Matthew 6:6 · Bible study
Matthew 6:6 Commentary: The Father Who Sees in Secret
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Examine Matthew 6:6: Jesus' instruction on secret prayer, the meaning of 'inner room,' and the promise that the Father who sees in secret will reward openly.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus commands secret prayer over public show, promising that the Father who observes in hiddenness will repay openly; this overturns religious performance and grounds prayer in a personal relationship.
- Key words: ταμεῖον (inner room, private chamber), κρυπτός (hidden, secret), βλέπων (seeing, observing, a present participle indicating continuous divine attention), ἀποδώσει (will repay, give back what is due).
- Main debate: Whether the 'reward' is primarily eschatological (future, final) or includes present tangible blessings; commentators such as Gill and Clarke embrace both.
- Theological theme: God as Father who sees beyond appearances; kingdom ethics that invert public and private; prayer as communion, not performance.
- Best use: Foundational text for teaching on devotional life, sincerity in prayer, and the nature of divine reward; pairs with Matthew 6:4 and 6:18 for a threefold pattern of hidden piety.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
WEB World English Bible 2000
But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
`But thou, when thou mayest pray, go into thy chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who is seeing in secret, shall reward thee manifestly.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who sees in secret will render [it] to thee.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret, and thy father who seeth in secret will repay thee.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mas tú, cuando oras, éntrate en tu cámara, y cerrada tu puerta, ora á tu Padre que está en secreto; y tu Padre que ve en secreto, te recompensará en público.
Porém tu, quando orares, entra em teu quarto, fecha tua porta, e ora a teu Pai, que está em segredo; e teu Pai, que vê em segredo, ele te recompensará.
Mais quand tu pries, entre dans ta chambre, ferme ta porte, et prie ton Père qui est là dans le lieu secret; et ton Père, qui voit dans le secret, te le rendra.
Wenn aber du betest, so gehe in dein Kämmerlein und schließ die Tür zu und bete zu deinem Vater im Verborgenen; und dein Vater, der in das Verborgene sieht, wird dir' s vergelten öffentlich.
Maar gij, wanneer gij bidt, gaat in uw binnenkamer, en uw deur gesloten hebbende, bidt uw Vader, Die in het verborgen is; en uw Vader, Die in het verborgen ziet, zal het u in het openbaar vergelden.
Ma tu, quando preghi, entra nella tua cameretta, e serratone l’uscio fa’ orazione al Padre tuo che è nel segreto; e il Padre tuo che vede nel segreto, te ne darà la ricompensa.
Ale ty, gdy się modlisz, wnijdź do komory swojej, a zawarłszy drzwi swoje, módl się Ojcu twemu, który jest w skrytości; a Ojciec twój, który widzi w skrytości, odda ci jawnie.
Ты же, когда молишься, войди в комнату твою и, затворив дверь твою, помолись Отцу твоему, Который втайне; и Отец твой, видящий тайное, воздаст тебе явно.
你 禱告 的時候，要進 你的 內屋， 關上 門，禱告 你 在 暗中 的父； 你 父 在 暗中 察看，必然報答 你。
But when you make your prayer, go into your private room, and, shutting the door, say a prayer to your Father in secret, and your Father, who sees in secret, will give you your reward.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Matthew 6:6
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Jesus here establishes secret prayer as a mark of genuine discipleship, in direct contrast to the public prayers of the hypocrites. The instruction to 'enter into your inner room' (τὸ ταμεῖόν) refers to a private chamber where one can be hidden from human eyes. Barnes notes that every Jewish house had such a place, often a small upper room used for retirement and prayer. Clarke adds that prayer is 'the most secret intercourse of the soul with God', a conversation of one heart with another. Gill emphasises that Jesus does not forbid public prayer (he himself prayed with the disciples) but insists that private devotion must be the foundation. On the reward, both present and future blessings are in view: Gill writes that the Father 'shall reward thee openly, both here and hereafter,' while Clarke marvels that God 'rewards even prayer itself' by giving more than we ask. The Cambridge Bible observes that Christ was the first to clearly enjoin silent, secret prayer, a practice that ran counter to surrounding cultures.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: All Christians agree that Jesus commands private, sincere prayer offered to God the Father, who sees what is done in secret and will reward that devotion openly.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Literal vs. spiritual 'closet' | All traditions affirm the need for private, undistracted prayer over public display. | Whether the 'inner room' must be a physical place or can be any private space (e.g., a car, a quiet spot outdoors). |
