Matthew 6:5-15 The Sermon on the Mount cont. Whenever You Pray.

Mat 6:5  "And when praying, you must not be like the hypocrites. They are fond of standing and praying in the synagogues or at the corners of the wider streets, in order that men may see them. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.

Mat 6:6  But you, whenever you pray, go into your own room and shut the door: then pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.

Mat 6:7  "And when praying, do not use needless repetitions as the Gentiles do, for they expect to be listened to because of their multitude of words.

Mat 6:8  Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him.

Mat 6:9  "In this manner therefore pray: 'Our Father who art in Heaven, may Thy name be kept holy;

Mat 6:10  let Thy kingdom come; let Thy will be done, as in Heaven so on earth;

Mat 6:11  give us to-day our bread for the day;

Mat 6:12  and forgive us our shortcomings, as we also have forgiven those who have failed in their duty towards us;

Mat 6:13  and bring us not into temptation, but rescue us from the Evil one.'

Mat 6:14  "For if you forgive others their offences, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also;

Mat 6:15  but if you do not forgive others their offences, neither will your Father forgive yours.

Introduction to the Passage

Don’t pray so as to impress others with your piety. So much religious gobbledigook is just to show others how conscientious you are at fulfilling the so called daily prayer schedule.

“Jesus calls for praying people to consider what they are doing and to concentrate on praying not on the praise of men”. Leon Morris p.139

Notes on the Passage

Mat 6:5  "And when praying, you must not be like the hypocrites. They are fond of standing and praying in the synagogues or at the corners of the wider streets, in order that men may see them. I solemnly tell you that they already have their reward.

Notes

"And when praying,  you must not be like the hypocrites

Here is the second of the Three Acts of Piety. ‘When you give alms to the poor’, the first. Then ‘When you pray’, the second, then ‘When you fast’, the last.

Hypocrites manifested the same spirit about prayer as almsgiving; it was done in public places. The word “synagogues,” here, clearly means, not the place of worship of that name, but places where many were accustomed to assemble - near the markets or courts, where they could be seen of many. Barnes Notes

Mat 6:6  But you, whenever you pray, go into your own room and shut the door: then pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.

Notes:

The followers of Jesus will not pray to impress men but the exact opposite.

go into your own room and shut the door

Room = inner chanber

G5009 ταμεῖον tameion tam-i'-on  Strong’s

Neuter contraction of a presumed derivative of ταμίας tamias (a dispenser or distributor; akin to τέμνω temnō, to cut); a dispensary or magazine, that is, a chamber on the ground floor or interior of an Oriental house (generally used for storage or privacy, a spot for retirement): - secret chamber, closet, storehouse.

This room is private with no possibility for access from the street. This is a place for complete privacy. Nowdays probably a Bedroom or walk-in-robe would suffice. Every precaution should be taken that Prayer is unobserved. L.M

then pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father--He who sees in secret--will recompense you.

You Father who sees in secret - Who is unseen.

Who seeth in secret - Who sees what the human eye cannot see; who sees the real designs and desires of the heart. Prayer should always be offered, remembering that God is acquainted with our real desires; and that it is those real desires, and not the words of prayer, that he will answer.

Mat 6:7  "And when praying, do not use needless repetitions as the Gentiles do, for they expect to be listened to because of their multitude of words.

Notes:

do not use needless repetitions as the Gentiles do,

And praying,G4336 G1161 do notG3361 repeat over and overG945 asG5618 theG3588

Thayer Definition: heathen;G1482 [gentiles]ἐθνικός ethnikos

1) adapted to the genius or customs of a people, peculiar to a people, national

2) suited to the manners or language of foreigners, strange, foreign

3) in the NT savouring of the nature of pagans, alien to the worship of the true God, heathenish

Illustration
I remember seeing some fundamentalists trying to introduce their prayer rituals in an African country by having a group of young men pray in the middle of the footpath on a busy street. It was all about show and making an impression. They got their reward.

Mat 6:8  Do not, however, imitate them; for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him.

Notes.

Do not, however, imitate them; [Do not be like them]

“Do not pray , as they do. Do not be duped as they are.”

for your Father knows what things you need before ever you ask Him.

Notes:

The Reason, “for” Jesus gives is that Your Father knows even before you ask Him. Jesus could pray all night and sometimes prayed for long hours. Luke 6:12

He said that “they should always pray and not grow weary.” Lk 18:1

Jesus Manner of Praying

Mat 6:9  "In this manner therefore pray: 'Our Father who art in Heaven, may Thy name be kept holy;

'Our Father who art in Heaven, may Thy name be kept holy;

Mat 6:10  let Thy kingdom come; let Thy will be done, as in Heaven so on earth;

Mat 6:11  give us to-day our bread for the day;

Mat 6:12  and forgive us our shortcomings, as we also have forgiven those who have failed in their duty towards us;

Mat 6:13  and bring us not into temptation, but rescue us from the Evil one.'

Mat 6:14  "For if you forgive others their offences, your Heavenly Father will forgive you also;

Mat 6:15  but if you do not forgive others their offences, neither will your Father forgive yours.