Matthew
King James Version (KJV)
Matthew 6:8
“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
King James Version (KJV)
Matthew 6:8 Context
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But 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. 7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread.
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Other Translations for Matthew 6:8
Be not yee therefore like vnto them: For your father knoweth what things yee haue neede of, before yee aske him.
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
- American Standard Version (1901)
So be not like them; because your Father has knowledge of your needs even before you make your requests to him.
- Basic English Bible
Be not ye therefore like them, for your Father knows of what things ye have need before ye beg [anything] of him.
- Darby Bible
Therefore be ye not like them: for your Father knoweth what things ye need before ye ask him.
- Webster's Bible
Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him.
- Weymouth Bible
Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
- World English Bible
Therfor nyle ye be maad lich to hem, for your fadir woot what is nede to you, bifore that ye axen hym.
- Wycliffe Bible
be ye not therefore like to them, for your Father doth know those things that ye have need of before your asking him;
- Youngs Literal Bible
Bible Commentary for Matthew 6:8
Wesley's Notes for Matthew 6:8
6:8 Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of - We do not pray to inform God of our wants. Omniscient as he is, he cannot be informed of any thing which he knew not before: and he is always willing to relieve them. The chief thing wanting is, a fit disposition on our part to receive his grace and blessing. Consequently, one great office of prayer is, to produce such a disposition in us: to exercise our dependence on God; to increase our desire of the things we ask for; to us so sensible of our wants, that we may never cease wrestling till we have prevailed for the blessing.
People's Bible Notes for Matthew 6:8
Mt 6:8 For your Father knoweth. Here is given abundant reason for short prayers. Many prayers apparently aim to give God information on matters connected with this world.
I would translate it as Thy will be done on earth, as in heaven. The reason I say this is because the Greek text uses two separate phrases. The Greek uses EN where it says in heaven. EN would be translated in. The King James uses in both times, but EN is not used both times in the Greek. It is not used again to say in earth. It should read on earth because instead of using EN for in, it uses EPI which would be translated on. I hope that makes sense.
Matthew 6:9-13 gives us the principles of prayer. This is known as the "Lord's Prayer" theologically, but in reality it is called the Disciples Prayer because Jesus is teaching the disciples to pray.
The real Lord's Prayer is found in John Chapter 17 where Jesus prayed in intercession for His people to the Father. That is the real Lord's Prayer. It is His prayer. This is the prayer for the disciples in Matthew Chapter 6.
In Matthew 6:10 (KJV), it says "Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven."
What I take away from reading Matthew Chapters 16 and 18, is that Jesus taught that the disciples were to preach, and the disciples were to do the things on earth as it has already been decreed in heaven.
I would take Matthew 6:10 to literally be saying Lord, whatever you have designed in heaven to happen on earth today, let it happen. Let your will be done! Of course then we are submitted to God for everything that happens in our day as being God's will. What an awesome principle!
Until 1Corinthians 13:8-10 is fulfilled, I believe we can safely pray the will of God by using a prayer language that our carnal mind doesn't/can't interfere with. Our carnal words limit what we say to God, so our wants and our will are always in the way. As long as we are "thinking," those thoughts get in the way of Gods spirit speaking to our spirit. I find that after I speak my prayers in English, I use my prayer language to let the Spirit lead me, talk to me, and I know His Will will be done....Because He already knows what I need, I need to be able to HEAR it. God prepares our hearts, through His spirit, to accept the things we need. No expectations that are amiss and no disappointments.
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