Matthew 6:5

The Passion Translation

“Whenever you pray, be sincere and not like the pretenders who love the attention they receive while praying before others in the meetings and on street corners. Believe me, they’ve already received their reward.

Cross References

Matthew 6:2

So when you give to the poor, don’t announce it and make a show of it just to be seen by people, like the hypocrites in the streets and in the marketplace. They’ve already received their reward!

Luke 18:13

“The tax collector stood alone in a corner, away from the Holy Place, and covered his face in his hands, feeling that he was unworthy even to look up to God. Beating his breast, he sobbed with brokenness and tears saying, ‘God, please, in your mercy and because of the blood sacrifice, forgive me, for I am nothing but the most miserable of all sinners!’

Mark 11:25

And whenever you stand praying, if you find that you carry something in your heart against another person, release him and forgive him so that your Father in heaven will also release you and forgive you of your faults.

Jeremiah 29:12

When you call on me and come to me in prayer, I will listen to your every word.

Isaiah 1:15

When you stretch out your hands to pray, I will hide my eyes from you. Repeat your prayers all you want, but I will not listen, for your hands are stained with innocent blood.

Luke 20:47

And for an offering they will pray long religious prayers at the homes of widows, cheating them out of their very livelihood. Beware of them all, because one day the Judge will strip them of honor, and judge them severely.”

James 4:6

But he continues to pour out more and more grace upon us. For it says, “God resists you when you are proud but continually pours out grace when you are humble.”

Luke 18:1

One day Jesus taught the apostles to keep praying and never stop or lose hope. He shared with them this illustration:

Daniel 6:10

Even after Daniel learned that the king had officially signed his decree, he continued his regular custom of praying at three set times a day. He went to the upper chamber of his house and opened the windows facing toward Jerusalem. Then he got down on his knees to pray, and he offered his grateful praise to God as he always had done.

Luke 11:43

“You Pharisees are hypocrites! You love to be honored before others with titles of respect, seeking public recognition, aspiring to seem more important than others.

Matthew 21:22

Everything you pray for with the fullness of faith you will receive!”

Psalm 55:17

Every evening I will explain my need to him. Every morning I will move my soul toward him. Every waking hour I will worship only him, and he will hear and respond to my cry.

Psalm 5:2

Don’t you hear how I’m crying out to you? My King and my God, consider my every word, for I am calling out to you.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Make your life a prayer.

John 16:24

Until now you’ve not been bold enough to ask the Father for a single thing in my name, but now you can ask, and keep on asking him! And you can be sure that you’ll receive what you ask for, and your joy will have no limits!

Mark 12:38

Jesus also taught the people, “Beware of the religious scholars. They love to parade around in their clergy robes and be greeted with respect on the street.

Matthew 9:38

As you go, plead with the Owner of the Harvest to thrust out many more reapers to harvest his grain!”

Matthew 23:13

“Great sorrow awaits you religious scholars and you Pharisees—such frauds and pretenders! You do all you can to keep people from experiencing the reality of heaven’s kingdom realm. Not only do you refuse to enter in, you also forbid anyone else from entering in!

Proverbs 16:5

Yahweh detests all the proud of heart, for pride attracts his punishment— and you can count on that!

Matthew 23:6

They crave the seats of highest honor at banquets and in their meeting places.

Proverbs 15:8

It is despicable to the Lord when people use the worship of the Almighty as a cloak for their sin, but every prayer of the righteous is pleasing to his heart.

Matthew 6:16

“When you fast, don’t look gloomy and pretend to be spiritual. They want everyone to know they’re fasting, so they appear in public looking miserable and disheveled. Believe me, they’ve already received their reward.

Matthew 6:1

“Examine your motives to make sure you’re not showing off when you do your good deeds, only to be admired by others; otherwise, you will lose the reward of your heavenly Father.

Matthew 23:5

Everything they do is done for show and to be noticed by others. They want to be seen as holy, so they wear oversized prayer boxes on their arms and foreheads with Scriptures inside, and wear extra-long tassels on their outer garments.

Luke 6:24

“But what sorrows await those of you who are rich in this life only, for you have already received all the comfort you’ll ever get.