Monday 13th May
Read 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.” (NIVUK)
When Jesus condemns ostentatious public prayer and encourages those who follow Him to pray in private is He suggesting that public prayer be removed from Christian gatherings? The early church clearly didn’t think so if the prayers recorded in Acts are anything to go by. As long as we don’t seek out opportunities for public prayer or place ourselves in strategic locations in order to display our prayerful piety then we have fully grasped Jesus’ intent.
Or have we?
Don Carson suggests we will comprehend Jesus’ point better if we ask ourselves these questions: “Do I pray more frequently and more fervently when alone with God than I do in public? Do I love the secret place of prayer? Is my public praying simply the overflow of my private praying? If the answers are not enthusiastic affirmatives, we fail the test and fall under Jesus’ condemnation. We are hypocrites.”
What should a hypocrite do? They should go to a quiet place, close the door, and pray. Perhaps with humility.
