Matthew 6:5-6

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. 6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room, ²  close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. ³ 

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

[6:6]  ² sn The term translated room refers to the inner room of a house, normally without any windows opening outside, the most private location possible (BDAG 988 s.v. ταμεῖον 2).

[6:6]  ³ tc See the tc note on “will reward you” in 6:4: The problem is the same and the ms support differs only slightly.