Bible Strands
Matthew 6:1
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples in the opening of a section on religious practice, immediately preceding instructions on giving, praying, and fasting. He addresses them to establish the proper motive for all outward acts of piety.
The words — The imperative προσέχετε (Prosechete) commands "do beware," while ἔμπροσθεν (emprosthen) specifies the location as "before" or in public view. The noun δικαιοσύνην (dikaiosunēn) identifies the object as "righteousness" or righteous acts.
The thread — Matthew 23:5 records Jesus noting that hypocrites perform deeds specifically so men will see them. John 12:43 states that some individuals loved human praise more than divine approval, while Hebrews 6:10 confirms that God does not overlook work done privately for His name.
Why it lands — The verse states that performing righteous acts before men to be seen results in forfeiting reward from the Father in heaven. It requires the reader to align religious practice with divine observation rather than human validation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Matthew 23:5 All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
- John 12:43 For they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
- Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget your work and the love you have shown for His name as you have ministered to the saints and continue to do so.
- Matthew 23:28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
- Luke 16:15 So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
- Matthew 6:4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
- Galatians 6:12 Those who want to make a good impression outwardly are trying to compel you to be circumcised. They only do this to avoid persecution for the cross of Christ.
- Ezekiel 33:31 So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
- John 5:44 How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- 2 John 1:8 Watch yourselves, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but that you may be fully rewarded.