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 men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to you Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. --NIV
In the name of the One Who sees what is done in secret, amen.
Prayer is worship; prayer is to be done together; we are to be faithful in prayer; and now we see that we are to pray privately. It seems contradictory, but this passage speaks to our motivation in prayer. What is our motivation in prayer? Is it a show so that others can see that we have religion? Or is it to speak to God?
What is interesting is that when we pray for the purpose of being seen by others, those prayers are answered too. Others see us. While we might not receive what we ask for by our words, we received what our heart desires--recognition from others.
Sometimes we might think that no one prays to be seen by others anymore, but this is still happening. It is especially tempting when we are around other Christians. The family that never prays before meals suddenly prays in the restaurant when they go out to eat with others on a Sunday afternoon. It can be a subtle desire to attend Bible class so that we look like good little Christians in the congregation. If we are motivated by such things, we will receive our immediate reward.
But God wants to give us much better things. If we come to Him with a sincere heart, He will grant us great things. And so Jesus cautions us to pray in a way that removes the temptation of praying to be seen by others. When we pray privately and sincerely, we develop an attitude and relationship with our Lord that is carried into public worship. When we can leave congregational worship and not remember what people were wearing, and whether or not they folded their hands; when we didn't consider if we appeared reverent to other people, then we have the attitude of praying in our room to be seen only by our heavenly Father.
There is great wisdom for us in our Savior's words. In His concern for our well being, He tells us how to avoid temptations and get what we need and want from our heavenly Father. The distractions disappear, the motivation becomes pure. May the Lord bless you prayer in private, and give you the attitude of privacy when you pray in public. Amen.
Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, forgive our evil motivation of wanting to be recognized when we pray. Help us to always pray as if no one can see us. Bless our sincere prayers to you so that we may grow in the true faith, and glorify Your holy name forever, amen.