“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. 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 – 8

Jesus’ view of things reflected in his teachings sometimes startles one.  Like this.  He urges us to pray assuming that no one but God is listening, even though it is a public prayer.

During the time of Christ evidently the Jewish believers proved their devotion to God by how they pray.  The more obvious their prayers, the better.  Those with the most flowery, loudest and longest prayers were the most honored.  And public prayers are best!

After hearing such a prayer, those who listened heaped praise on the prayer.  Thus, a good thing like prayer was used to exalt the prayer, not God. That, Jesus said, is what they get for their great praying – the praise of their listeners. Such prayers do not touch God at all.

I recall reading somewhere that some pastor, in London, prayed such a magnificent prayer that it was reported that it was the best prayer ever heard by a British audience.  This sounds a little like Jesus’ remarks that prayer is not to impress any audience, but to pour out one’s soul in heart-felt, private prayer to the Lord Jesus.

Jesus had a way of taking what seemed like good things in worship but then pricking the bubble of pride behind them.

Are we, am I, any different?  To whom do I pray?  Who do I expect might be listening?  Are my public prayers fashioned in such a way that I sincerely hope that my hearers are impressed with my holiness or of my ability to pray such wonderful prayers?  Lord, have mercy.

There is little reward in humbly praying to Jesus, because no human hears me.  That is what Jesus is stressing.  So in our life of prayer, we care nothing about how others think, but what God himself does.