Why do people pray in public when the Bible clearly states not to?

Question

(Matthew 6:5) 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. (KJV)

(Matthew 6:5) When you pray, don't be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward. (CEV)

Answer 1

Wow! Good question. But look closely at your quote. Jesus said NOT TO BE LIKE THE HYPOCRITES because they loved to stand in public where they could be watched. The fact is, if you look at the entire picture, that these hypocrites Jesus was mentioning were making a public show of piety and love of God, but were oppressing the people and "teaching them commands of men as doctrine." They valued their positions more than they valued truth.

Jesus himself prayed publicly. He prayed to his father every time he performed a miracle. He also prayed over the last supper.

It all comes down to what's in our hearts.

Answer 2

The Saints are Alive. Mark 12:27 he's not the God of the ineffective, yet of the residing. You hence do a great deal err. there's a differance between "Mediator" and "Intercessor". Prayer on the behalf of others is in the time of the bible. Acts 8:24 And Simon spoke back, "Pray for me to the Lord, that no longer something of what you have stated could come across me." 1Timothy 2:a million I desire hence, before everything, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all adult adult males: The bible tells us the Prayer of a Righteous guy or woman does plenty. Who extra Righteous than the mummy of God and the Saints? Proverbs 15:29 The Lord is plenty from the wicked: and he will hear the prayers of the in basic terms. James 5:sixteen Confess hence your sins one to a different: and pray one for yet another, which you are going to be saved. For the persistent prayer of a in basic terms guy availeth plenty. Revelations 8:4 And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the saints ascended up earlier God from the hand of the angel. Peace be with you <<>>

Answer 3

It's all a matter of the heart. Jesus is condemning hypocrites. No where does he say not to do it.

If you are praying to be seen by men, then you are doing it wrong. If you are doing it because you love God and it is what you do - then that is not condemned.

Jesus prayed with His disciples. This would have been a public prayer as there were at least twelve of them, and sometimes upwards of 120.

When Jesus fed the 5,000 plus women and children with the fish and bread - what did He do before they ate? He blessed it - that would have been a prayer.

It all matters on how you approach it.

Answer 4

These verses are taking about the Pharisees and Sadducees. Their prayer was displeasing to God because they were doing it to impress people, not to talk to God. They were showing the people "Look at me! I'm closer to God that you and better because of it. I know all the fancy words to say to God, we're far more righteous than you all." Poeple who pray publically today can still so the same thing, but only God will know who is praying to Him or who is praying to the crowd. God is not outlawing public prayer. Jesus prayed publically and privately and both were for the Father and acceptable. Be careful of Satan sneaking into your mind with his legalistic ideas.

Answer 5

Wow, that's a major case of taking something out of context.

This is not an injunction against praying around others; it’s a command against making a show of your own holiness. The hypocrites referred to here would make a show of their “virtuousness” and “spirituality” through prayer. Thus the “They do this just to look good” statement. This is what God is denouncing; not prayer!

Either you have overlooked or are purposefully ignoring the context of this passage; with context, the content is lost.

Answer 6

"That which is now to engage our attention consists of the first recorded utterance of Christ on the subject of prayer, and it is most searching and solemn to note that it opens with a warning against hypocrisy in the discharge of this duty. That particular species of hypocrisy which is here reprehended is ostentatiousness in our devotions, the public parading of our piety, the seeking to attract the notice of others and win for ourselves the reputation of great spirituality. Prayer is the expression of creature need and dependency and therefore it is utterly inconsistent with thoughts of pride and self-complacency. But alas, such is fallen man that he can unite these opposites, and therefore our need of this caution: "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites." A "hypocrite" is one who assumes a character which does not belong to him. The "hypocrites" which Christ had immediately in view were the Pharisees (Matthew 23:13), for their "leaven" was hypocrisy (Luke 12:1).

"And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites: 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" (v. 5). We need hardly say that Christ is not here condemning this posture of standing in prayer (for He Himself employed it—John 11:41), nor is He forbidding His disciples to pray in public: Paul gave thanks unto God in the presence of a whole ship’s company (Acts 27:35), and in his epistles gave order that "men pray everywhere" (1 Tim. 2:8). No, rather was it the motive and manner of prayer which our Lord here had in view. It is a caution against vainglory, the seeking to commend ourselves unto our fellows. And what sort of creatures are we that need this caution? Think of it—praying to God, in order that we may be seen of men! In how many ways does the evil of our hearts lead us away from godly simplicity and sincerity."

There's more at the link below.

Answer 7

. not to be seen of men. You have to understand the whole verse. Jesus prayed in the presence of others at times. He wasn't saying to not pray in public, he was saying that the reason for prayer was to talk to God, and 'not to be seen of men'. It's the purpose that is the issue.

Answer 8

The verse clearly states not to pray if the only reason that you are praying is to be seen. It is telling us to pray humbly and with sincerity, not to be show-offs. As Christians, we are to always pray.

Answer 9

The Bible is jibberish and innaccurate in my opinoin. It was written by Man and Man cannot be trusted.

It's human right to pray in public. It's not that big of a deal (although I don't do it, I always pray at nightl. I work during the day lol). Stop fussing about it. There's bigger fish to fry for Christ's sake.

Answer 10

God reads the heart, there isn't anything wrong with praying in public as long as its not for show.