How do Christians justify public prayer in light of Matthew 6:5-6?

Question

Why do so many Christians push for public prayer, when Jesus said in Matthew 6:5-6 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

That's the KJV translation.

How does one rectify public prayer with what Jesus said?

Answer 1

Justification is never their concern. They parrot what they have been told by their pastors - which means they are not required to think for themselves.

God sees who we are in private - the public prayer is nothing more than a "photo opp" - see what a good Christian I am... the deal is that only God can make that determination. Public prayer means nothing if you hate your neighbor and lie and cheat. God sees what is in your heart and by how we relate to our fellow humans.

Answer 2

Jesus was illustrating how not to pray.
Contextually, Jesus is expounding the Sermon on the Mount. He is giving a lesson about false religion. He is saying if you are only praying so people can see you are religious and devout and holy. There is not reward in that ,other than they have impressed people. He then says prayer is not pompous but a quite communication with God. Jesus prayed before groups and in private. So he did not say you can't pray in public. He did say let your prayer be a communication between you and God, Prayers are said, only God know the heart of the person praying.

Answer 3

It doesn't have to be justified. There is corporate worship, private worship and evangelism. The verses you cited condemned those who were in the habit of offering private prayers out loud in public in order to display their own piety. So the prayer became secondary to elevating themselves in the eyes of others. It didn't prohibit gathering a congregation in prayer (corporate worship) or speaking to others about your faith (evangelism). Public prayers were common when more people agreed on the message, and so it was a form of corporate worship. Now that people are present in the gathering who don't agree it's considered to be in poor taste by most of us, Christians included. It is, however, no worse than when uneducated persons misinterpret selected verses of the Bible simply in order to be vindictive and offensive. Because isn't that person doing the same thing that the verses describe? Neither standing up for an ideal nor pointing out an injustice, but merely making a pious statement and asking for applause. The implied recommendation of the Scriptures is as valid now as it was then: they are desperately seeking approval from others and it's best not copy their example.

Answer 4

6:5 Next Jesus warns His disciples against hypocrisy when they pray. They should not purposely position themselves in public areas so that others will see them praying and be impressed by their piety. If the love for prominence is the only motive in prayer, then, Jesus declares, the prominence gained is the only reward.

6:6 In verses 5 and 7, the Greek pronoun translated you is plural. But in verse 6, in order to emphasize private communion with God, you switches to singular. The key to answered prayer is to do it in secret (i.e., go into your room and shut your door). If our real motive is to get through to God, He will hear and answer.

It is reading too much into the passage to use it to prohibit public prayer. The early church met together for collective prayer (Act_2:42; Act_12:12; Act_13:3; Act_14:23; Act_20:36).

The point is not where we pray. At issue here is, why we pray—to be seen by people or to be heard by God.

Answer 5

Good point here friend:
However; Jesus was speaking of the people whom act just as those hypocrites did...raising their hands in the synagogue or in the Church or anywhere where people may hear them and see them ....waiving their hands, thanking God for having made them as good as they are...accountintg for helping the less fortunate...even naming whon they helped at times...and so on....
I believe wholeheartedly, that this is the example the Lord was giving....and not when a congregation of people raises their heart and mind in solemn "humble" prayer of thanksgiving or otherwise.
Kind a "touchy" subject...if you take the Word literaly.
I will give you an example of what I am saying.... here in Dubai, and generally across the UAE, (we have been blessed with local leaders ...yes they are Muslims....whom have donated their land for the many christian denominations to build their churches and or gathering places, so that they may come to worship in peace and secure mind.) I then, have seen it my self in the Catholic Church, were some Indian "christian proffessed" brothers walk into the church looking down at all there present, kneeling for a moments' silent prayer...and then they start screaming and shouting their prayers and accomplishments to God infront of all in the church....I do believe that Jesus was speaking of this type of a brother/faithfull/whatever...and not a congregation ...bowing their heads together in one body and mind and recite The Lord's prayer.
I mean not to offend Indian christians in Dubai, for they are not all doing this. However; it is of their race that this is happening in this city. The rest...bow and pray in silence...or when they are encouraged by the Priest to all come to prayer.
Jesus left us with all the tools, and all examples regarding our life here on earth...it is "us" to whom the choice is left on how to interpet His Words.
Alas, we do not always do a good job on that....do we?
as neither did I, above; when I wrote whom was doing that in church.
May God forgive me, if I have offended anyone, I am listing this as an example only!

Answer 6

2000 years and many justify praying to be seen of men.. They will write paragraphs on the subject as to why or have an opinion about prayer but simpley refuse Christ's doctrine.. They actually Hate Christ and our God ! They seek after the commanments and doctrines of men,, they are not worthy of God at all ! However they will tell you they are !

Answer 7

Jesus was talking about the Pharisees, I believe. They would pray just to hear their own voices, not to supplicate before God. That's why Jesus said that, and that's why the Pharisees became so angry with Him.

There is nothing wrong with praying in public, so long as it's done in the spirit of coming before God, not in order to raise ourselves up in the eyes of mankind.

Answer 8

Ive never been a fan of trying to force people to pray. However I don't believe public prayer is necessarily wrong. It is the motive of the heart. Are you doing this for attention or to show off then yes I would agree its wrong. But communicating with God isn't wrong if that is the intent of the prayer.

Answer 9

Here Jesus Christ was talking about one person's secret prayer, in which he makes his supplications.
One personal needs are not to be prayed public but in secret.

Read this parable too.

Luke 18 :

9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Here both people were praying in the synagogue.

Being the answer is there right in your question itself, dont make a fool of yourself.

Answer 10

They follow Moses, but call themselves Christians, Followers of Jesus Christ. There are 75 Commandments that Jesus gave unto us in the New Testament. Jesus also said not to say prayers in repetition (a rosary), what about call no man on the earth your father. If you would read only the 4 gospels you would know what Jesus meant by this, it is big.

You are being deceived by Christains and Jews