Matthew 6:1

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ 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.

Complete Jewish Bible:

"Be careful not to parade your acts of tzedakah in front of people in order to be seen by them! If you do, you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

Berean Standard Bible:

“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.

American Standard Version:

Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them: else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Take heed^{G4337} that ye do^{G4160} not^{G3361} your^{G5216} alms^{G1654} before^{G1715} men^{G444}, to be seen^{{G4314}{G2300}} of them^{G846}: otherwise^{G1490} ye have^{G2192} no^{G3756} reward^{G3408} of^{G3844} your^{G5216} Father^{G3962} which^{G3588} is in^{G1722} heaven^{G3772}.

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Commentary for Matthew 6:1

Matthew 6:1 is part of the Sermon on the Mount, a significant discourse delivered by Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, chapters 5-7. This verse addresses the theme of righteousness, particularly the proper motivation for performing good deeds. In the historical context of Jesus' ministry, public acts of piety, such as giving to the poor (almsgiving), were often done to gain social approval and status. Jesus warns against such ostentatious religious practice, emphasizing that the true value of a charitable act lies in its sincerity and the purity of the giver's intentions.

The verse cautions followers to be mindful of their motivations when giving alms—charitable donations to the needy. Jesus teaches that if the purpose of giving is to impress others or to gain recognition, then the giver has already received their reward in the form of human praise, and no further spiritual reward from God the Father will be forthcoming. The underlying principle is that acts of righteousness should be done quietly, without fanfare, as a genuine expression of faith and compassion, rather than as a means of self-promotion or aggrandizement. This teaching reflects the broader spiritual truth that God values authenticity and humility over public displays of religiosity.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G4337
   There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: προσέχω
   Transliteration: proséchō
   Pronunciation: pros-ekh'-o
   Description: from πρός and ἔχω; (figuratively) to hold the mind (3563 implied) towards, i.e. pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to:--(give) attend(-ance, -ance at, -ance to, unto), beware, be given to, give (take) heed (to unto); have regard.
   
2. Strong's Number: G4160
   There are 519 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ποιέω
   Transliteration: poiéō
   Pronunciation: poy-eh'-o
   Description: apparently 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 πράσσω.
   
3. Strong's Number: G3361
   There are 602 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: μή
   Transliteration: mḗ
   Pronunciation: may
   Description: a primary particle of qualified negation (whereas οὐ expresses an absolute denial); (adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas οὐ 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 ἐὰν μή, ἵνα μή, οὐ μή, μῆκος, μηκύνω, μήν, μὴ οὐκ.
   
4. Strong's Number: G5216
   There are 503 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὑμῶν
   Transliteration: hymōn
   Pronunciation: hoo-mone'
   Description: genitive case of ὑμεῖς; of (from or concerning) you:--ye, you, your (own, -selves).
   
5. Strong's Number: G1654
   There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐλεημοσύνη
   Transliteration: eleēmosýnē
   Pronunciation: el-eh-ay-mos-oo'-nay
   Description: from ἔλεος; compassionateness, i.e. (as exercised towards the poor) beneficence, or (concretely) a benefaction:--alms(-deeds).
   
6. Strong's Number: G1715
   There are 45 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἔμπροσθεν
   Transliteration: émprosthen
   Pronunciation: em'-pros-then
   Description: from ἐν and πρός; in front of (in place (literally or figuratively) or time):--against, at, before, (in presence, sight) of.
   
7. Strong's Number: G444
   There are 614 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἄνθρωπος
   Transliteration: ánthrōpos
   Pronunciation: anth'-ro-pos
   Description: from ἀνήρ and (the countenance; from ὀπτάνομαι); man-faced, i.e. a human being:--certain, man.
   
8. Strong's Number: G4314
   There are 674 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: πρός
   Transliteration: prós
   Pronunciation: pros
   Description: a strengthened form of πρό; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e. pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of, i.e. near to; usually with the accusative case, the place, time, occasion, or respect, which is the destination of the relation, i.e. whither or for which it is predicated):--about, according to , against, among, at, because of, before, between, (where-)by, for, X at thy house, in, for intent, nigh unto, of, which pertain to, that, to (the end that), X together, to (you) -ward, unto, with(-in). In the comparative case, it denotes essentially the same applications, namely, motion towards, accession to, or nearness at.
   
9. Strong's Number: G2300
   There are 24 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: θεάομαι
   Transliteration: theáomai
   Pronunciation: theh-ah'-om-ahee
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb; to look closely at, i.e. (by implication) perceive (literally or figuratively); by extension to visit:--behold, look (upon), see. Compare ὀπτάνομαι.
   
10. Strong's Number: G846
    There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: αὐτός
    Transliteration: autós
    Pronunciation: ow-tos'
    Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) 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 αὑτοῦ.
    
11. Strong's Number: G1490
    There are 14 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: εἰ δὲ μή(γε)
    Transliteration: ei dè mḗ(ge)
    Pronunciation: i deh may'-(gheh)
    Description: from εἰ, δέ, and μή (sometimes with γέ added); but if not:--(or) else, if (not, otherwise), otherwise.
    
12. Strong's Number: G2192
    There are 628 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἔχω
    Transliteration: échō
    Pronunciation: skheh'-o
    Description: a primary verb; to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or condition):--be (able, X hold, possessed with), accompany, + begin to amend, can(+ -not), X conceive, count, diseased, do + eat, + enjoy, + fear, following, have, hold, keep, + lack, + go to law, lie, + must needs, + of necessity, + need, next, + recover, + reign, + rest, + return, X sick, take for, + tremble, + uncircumcised, use.
    
13. Strong's Number: G3756
    There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὐ
    Transliteration: ou
    Pronunciation: ookh
    Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος.
    
14. Strong's Number: G3408
    There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: μισθός
    Transliteration: misthós
    Pronunciation: mis-thos'
    Description: apparently a primary word; pay for service (literally or figuratively), good or bad:--hire, reward, wages.
    
15. Strong's Number: G3844
    There are 189 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: παρά
    Transliteration: pará
    Pronunciation: par-ah'
    Description: a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side…by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application.
    
16. Strong's Number: G3962
    There are 372 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: πατήρ
    Transliteration: patḗr
    Pronunciation: pat-ayr'
    Description: apparently a primary word; a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote):--father, parent.
    
17. Strong's Number: G3588
    There are 498 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ὁ
    Transliteration: ho
    Pronunciation: to
    Description: the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.
    
18. Strong's Number: G1722
    There are 2129 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἐν
    Transliteration: en
    Pronunciation: en
    Description: a 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 εἰς and ἐκ); "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.
    
19. Strong's Number: G3772
    There are 264 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: οὐρανός
    Transliteration: ouranós
    Pronunciation: oo-ran-os'
    Description: perhaps from the same as ὄρος (through the idea of elevation); the sky; by extension, heaven (as the abode of God); by implication, happiness, power, eternity; specially, the Gospel (Christianity):--air, heaven(-ly), sky.