| Nature of the 'reward openly' | God certainly rewards secret prayer with his blessing; the reward is real and from Him. | Some emphasize primarily eschatological reward (heavenly treasure, future resurrection), while others include present blessings of peace, guidance, and material provision. |
| Mandatory practice for all believers | Secret prayer is a normal, essential part of Christian life. | Whether it is a binding command for every believer at all times or a principle that may be adapted for circumstances such as illness or lack of privacy. |
| Relationship to public prayer | Public prayer and corporate worship are not condemned; Jesus himself prayed publicly and with disciples. | How to balance the command for secrecy with the practice of praying aloud in church, small groups, or family settings. |
| Meaning of 'Father who is in secret' | God is described as hidden yet fully aware of one's private devotion. | Whether 'in secret' primarily refers to God's own hidden nature (transcendence) or to the location where the prayer happens (the closet). |
Historical & Cultural Context
First-century Jewish homes typically had a flat roof accessible by stairs, and on the roof or near the entrance stood small rooms used for storage or private retreat. Professor Hackett, cited by Barnes, describes such chambers on the houses of Damascus: 'along the side and at the corners of the open space or terrace, which constitutes often a sort of upper story.' These rooms, called ταμεῖον in Greek (from a root meaning 'storage chamber'), served as treasuries or storehouses (Luke 12:24) and also as prayer closets. Jesus directs his disciples to a location where no one but God would see or hear them.
Public prayer was standard in Jewish practice, standing in synagogues or at street corners, and some Pharisees used it to display piety. Seneca and classical writers note that Romans looked with suspicion on private prayer, as if those who prayed secretly must have something to hide. Against this backdrop, Jesus reclaims prayer as personal communion with the Father, not a performance for onlookers. The three examples of piety in Matthew 6 (alms, prayer, fasting) all follow the same pattern: what is done ‘in secret’ the Father sees and rewards.
Isaiah 26:20, 'Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you', echoes here, as does the example of Elisha in 2 Kings 4:33, who 'went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to Yahweh.' Jesus grounds his teaching in the tradition of intimate, hidden encounter with God.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentary sources note no significant textual variants for Matthew 6:6. The verse is stable across the manuscript tradition. The phrase 'Father who sees in secret' (τῷ κρυπτῷ) parallels the same expression in Matthew 6:4 and 6:18, forming a consistent pattern of teaching on hidden piety.
Reception History
From the early church, this verse has been a cornerstone of teaching on private prayer. Monastic communities used it as a foundation for the practice of solitary prayer in cells or oratories. During the Reformation, both Catholic and Protestant traditions emphasized the direct access of the believer to God without human mediators, often quoting Matthew 6:6 to encourage personal devotion over rote public forms. In Puritan and Pietist circles, the 'closet' became a symbol for the daily habit of secret communion with God, a practice often described in devotional classics. Modern readers continue to return to the image of the shut door and the unseen Father, finding hope that no prayer offered in hiding is wasted.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The Place of Prayer: Jesus instructs 'enter into your inner room, shut your door.' This is not only a literal room but any space where we are alone with God, a quiet corner, an early morning moment, a car parked in a lot. The key is intentional retreat from the sight of others. Barnes reminds us that the desire to pray will create such spaces even in difficult circumstances.
- The Person of Prayer: We pray 'to your Father who is in secret.' The relationship is intimate, not distant. The term 'Father' (πατήρ) appears with the emphatic personal pronoun 'your,' drawing each disciple into a personal bond. This is not generic prayer but the child speaking to a parent who already knows the need.
- The Promise of Prayer: 'Your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.' The reward includes both present peace and future glory, a deepened sense of God's presence here and now, and the ultimate vindication and blessing at the end of the age. The Father does not forget one petition offered in faith.
Five-point outline
- Contrast with the hypocrites: they love to be seen; you pray unseen.
- Enter the room: take deliberate action to create privacy.
- Shut the door: wall out distractions and the desire for human approval.
- Pray to your Father: relate to God as loving parent, not a distant audience.
