Another general Bible question -?

Question

"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." (Matthew 6:5-6)

Now, I'm not wondering how you justify church as a teaching institution - Jesus himself attended the synagogue after all, but what I am wondering is how my Christian friends integrate this quotation into their understanding of what church is supposed to be.

It seems to me that the quotation is an argument against the church as a worshipping community. There are, of course, quotations that do discuss communal worship. How ought we understand this quote in light of those and Christian practice since Jesus?

The issue of whether or not this was "simply about attitudes" would seem to be wiped away by the actual instruction that a person should go to a solitary room and pray by themselves. If it were "clearly" about attitude, then you wouldn't see him say "clearly" that one should go to a literal room away from public view. I agree that attitudes are included, but it seems to me that Jesus was also interested in keeping away from temptation, as well. Unless, of course, you disagree.

Answer 1

Your simplistic, literalist approach to Scripture is the source of your confusion. "The passage says to go to my room, so obviously I should only pray in my room". If you read the passage in context, and think about it a little, you might just discover what it is actually about. It isn't giving specific directions about how and where we must pray. Rather, it is condemning the hypocritical Pharisee practice of making a public demonstration of personal prayer, walking down the street waving their prayer beads and generally doing everything possible to call attention to themselves, so everyone could see how holy they were. The whole purpose of the passage is to condemn that kind of behavior, not to condemn legitimate communal worship, which can be just as humble and just as appropriate as proper individual prayer.

Answer 2

I read it differently. God sees to the core of what your heart wants. If you are doing something for attention then you'll be rewarded with attention. If you pray earnestly God will know your heart and will respond.

I get steamed when I see Christians putting on a public spectacle of faith. It is like they are saying---hey everyone, look at how much holier I am than you. It turns my stomach and I doubt that I am alone. Christians think it is good to pound people over the head with the Bible and whip others and cow them into believers. It is disgusting.

I like the Christian who leads by example. I respect the Christian who endures. I love the Christian who prays quietly without getting in my face. This is the Christian I hope to be and I can do this anywhere.

If you don't want to go to church don't. God knows your heart. If your heart isn't into it and you are sitting in a church pew----God knows. I think you'll miss out though. Try setting a quiet example for others. Go to church to see the people and make a difference. Be open for God to work through you.

Answer 3

I'm not sure this is relevant, but do you suppose this passage is the origin of the expression "in the closet" about gays?

What I wonder is how many people recognize that they are being told to worship in private as much as anything to avoid hypocrisy. That is, when you all pray together in church, how many really do not feel it? Perhaps do not even pay attention? Yes, public ritual has its place (they have their reward), but the important thing, if we are to take this passage seriously, is private prayer, perhaps private worship, private ritual. Do Christians really do that?

Answer 4

The quote clearly references public praying with a view to being seen. It clearly is speaking of hypocrisy. To go beyond that and apply meaning that is not there is to wrestle with scripture.

This has nothing to do with the form and manner of worship. How are we to understand this quote? Don't pray in public with a view to showing off. You are not fooling anybody. And you are not impressing God. That is all.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 5

Ah but what about Matthew 6:3, "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." or if you prefer the greek orginal, "σου δε ποιουντος ελεημοσυνην μη γνωτω η αριστερα σου τι ποιει η δεξια σου"

Doesn't this make sense as well?

No one ever said Christians were logical, humans are not really logical, look at what we do to computers, which are logical? We create programs and operating systems that don't work very well, because they are not logical.

Can't remember where it is, but in the new testament Christians are told to not go out and prostelitize. They ignore that command as well, so what makes anyone think they will do anything else that is pointed out in the bible?

Answer 6

The way I see it, Jesus is not refering to practice but rather to attitude and motives. If you just do these "godly" things to be seen by people so they will say "wow, he/she is so devout! Look at how godly he/she is!" then you're being hypocritical. However, if you do these things in praise to God just without care of whether or not people see you being so holy, then it doesn't really matter. It's all about what your motive is.

Blessings in the Light of Christ!
~Embracing my Pangelism

Answer 7

Some people worship only to be congratulated for worshiping. I wonder if this Bible verse was to be taken as seriously as others and it was considered "tacky" for people to pray and display their faith blatently, how many Christians would there be today without that public recognition of their "holyness"?

Answer 8

solid question. God interacts with us in extremely only one way, this is thru "covenants". The previous covenant replaced into made via Moses and the regulations given by ability of God to his chosen human beings. in case you accompanied those regulations to the letter and you'd be saved. This secure offering vegetation and sacrifices on the alters as properly as following the different "do not" regulations. whilst Christ got here, he took the region of all the previous regulations by ability of laying his soul down for us, for all the sacrifices we would ever would desire to do for all of our sins etc. In essence we are saved by ability of his grace or his gracious present of laying down his existence for anybody. he's the hot covenant. for this reason the only subject we are particularly required to do now as Christians is to maintain on with Christ, and fulfill his instructions that have been additionally from the father. so which you would be able to truly say that our new covenant via Christ is the only contract that we are presently absolute to. And if God, or Christ stated it, then those are the contract info that we would desire to honor and fulfill. we are actually not required to maintain on with the ten commandments, however the commandments that Christ gave are additionally not very distinctive from the originals interior the previous testomony. wish that helps. If it doesnt, then ask God with a genuine coronary heart for information extremely in this subject be counted, and you gets an answer from Him. I constantly do.

Answer 9

The key word here is "hypocrites". All people who gather together in churches aren't hypocrites. Paul tells us not to forsake our gathering together. All people need fellowship and Christians are no different.