Matthew 6:5

Private Prayer

6:5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues ¹  and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.

Matthew 6:16

Proper Fasting

6:16 “When ²  you fast, do not look sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unattractive ³  so that people will see them fasting. I tell you the truth, ⁴  they have their reward.

[6:5]  ¹ sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.

[6:16]  ² tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[6:16]  ³ tn Here the term “disfigure” used in a number of translations was not used because it could convey to the modern reader the notion of mutilation. L&N 79.17 states, “‘to make unsightly, to disfigure, to make ugly.’ ἀφανίζουσιν γὰρ τὰ πρόσωπα αὐτῶν ‘for they make their faces unsightly’ Mt 6:16.”

[6:16]  ⁴ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”