- Receive the reward: the Father who saw in secret will openly repay, both now and in eternity.
Illustration hooks
- A farmer waking before dawn to tend livestock finds a few quiet minutes in the barn, the only place no one else is around.
- A mother hides in the pantry for two minutes of silence while children watch cartoons. The door is shut, not perfectly, but intentionally.
- A commuter turns off the radio in the parking lot before entering the office, using the car as a mobile prayer closet.
Questions your congregation is asking
- What if I live in a crowded home and cannot find a private room?
- Does this verse mean I should never pray aloud in church or with others?
- How do I know if God is rewarding my prayer if I don't see an obvious result?
Leading a Discussion
This passage is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, where he repeatedly contrasts the outward religion of the Pharisees with the inward reality of the kingdom. As you gather as a group, the goal is not to inspect one another's devotional habits but to explore what Jesus means by a prayer life that is both hidden and seen by the Father.
Discussion questions
- Read Matthew 6:5, 6. Why does Jesus start with the negative example of the hypocrites before giving the positive instruction?
- The word 'closet' (ταμεῖον) can mean a storeroom or a secret chamber. What does that image suggest about the kind of prayer Jesus encourages?
- Jesus says the Father 'sees in secret.' How does that shape the way you think about God's attention during your private moments?
- What kinds of 'rewards' have Christians throughout history understood from this verse? (Refer to Gill's 'both here and hereafter' and Clarke's emphasis on God giving more than we ask.)
- If the Father already knows what we need (Matthew 6:8), why is it important to pray in secret?
- Is there a tension between 'secret prayer' and praying together as a church? How do you hold both?
- Think of one small step you could take this week to create a 'closet' for prayer, even if it's not a literal room. What would that look like?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 32:24 | Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day. |
| Genesis 32:29 | Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” He said, “Why is it that you ask what my name is?” So he blessed him there. |
| II Kings 4:33 | He went in therefore, and shut the door on them both, and prayed to Yahweh. |
| Psalms 34:15 | Yahweh’s eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry. |
| Isaiah 26:20 | Come, my people, enter into your rooms, and shut your doors behind you. Hide yourself for a little moment, until the indignation is past. |
| Isaiah 65:24 | It will happen that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. |
| Matthew 6:4 | so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. |
| Matthew 6:18 | so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke emphasizes that true prayer is a private, heart-to-heart conversation with God, requiring us to shut out the world entirely. He marvels that God not only gives what we ask and more, but actually rewards the act of praying itself, counting our trust in him as a service.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes insists on having a specific secluded place for prayer, but stresses that the desire to pray will create such a place even when none is obvious. He points to Christ rising early to find solitude as the model, warning that a lack of such devotion shows indifference to one’s own salvation.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge note emphasises that Jesus was the first religious teacher to clearly command secret, silent prayer. This stood in sharp contrast to the Jewish, pagan, and Muslim practice of praying aloud in public, which even Roman writers viewed with distrust when done privately.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses that true prayer is a private matter between the believer and God, not a show for others. It draws a sharp contrast: those who pray in secret, unseen by people, are seen by the Father, who will reward them openly and publicly.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that Jesus is not condemning public prayer but urging private prayer, which is less exposed to pride and hypocrisy. He notes the Jewish practice of praying silently, with a voice barely heard, and that the Father who sees in secret will reward openly.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB clarifies that Jesus is not condemning all public prayer, only prayer done to be seen by others. The key point is the retiring, private character of true prayer itself, not simply the physical setting. Even in public, prayer must be directed to God in secret.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees Jesus contrasting two kinds of righteousness: Pharisaic show that seeks human applause and vanishes, and Christian secrecy that hides in God and will be openly rewarded. He treats almsgiving, prayer, and fasting as the three great forms of piety that hypocrites pervert into performance, while true believers serve the Father who sees in secret.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry stresses that prayer is as natural to a Christian as breathing; a prayerless person is not truly alive in grace. The real danger lies not just in acting like a hypocrite but in harboring a hypocritical heart that craves human approval rather than God's.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses the literal secrecy of private prayer. For him, entering the closet is not just a physical act but a call to ensure, as far as possible, that no one else knows when or how you pray. True devotion withdraws from all human observation.