Lectionary Calendar
Wednesday, June 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Matthew 6:8
This verse is not available in the MSG!
Jump to:Bible Study Tools • Parallel Bible Verse • Bible Contextual Overview • Bible Cross-References • Gill's Bible Notes • Clarke's Bible Notes
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- InternationalDevotionals:
- ChipParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
King James Version (1611)
Be not yee therefore like vnto them: For your father knoweth what things yee haue neede of, before yee aske him.
Be not yee therefore like vnto them: For your father knoweth what things yee haue neede of, before yee aske him.
King James Version
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
English Standard Version
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
New American Standard Bible
"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
New Century Version
Don't be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
Don't be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him.
Amplified Bible
"So do not be like them [praying as they do]; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
"So do not be like them [praying as they do]; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Be ye not like them therefore: for your Father knoweth whereof ye haue neede, before ye aske of him.
Be ye not like them therefore: for your Father knoweth whereof ye haue neede, before ye aske of him.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
"So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Therefore, do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Berean Standard Bible
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Contemporary English Version
Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.
Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.
Complete Jewish Bible
Don't be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Don't be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Darby Translation
Be not ye therefore like them, for your Father knows of what things ye have need before ye beg [anything] of him.
Be not ye therefore like them, for your Father knows of what things ye have need before ye beg [anything] of him.
Easy-to-Read Version
Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
George Lamsa Translation
Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need, before you ask him.
Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need, before you ask him.
Good News Translation
Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.
Do not be like them. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask him.
Lexham English Bible
Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Literal Translation
Then do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him.
Then do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him.
American Standard Version
Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Bible in Basic English
So be not like them; because your Father has knowledge of your needs even before you make your requests to him.
So be not like them; because your Father has knowledge of your needs even before you make your requests to him.
Hebrew Names Version
Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
International Standard Version
Don't be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Don't be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Etheridge Translation
Be you not like them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you before that you ask him.
Be you not like them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you before that you ask him.
Murdock Translation
Therefore, be not like them; for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before ye ask him.
Therefore, be not like them; for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before ye ask him.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Be not ye therfore lyke vnto them. For your father knoweth, what thynges ye haue nede of, before ye aske of hym.
Be not ye therfore lyke vnto them. For your father knoweth, what thynges ye haue nede of, before ye aske of hym.
English Revised Version
Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
World English Bible
Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
Therefore don't be like them, for your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Be not therefore like them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Be not therefore like them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
Weymouth's New Testament
Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him.
Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor nyle ye be maad lich to hem, for your fadir woot what is nede to you, bifore that ye axen hym.
Therfor nyle ye be maad lich to hem, for your fadir woot what is nede to you, bifore that ye axen hym.
Update Bible Version
Therefore don't be like them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him.
Therefore don't be like them: for your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him.
Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore be ye not like them: for your Father knoweth what things ye need before ye ask him.
Therefore be ye not like them: for your Father knoweth what things ye need before ye ask him.
New English Translation
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
New King James Version
"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.
New Living Translation
Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
New Life Bible
Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.
New Revised Standard
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
do not, therefore, make yourselves like them, for Godyour Father knoweth of what things ye have, need, before ye ask him.
do not, therefore, make yourselves like them, for Godyour Father knoweth of what things ye have, need, before ye ask him.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Be not you therefore like to them for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him.
Be not you therefore like to them for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him.
Revised Standard Version
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Be ye not lyke them therfore. For youre father knoweth wherof ye haue neade before ye axe of him.
Be ye not lyke them therfore. For youre father knoweth wherof ye haue neade before ye axe of him.
Young's Literal Translation
be ye not therefore like to them, for your Father doth know those things that ye have need of before your asking him;
be ye not therefore like to them, for your Father doth know those things that ye have need of before your asking him;
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Be not ye lyke them therfore. For youre father knoweth where of ye haue nede, before ye axe of him.
Be not ye lyke them therfore. For youre father knoweth where of ye haue nede, before ye axe of him.
Mace New Testament (1729)
don't therefore imitate them: for your father knows what you want, before you ask him.
don't therefore imitate them: for your father knows what you want, before you ask him.
Simplified Cowboy Version
Don't be like those kinds of guys, 'cause the Boss knows exactly what you need before you ever open your mouth!
Don't be like those kinds of guys, 'cause the Boss knows exactly what you need before you ever open your mouth!
Contextual Overview
5 "And when you come before God, don't turn that into a theatrical production either. All these people making a regular show out of their prayers, hoping for stardom! Do you think God sits in a box seat? 6 "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. 7"The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best— as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
your: Matthew 6:32, Psalms 38:9, Psalms 69:17-19, Luke 12:30, John 16:23-27, Philippians 4:6
Reciprocal: Jeremiah 3:19 - Thou shalt Matthew 23:9 - for Mark 10:51 - What John 16:19 - Jesus Romans 1:7 - God Romans 8:27 - And he 1 Thessalonians 3:11 - God
Cross-References
Genesis 6:17
"I'm going to bring a flood on the Earth that will destroy everything alive under Heaven. Total destruction.
