By Beverly Conover
Matthew 6:5-8
5. “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them.
I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.
6. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you,
and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
7. “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They
think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again
and again.
8. Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need
even before you ask him!
Mat. 6:5
- WHEN you pray,
(not IF you pray)
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a
thankful heart.
- don’t be like the hypocrites
The word “hypocrite” is from the Greek word hypocrites
which means “actor or pretender”. Actors in ancient Greek
theater wore large masks to mark which character they were
playing.
- who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them.
Luke 18:9-14 “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed[a] thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you; this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
What were the characteristics of the Pharisee in this parable?
Of the tax collector?
Pharisee: self-righteous, proud
Tax Collector: humble, broken before God
James 4:6 God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
So, salvation is a gift from God. Our faith is a gift from God as well:
John 6:44 For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me…
- I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get
Matthew 6:19-21 “Don’t store up treasures here on earth where moths eat them, and rust destroys them and where thieves break in and steal. Store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
Mat. 6:6
- But when you pray,
again, not if you pray
- go away by yourself, shut the door behind you,
Be intentional, be persistent, be creative.
Early in the morning while the house is quiet, at night after the kids are in bed, outdoors: go for a walk.
Cell phones silenced—if possible, put them in another room.
What ways have you found or what do you think might work for you?
- Pray to your Father in private. 15 times in the O.T. and 165 times in the N.T. God is called Father
Jer. 3:19B “I looked forward to your calling me “Father” and I
wanted you never to turn from me.”
2 Cor. 6:18 And I will be your Father and you will be my sons and daughters says the Lord Almighty
John 14:9 Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Phillip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show him to you?”
What is the ideal Father like? How is God’s Father heart revealed through Jesus in the New Testament?
Example: Luke 15:11-32 the parable of the Prodigal Son
- Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
One HUGE reward is a deeper relationship with God.
Genesis 15:1B (NKJV) …” Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward.”
What rewards have you experienced in your prayer time with God?
Mat. 6:7
- When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again.
1 Kings 18:26-29 “And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered, no one paid attention.”
Babbling (vain repetition) is:
- faithless
- empty
- nonsense
- distracted
- rote prayer without meaning to the heart and mind
- to someone who is not the true God. The God who has revealed Himself in His Word
Long prayer does not = more effective prayer (Peter walking on the water to Jesus and beginning to sink: “Lord, save me!”).
But there are times for long, fervent prayer:
Luke 6:12 One day soon afterward Jesus went up on a mountain to pray, and he prayed all night to God.
There is also a time for prayer together and for public prayer:
Acts 1:14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
All those prayers are genuine, fervent, from the heart.
Mat. 6:8
- Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!
Psalm 139:4-6 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand.
“Take Aways”
- Remember who I am praying to, my Abba Father who loves me, who has given everything so we can spend now and eternity together, who wants the very best for me, who knows me completely and deeply.
- Pray genuinely, honestly, fervently, thankfully, without ceasing. Live a life of prayer.
References
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright 1975 by Thomas Nelson, publishers
“Discovering the Meaning and Origin of “Hypocrite” Merriam-Webster.com
