Matthew 6: 5-6
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 men. I tell you the truth, 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.
Doesn't this contradict the celebration of the mass and the communal prayer held by all churches?
2007-01-31 08:30:30 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
As with most things spiritual, what matters here most is what is going on inside the person's head who is doing the praying. If it is done as a vain display, when your mind isn't on the prayer but on everything else, including who is watching you, you are like the hypocrites Jesus described.
The "room" here can be interpreted as your own heart. In many mystical traditions, the heart is the temple and altar of God, the place where God resides. Many mystical practices deal with praying from the heart. This can be done individually or in groups. And because the real prayer is done from within yourself, there is no contradiciton between praying alone or in a group. In fact, spiritual practices done in groups were everyone is "praying in the room" can be extremely powerful-"wherever two or more of you are gathered in My name, I am there."
2007-01-31 08:45:41 · answer #1 · answered by KCBA 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Jesus did not say that you should not pray in public. All He said was don't pray like the hypocrites who only pray to be seen by men. You could and should still pray in public and in groups for those things that are appropriate for those settings.
The idea here is that (a) you should not make this the only time you pray, and (b) you need to pray in secret because that is when you can really open up your heart to God so that He can help you with the things that matter most to you.
2007-01-31 08:47:09 · answer #2 · answered by rbarc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The point is the intent behind the prayer. Are you praying to show off how holy you are? That's not a good idea.
However, Jesus also said, "Where two or three are gathered, there I am in their midst". When we come together as a community, we strengthen each other and encourage each other through our prayers. I often find that I pray better (more deeply) when I join with others in prayer. I don't think Jesus would have a problem with that.
2007-01-31 08:37:16 · answer #3 · answered by ngel_lite 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
definite there is. In Judaism we have confidence that praying with 10 adult men constitutes as "communal" and that way your prayers are plenty extra in all probability to be replied simply by fact G-d will decide the best thing about the "community" praying no longer in basic terms you as a man or woman. that may no longer to assert that praying as a man or woman isn't regular in simple terms that's extra effectual with a Minyan (group of 10 or extra) i do no longer understand why in Islam- somebody else might although
2016-12-17 06:38:01 · answer #4 · answered by nave 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No it does not. The context is that Christ was saying you should pray to God, not for the sake of being seen by others. But that does not rule out communal prayer--it only means it should be for the right reasons. Christ also said "Whenever two or more of you are gathered together in my NAme, there I will be among you."
Be careful about taking verses in the Bible out of context--that's a sure-fire way to end up losing sight of what God is trying to teach us.
2007-01-31 08:40:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
You need to consider WHY Jesus said this. He was criticizing religious folks who make public display of their religion for the sake of appearing religious. He was criticizing the people who prayed in order to be seen praying. These people were not sincere.
If Jesus had meant this literally, He would never had asked His disciples to celebrate the passover meal with Him. There are LOTS of prayers in that meal.
2007-01-31 08:39:25 · answer #6 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Yes, but most Christians have never read the ENTIRE Bible, and don't know about that and other verses. Obviously, a preacher isn't going to tell them about it, since nobody in the church means no money in the collection plate, and he'd be out of a job.
2007-01-31 08:41:38 · answer #7 · answered by gelfling 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No.
It only contradicts the practice of pagans praying repeatedly to false and powerless gods, and actually expecting some sort of a result.
2007-01-31 12:57:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not quite the same, because "the hypoctites love to...be seen by men."
Communal prayer is all about participating, not being witnessed. This is not to say all men's motivations are the same and pure.
Whenever two or more are gathered in My Name, I am with them."
2007-01-31 08:41:50 · answer #9 · answered by and_y_knot 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No because they are not standing in public to make themselves look "special". We can pray alone or in a group (if you would read more about prayer in the Bible, this would be clear to you) but we arent to do it TO be seen by men.
2007-01-31 08:39:30 · answer #10 · answered by impossble_dream 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