"I'm going to bring a flood on the Earth that will destroy everything alive under Heaven. Total destruction.
Psalms 145:20
God sticks by all who love him, but it's all over for those who don't.
God sticks by all who love him, but it's all over for those who don't.
Proverbs 12:2
A good person basks in the delight of God , and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.
A good person basks in the delight of God , and he wants nothing to do with devious schemers.
Jeremiah 31:2
This is the way God put it: "They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!" God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You'll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You'll go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, And sit back and enjoy the fruit— oh, how you'll enjoy those harvests! The time's coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let's go to Zion, go to meet our God !'"
This is the way God put it: "They found grace out in the desert, these people who survived the killing. Israel, out looking for a place to rest, met God out looking for them!" God told them, "I've never quit loving you and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! And so now I'll start over with you and build you up again, dear virgin Israel. You'll resume your singing, grabbing tambourines and joining the dance. You'll go back to your old work of planting vineyards on the Samaritan hillsides, And sit back and enjoy the fruit— oh, how you'll enjoy those harvests! The time's coming when watchmen will call out from the hilltops of Ephraim: ‘On your feet! Let's go to Zion, go to meet our God !'"
Romans 4:4
If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.
If you're a hard worker and do a good job, you deserve your pay; we don't call your wages a gift. But if you see that the job is too big for you, that it's something only God can do, and you trust him to do it—you could never do it for yourself no matter how hard and long you worked—well, that trusting-him-to-do-it is what gets you set right with God, by God. Sheer gift.
Romans 11:6
The Loyal Minority Does this mean, then, that God is so fed up with Israel that he'll have nothing more to do with them? Hardly. Remember that I, the one writing these things, am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham out of the tribe of Benjamin. You can't get much more Semitic than that! So we're not talking about repudiation. God has been too long involved with Israel, has too much invested, to simply wash his hands of them. Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and cried out in prayer? God, they murdered your prophets, They trashed your altars; I'm the only one left and now they're after me! And do you remember God's answer? I still have seven thousand who haven't quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish. It's the same today. There's a fiercely loyal minority still—not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They're holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago.
The Loyal Minority Does this mean, then, that God is so fed up with Israel that he'll have nothing more to do with them? Hardly. Remember that I, the one writing these things, am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham out of the tribe of Benjamin. You can't get much more Semitic than that! So we're not talking about repudiation. God has been too long involved with Israel, has too much invested, to simply wash his hands of them. Do you remember that time Elijah was agonizing over this same Israel and cried out in prayer? God, they murdered your prophets, They trashed your altars; I'm the only one left and now they're after me! And do you remember God's answer? I still have seven thousand who haven't quit, Seven thousand who are loyal to the finish. It's the same today. There's a fiercely loyal minority still—not many, perhaps, but probably more than you think. They're holding on, not because of what they think they're going to get out of it, but because they're convinced of God's grace and purpose in choosing them. If they were only thinking of their own immediate self-interest, they would have left long ago.
1 Corinthians 15:10
But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let his grace go to waste. Haven't I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn't amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it. So whether you heard it from me or from those others, it's all the same: We spoke God's truth and you entrusted your lives.
But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I'm not about to let his grace go to waste. Haven't I worked hard trying to do more than any of the others? Even then, my work didn't amount to all that much. It was God giving me the work to do, God giving me the energy to do it. So whether you heard it from me or from those others, it's all the same: We spoke God's truth and you entrusted your lives.
Titus 2:11
God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
God's readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation's available for everyone! We're being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
Be not ye therefore like unto them,..... Do not be imitators of them, and follow their ways, who have only the dim light of nature to guide them; it would be shameful in you to do as they do, when you have a divine revelation for your direction; and especially, because
your Father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him; and therefore have no need to make use of many words, or much speaking, or long prayers. The omniscience of God is a considerable argument, and a great encouragement to prayer; he knows our persons and our wants before hand; and as he is able to help us, we have reason to believe he will; especially since he stands in the relation of a Father to us.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 6:8. Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of — Prayer is not designed to inform God, but to give man a sight of his misery; to humble his heart, to excite his desire, to inflame his faith, to animate his hope, to raise his soul from earth to heaven, and to put him in mind that THERE is his Father, his country, and inheritance.
In the preceding verses we may see three faults, which our Lord commands us to avoid in prayer:-
1st. HYPOCRISY. Be not as the hypocrites. Matthew 6:5.
2ndly. DISSIPATION. Enter into thy closet. Matthew 6:6.
3rdly. MUCH SPEAKING, or UNMEANING REPETITION, Be not like the heathens. Matthew 6:7.
