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 your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Matthew 6:5-8Matthew 6:5-8
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
Prayer 5 When you pray, don't be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward. 6 When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you. 7 . When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers. 8 Don't be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask.
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Jesus spoke to the gathering on the mountainside, warning them to avoid being like the Pharisees who made a show of their praying and the doing of their good works. He told them (and us) that when we pray, we are to pray in private…speaking with the Lord in a quiet place (in secret). In doing so, we are totally alone with God. We are focused upon Him and we speak only to Him. It is a private and intimate time with the Lord. We are unhindered by distraction around us, unseen and unheard by others who we might otherwise want to impress.
There was another warning. It was to sincerely speak to Him making our prayers and supplications ‘short and sweet’. Because God already knows our thoughts and our hearts desires, we need not pray in repetitive phrases or long flowery speeches. In the private places of our own hearts and minds we may lift our praise, our adoration, our thanksgiving, our confession, our requests. God knows, and hears and will answer. (“Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear” Is 65:24Is 65:24
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
24 I will answer their prayers
before they finish praying.
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This verse of scripture is not meant to mean that we should not have corporate prayer at any time, but it is speaking to individuals who are in danger of being like the hypocrites….those who ‘perform’, rather than being honest and sincere before the Lord. They are looking to be recognized by the hearers, the crowd, rather than standing in intimacy before the Almighty God.
In Exodus, Moses was on the top of Mount Sinai having a one on one conversation with God. He was gone for 40 days and nights, and when he came down, he discovered that, in his absence, the Israelites had made a golden calf and were worshiping the idol. Moses was so distraught at the sin of these who God was making an effort to deliver, that he (Moses) built a tent where he could fall down before God in prayer for their forgiveness.
When Jesus wanted to pray to His Father, He separated Himself from the crowds, and followers, and even from his disciples. He went into the wilderness or into the Garden at Gethsemane, where He could be honest and real with God.
These are just two examples of men who meant business with God. Their hearts were heavy with burdens. They wanted God to hear and answer their earnest prayers, and so they put all else aside in order to speak to their God. We would be wise to take heed, learning from Jesus’ warnings and examples. Let us pray concisely, and effectually, believing that God hears and will answer, according to His will.
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