Bits of Torah Truths – #Torah Concept in the NT: You shall not Pray to be seen of men – Episode 773
Matthew 6:5
״כַּאֲשֶׁר אַתֶּם מִתְפַּלְּלִים אַל תִּהְיוּ כַּצְּבוּעִים, הָאוֹהֲבִים לְהִתְפַּלֵּל בְּעָמְדָם בְּבָתֵּי כְּנֶסֶת וּבְפִנּוֹת שֶׁל רְחוֹבוֹת לְמַעַן יֵרָאוּ לִבְנֵי אָדָם. אָמֵן אוֹמֵר אֲנִי לָכֶם, שְׂכָרָם אִתָּם.
#torah#torahwisdom#torahtruth#torahforlife#torah4you#torahtruth
Matthew 6:5
6:5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. (NASB)
https://www.matsati.com/index.php/category/bits-of-torah-truths/
Yeshua’s instruction not to pray in order to be seen by others (Matt. 6:5) reflects a Torah-rooted concern that worship be directed to God alone, not used for self‑exaltation. The New Testament expands this principle by exposing the heart‑level motives behind religious actions.
– Torah parallels –
- Deuteronomy 6:5–6: Israel is commanded to love God with all the heart, grounding all worship in sincerity rather than performance.
- Deuteronomy 8:2–3: God tests Israel’s heart to reveal whether obedience is genuine, not outward show.
- Deuteronomy 10:12–13: Israel is called to fear, love, and serve God with all the heart and soul, emphasizing inward devotion.
- Numbers 15:37–41: The tassels remind Israel not to follow their own heart or eyes, which includes performing righteousness for human approval.
- Leviticus 26:40–42: Confession and humility before God are portrayed as inward acts, not public displays.
- Exodus 20:3–5: The first commandments require exclusive devotion to God, rejecting any form of worship that centers on self.
– Context Synthesis –
The Torah consistently emphasizes that true worship flows from the heart and is directed toward God alone. While the Torah does not explicitly address public prayer for show, it repeatedly condemns external obedience without inward sincerity. Yeshua’s teaching in Matthew 6:5 aligns with this trajectory by exposing the motive behind religious actions and calling for prayer that seeks God rather than human admiration. The New Testament thus reinforces the Torah’s vision of authentic, God‑centered devotion.
– Core Insight –
The command not to pray to be seen of men reflects the Torah’s foundational concern that worship be sincere, humble, and directed solely toward God. Yeshua intensifies this principle by revealing that the true measure of devotion is the heart’s orientation, not the visibility of the act. This is how Yeshua taught Torah in the NT, the Torah has not passed away!
Visual Summary of Concepts the Torah in the NT
