Anakalypsis / Unveiling the Word

Matthew 6:4

That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

KJV

ὅπως ἡ σοῦ ἐλεημοσύνη ᾖ ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ, καὶ ὁ πατήρ σου ὁ βλέπων ἐν τῷ κρυπτῷ ἀποδώσει σοι.

Greek NT

ut sit eleemosyna tua in abscondito, et Pater tuus, qui videt in abscondito, reddet tibi.

Vulgate

that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.

ASV

That thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

11 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

βλέπω
blepo
verb · 132×
εἰμί
eimi
verb · 2461×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
κρυπτός
kruptos
adjective · 19×
πατήρ
pater
noun · 412×
σύ
su
pronoun · 1071×
ἀποδίδωμι
apodidomi
verb · 48×
ἐλεημοσύνη
eleemosune
noun · 13×
ἐν
en
preposition · 2743×
ὁ
o
article · 19778×
ὅπως
opos
adverb · 53×

Textual variants

2 variant units attested by manuscript witnesses and modern critical editions.

notable
SBLGNT: κρυπτῷ | WH/Treg/NIV: κρυπτῷ | RP: + αὑτὸς
  • κρυπτῷ — SBLGNT
  • κρυπτῷ — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • + αὑτὸς — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus
notable
SBLGNT: σοι | WH/Treg/NIV: σοι | RP: + ἐν τῷ φανερῷ
  • σοι — SBLGNT
  • σοι — Westcott-Hort, Tregelles, Reader's GNT (NA27)
  • + ἐν τῷ φανερῷ — Robinson-Pierpont
source: sblgnt-apparatus

Historic Christian voices

8 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§1430Jesus' call to conversion and penance, like that of the prophets before him, does not aim first at outward works, "sackcloth and ashes," fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. Without this, such penances remain sterile and false; however, interior conversion urges expression in visible signs, gestures and works of penance.23
§1434The interior penance of the Christian can be expressed in many and various ways. Scripture and the Fathers insist above all on three forms, fasting, prayer, and almsgiving,31 which express conversion in relation to oneself, to God, and to others. Alongside the radical purification brought about by Baptism or martyrdom they cite as means of obtaining forgiveness of sins: effort …
§1969The New Law practices the acts of religion: almsgiving, prayer and fasting, directing them to the "Father who sees in secret," in contrast with the desire to "be seen by men."24 Its prayer is the Our Father.25
…and 1 more from this source.
2. Now when, as you see, He had demonstrated the greatness of God's providential care, and they were in what follows to be rebuked also, even in this He was sparing, laying to their charge not want, but poverty, of faith. Thus, if God, says He, so clothe the grass of the field, much more you, O you of little faith. Matthew 6:30 And yet surely all these things He Himself works. …
36. Any truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without indulgence letters. 37. Any true Christian, whether living or dead, participates in all the blessings of Christ and the church; and this is granted him by God, even without indulgence letters. 43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does…

Cross-references

  • 1Cor 4:5 — Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man ha
  • 1Sam 2:30 — Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I
  • 2Chr 15:7 — Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
  • 2Cor 8:21 — Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
  • Eph 6:8 — Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
  • Heb 4:13 — Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
  • Jer 17:10 — I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.
  • Jer 23:24 — Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
  • Jude 1:24 — Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
  • Luke 8:17 — For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
  • Luke 14:14 — And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
  • Luke 14:14 — And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.
  • Matt 6:1 — 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.
  • Matt 6:6 — But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
  • Matt 6:6 — But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
  • Matt 6:18 — That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
  • Matt 6:18 — That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
  • Matt 10:42 — And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
  • Matt 25:34 — Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
  • Ps 18:20 — The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.
  • Ps 19:11 — Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
  • Ps 44:21 — Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart.
  • Ps 139:1 — O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.
  • Ps 139:12 — Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.