5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:5-8 KJV)
Instructions about prayer
In prayer, we have a more direct interaction with God than in giving alms, so we must be even more sincere. When you pray (Matthew 6:5), it is assumed that all disciples of Christ pray. As soon as Paul was converted, “behold, he prays.” You may as well find a living person who does not breathe as a living Christian who does not pray.
“Now, when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites, nor do as they do” (Matthew 6:2). Those who do not want to act like hypocrites in their outward actions must also avoid their inner attitudes. Jesus does not name anyone, but from Matthew 23:13, it is clear that he primarily refers to the scribes and Pharisees. They were guilty of two major faults in prayer: vain glory (Matthew 6:5-6) and vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7-8).
Vain glory
In all their acts of devotion, the hypocrite’s main goal was to be praised by others. Even when they appeared to be praying sincerely, their real focus was on receiving human approval. Therefore, they choose public places for prayer. They prayed in synagogues, which were appropriate for public prayer but not for personal prayer. They also prayed at the corners of broad streets, where most people could see them. They pretended to be overwhelmed with piety, but their real motive was to attract attention.
They prayed standing. While standing is a proper posture for prayer (Mark 11:25), kneeling is more humble and reverent (Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Ephesians 3:14). Their standing suggested pride and self-righteousness, like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11.
Their love for praying in public places was not a love for prayer itself but for the attention it brought them. Hence, they wanted to be seen by others while praying. Their goal was not God’s approval but human admiration. Their piety gave them influence over people, allowing them to gain wealth and power while appearing righteous (Matthew 23:14).
As a result, their only reward was the recognition they received from others – that was all they would get. What value is the praise of people if God does not say, “Well done”? Those who seek human approval in prayer should not expect any reward from God. True devotion must be between the soul and God, not a public display.
Jesus teaches humility and sincerity in prayer: “But you, when you pray, go into your room” (Matthew 6:6). As instructions for prayer, Jesus said that instead of praying publicly for attention, enter a private place. Isaac prayed in a field (Genesis 24:63), Jesus on a mountain, and Peter on a rooftop. The location does not matter as long as it allows undisturbed, sincere prayer. If circumstances make privacy impossible, we should still pray rather than neglect the duty. And when praying, pray to God, not to impress others. The Pharisees prayed to win admiration. We should pray to our Father, who listens with love and mercy.
This is to encourage private prayer: Your Father sees in secret, observing and accepting sincere prayer even when no one else notices (John 1:48; Acts 9:11). Unlike the hypocrites who seek human praise, those who pray with sincerity will receive a greater reward—sometimes in visible answers to prayer, but ultimately in eternal glory.
Vain Repetitions in Prayer
Though prayer is about lifting up the soul, words do play a role, especially in group prayer. Jesus warns against meaningless repetition and excessive words (Matthew 6:7-8). According to Jesus, prayer should not be a mere repetition of words without true meaning. Jesus uses two terms:
- Vain repetitions – Mindlessly repeating words, like the pagans who thought their gods needed lengthy prayers to be persuaded. This includes mechanical recitations, such as saying prayers by rote without heartfelt meaning. Christ himself repeated prayers in deep emotion (Matthew 26:44), and Psalm 136 repeats phrases for emphasis, but meaningless repetition is condemned.
- Much speaking – Believing that long prayers are more effective, either out of pride or superstition. Long prayers are not wrong when they arise from deep need (Luke 6:12; 1 Kings 8), but simply making prayers lengthy for the sake of it is useless. God values sincerity over wordiness.
Reasons why we should avoid vain repetition when praying
- It imitates the pagans. Pagans believed their gods needed to be convinced with many words. The prophets of Baal cried out all day (1 Kings 18:26), but Elijah’s short, sincere prayer brought fire from heaven.
- God already knows our needs. We do not need to inform or persuade God with many words. He is our Father, aware of our needs before we ask (Isaiah 65:24; Ephesians 3:20). Prayer is not to inform God but to express our dependence on Him.
- As our Father, we should pray with love, reverence, and trust, rather than making long, formal speeches.
- He understands our situation better than we do. If He does not grant our request, it is because He knows it is not truly for our good.
- The most powerful prayers are often wordless cries from the heart (Romans 8:26). Instead of prescribing what God must do, we must submit to His will.
Conclusion
Prayer must be sincere, humble, and directed to God alone. Hypocrisy and vain repetition make prayer meaningless. Instead, Jesus calls us to pray privately, sincerely, and with trust in our heavenly Father. True prayer is not about impressing others or using many words but about seeking God with a genuine heart.