Heinrich Meyer Commentary - Matthew 6:5 - 6:5

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Heinrich Meyer Commentary - Matthew 6:5 - 6:5


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

Mat_6:5. Οὐκ ἔσεσθε ] See the critical remarks. The future, as in Mat_5:48.

ὅτι ] as in Mat_5:45.

φιλοῦσιν ] they have pleasure in it, they love to do it,—a usage frequently met with in classical writers (Ellendt, Lex. Soph. II. p. 910 f.), though in the New Testament occurring only here and in Mat_23:6 f.

ἑστῶτες ] The Jew stood, while praying, with the face turned toward the temple or the holy of holies, 1Sa_1:26; 1Ki_8:22; Mar_11:25; Luk_18:11; Lightfoot, p. 292 f.; at other times, however, also in a kneeling posture, or prostrate on the ground. Therefore the notion of fixi, immobiles (Maldonatus), is not implied in the simple ἑστῶτ ., which, however, forms a feature in the picture; they love to stand there and pray.

ἐν ταῖς γονίαις τ . πλ .] not merely when they happen to be surprised, or intentionally allow themselves to be surprised (de Wette), by the hour for prayer, but also at other times besides the regular hours of devotion, turning the most sacred duty of man into an occasion for hypocritical ostentation.