Discovery BoxMatthew 6:2-8 
Context6:2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, 1 do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues 2 and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, 3 they have their reward. 6:3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 6:4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 4
6:5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues 5 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, 6 close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 7 6:7 When 8 you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. 6:8 Do 9 not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
1 tn Grk “give alms,” but this term is not in common use today. The giving of alms was highly regarded in the ancient world (Deut 15:7-11).
2 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.
3 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”
4 tc L W Θ 0250 Ï it read ἐν τῷ φανερῷ (en tw fanerw, “openly”) at the end of this verse, giving a counterweight to what is done in secret. But this reading is suspect because of the obvious literary balance, because of detouring the point of the passage (the focus of vv. 1-4 is not on two kinds of public rewards but on human vs. divine approbation), and because of superior external testimony that lacks this reading (א B D Z Ë1,13 33 al).
5 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:23.
6 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).
7 tc See the tc note on “will reward you” in 6:4: The problem is the same and the ms support differs only slightly.
8 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
9 tn Grk “So do not.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated.
