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[-] Honytawk@lemmy.zip 14 points 7 months ago

Matthew 6:5-6

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

[-] dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 0 points 7 months ago

The thing about the bible is that there are some solid parables nestled in there about how to be a halfway decent human being. But then we get prose like this that reek of good intent, but have barn-door sized holes in the grammar thanks in part to being re-translated and edited many times over the centuries. Heck, a new edition dropped just last week.

For example:

Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

Oh, so if I act like a hypocrite, I'm good to go? Huh, sounds like Matthew had this one wrong.

[-] undergroundoverground@lemmy.world 10 points 7 months ago

I think someone would have to want to read it that way, to interpret it that way.

I mean, I'm not religious myself. However, to me, hes saying they got their reward (being seen praying) and they won't get anymore reward than that. If they prey privately, their God will reward them.

[-] dejected_warp_core@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

Exactly. I'm not saying that's a valid interpretation given the context, but rather I'm illustrating that given the intent to justify one's own (bad) behavior, the text is easily abused. Which is a problem.

[-] undergroundoverground@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

I see, yeah that makes sense.

[-] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

That's not how I interpret that line. I'm pretty sure he means that if you act like a hypocrite, the scorn and derision of the people you are annoying that you get here in life is the only reward you can expect, and no further reward will be gained in the afterlife.

However, if you follow the rules, are a good person, and most importantly don't go around boasting about how good you are, then you'll receive a greater reward after death, than any earthly reward that us lowly humans could give you.

this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2024
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