Matt 6:5-6 is the second example of the principle of \u201cno footprints\u201d found in 6:1. It concerns prayer and its central idea is simple and profound: let not our prayer lives be \u201cconspicuous prayer.\u201d We all know what \u201cconspicuous consumerism\u201d is: wear Nikes, wear Uggs, wear Tiger Wood golf hats \u2026 wear things that get you some notice. Prayer, Jesus says, is not to be like this.
\nInstead, Jesus says, prayer is to be a private thing: hide, seek shelter, seek anonymity, enter into some secluded part of your home so no one knows what you are doing. Of course, this is all exaggeration to make the singular point that needs to be made: hypocrites find themselves conveniently in public places at the hours of prayer (Jesus is talking about the afternoon prayer time, roughly 3 PM when the afternoon sacrifice was offered) and, \u201cwhile we are here, we might as well pray.\u201d In so doing, they seek congratulations as conspicuous pray-ers.
\nSometimes we have to pray in public; Jesus taught his followers a public prayer (it follows in 6:7-15). So, Jesus is not prohibiting public prayer but warning about praying in public in order to be seen.
\nIt\u2019s a matter of the heart, but seeking privacy is a good way to train the heart to beat for God.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Matt 6:5-6 is the second example of the principle of \u201cno footprints\u201d found in 6:1. It concerns prayer and its central idea is simple and profound: let not our prayer lives be \u201cconspicuous prayer.\u201d We all know what \u201cconspicuous consumerism\u201d is: wear Nikes, wear Uggs, wear Tiger Wood golf hats \u2026 wear things that get […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":197,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1733,1748],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prayer-and-formation","category-sermon-on-the-mount"],"yoast_head":"\n