that (as adverb or conjunction of coincidence, intentional or actual):--because, how, (so) that, to, when.

they

may

have

gloryδοξάζωdoxazo/dox-ad'-zo/G1392from 1391; to render (or esteem) glorious (in a wide application):--(make) glorify(-ious), full of (have) glory, honour, magnify.

ofὑπόhupo/hoop-o'/G5259a primary preposition; under, i.e. (with the genitive case) of place (beneath), or with verbs (the agency or means, through); (with the accusative case) of place (whither (underneath) or where (below) or time (when (at)):--among, by, from, in, of, under, with. In the comparative, it retains the same general applications, especially of inferior position or condition, and specially, covertly or moderately.

men.ἄνθρωποςanthropos/anth'-ro-pos/G444from 435 and ops (the countenance; from 3700); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man.

Verilyἀμήνamen/am-ane'/G281of Hebrew origin (543); properly, firm, i.e. (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially, surely (often as interjection, so be it):--amen, verily.

sayλέγωlego/leg'-o/G3004a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas 2036 and 5346 generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while 4483 is properly to break silence merely, and 2980 means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.

unto

you,σύhumin/hoo-min'/G5213irregular dative case of 5210; to (with or by) you:--ye, you, your(-selves).

They

haveἀπέχωapecho/ap-ekh'-o/G568from 575 and 2192; (actively) to have out, i.e. receive in full; (intransitively) to keep (oneself) away, i.e. be distant (literally or figuratively):--be, have, receive.

theirαὐτόςautos/ow-tos'/G846from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare 848.

reward.μισθόςmisthos/mis-thos'/G3408apparently a primary word; pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad:--hire, reward, wages.

not:

or,

cause

not

trumpet

sounded

Commentary on Matthew 6:2

HENRY_FULL · Matthew 6:2

pt doctrines and opinions of the scribes and Pharisees, especially in their expositions of the law (that was called their leaven, ch. xvi. 12 ), comes in this chapter to warn them against their corrupt practices, against the two sins which, though in their doctrine they did not justify, yet in their conversation they were notoriously guilty of, and so as even to recommend them to their admirers: these were hypocrisy and worldly-mindedness, sins which, of all others, the professors of religion need most to guard against, as sins that most easily beset those who have escaped the grosser pollutions that are in the world through lust, and which are therefore highly dangerous. We are here cautioned, I. Against hypocrisy; we must not be as the hypocrites are, nor do as the hypocrites do. 1. In the giving of alms, ver. 1-4 . 2. In prayer, ver. 5-8 . We are here taught what to pray for, and how to pray ( ver. 9-13 ); and to forgive in prayer, ver. 14, 15 . 3. In fasting, ver. 16-18 . II. Against worldly-mindedness, 1. In our choice, which is the destroying sin of hypocrites, ver. 19-24 . 2. In our cares, which is the disquieting sin of many good Christians, ver. 25-34 . The Sermon on the Mount. 1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise y

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

1 Samuel 15:30

Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

Job 31:16

If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail;

Psalms 37:21

The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

Proverbs 19:17

He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. that which: or, his deed

Proverbs 20:6

Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? goodness: or, bounty

Ecclesiastes 11:2 Isaiah 9:17 Isaiah 10:6 Isaiah 58:7 Isaiah 58:10 Hosea 8:1 Matthew 5:18 Matthew 6:5 Matthew 6:16 Matthew 7:5 Matthew 15:7 Matthew 16:3 Matthew 22:18 Matthew 23:6 Matthew 23:13 Matthew 24:51 Mark 7:6 Mark 12:39 Luke 6:42 Luke 11:41 Luke 11:43 Luke 12:33 Luke 12:56 Luke 13:15 Luke 20:46 John 5:41 John 5:44 John 7:18 John 13:29 Acts 10:2 Acts 10:4 Acts 11:29 Acts 24:17 Romans 12:8 2 Corinthians 9:6

Topics

Adoption Giving Hypocrisy Liberality Motive Trumpet Works Works, Good

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Matthew 6:2.

Matthew 6:3

But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

Matthew 10:19

But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

Matthew 21:40

When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?

Matthew 3:10

And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Matthew 6:1

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. alms: or, righteousness of your: or, with your

Matthew 7:19

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Matthew 7:26

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Matthew 7:6

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Frequently asked questions

What does Matthew 6:2 say?

Matthew 6:2 (King James Version) reads: "Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, 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. do not: or, cause not a trumpet to be sounded"

Is Matthew 6:2 in the Old or New Testament?

Matthew 6:2 is in the New Testament of the Bible, in the book of Matthew.

Reflect

As you read Matthew 6:2, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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