• Jesus on Prayer - Day 2

    <br />Hypocritical Prayer

  • Matthew 6:1, 5-6  "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven…

    … 5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

  • What is the hypocrite's motivation in prayer?

  • What is the hypocrite's reward?

  • What doesn’t the hypocrite receive?

  • Jesus on Prayer - Day 2

    <br />Hypocritical Prayer

  • Matthew 6:1, 5-6  "Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven…

    … 5 "And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.  6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 

  • The Bible teaches that God is everywhere, so why do you think Jesus emphasises the fact that He ‘is in secret’?

  • What is the reward for those who pray to be seen by God rather than men?

  • Does this mean that all public prayer is wrong?

  • How does the physical act of going to your room and shutting the door counteract the hypocritical motive?

  • Jesus on Prayer - Day 2

    <br />Hypocritical Prayer

  • In this meditation we have seen that Jesus warns us against hypocrisy in prayer. Prayer is to be done to be seen by God, not man.


    In the next meditation, we will consider what Jesus taught about prayer in Matthew 6:7-8.


    Until then may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 


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