“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. “This, then, is how you should pray:" Matthew 6:5-9
You probably recognize this portion of Scripture as Jesus' thoughts leading up to the Lord's Prayer.
My preaching professor had a favorite statement he pounded into our heads, "A text without a context is a pretext."
Verses 5 though 9 provide the context for the Lord's Prayer.
Jesus begins his teaching on prayer by point out how they should NOT pray. "Don't pray like the hypocrites."
The disciples probably knew exactly what He meant by that but just in case they didn't Jesus got specific:
"Don't make a show of praying by going to public places to pray."
"Do go into a private place to do your praying to get along with your Father."
Prayer is intended to be a private and focused spiritual conversation with the Heavenly Father.
Did you notice a short phrase that is repeated several times in this portion of Scripture?
"When you pray......"
"When you pray......"
"When you pray......"
He didn't say "if you pray."
He didn't say "should you decide to pray."
Prayer is expected by God.
So, if you are expected to pray how should you expect to pray?
Jesus answered, "This is how you should pray....."
And then He taught them a pattern for prayer that has come to be known as "The Lord's Prayer".
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