RE: Matthew 6: Jesus condemns public prayer
April 12, 2014 at 1:51 pm
(This post was last modified: April 12, 2014 at 1:52 pm by Lek.)
(April 12, 2014 at 12:20 pm)Coffee Jesus Wrote: Right before introducing the longer version of the Lord's prayer (it apperas twice in the Bible), Jesus criticizes those who pray in public.
Why do so many Christians support public prayers?
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You can select multiple options on the poll.
Mathew 6:5-13 NIV
Quote:“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 others. Truly I tell you, 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
“This, then, is how you should pray:
"Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
The pharisees would pray in public so everyone could see how "holy and rightous" they were. Christ often criticized them for pretending to be holy on the outside while being evil on the inside. They loved to be seen by the people doing all these supposedly pious things and then being idolized by them. Jesus told his disciples not to be like the pharisees and pray to be seen, but to pray earnestly to God who hears you even if you're not praying audibly. He wasn't giving a prohibition against group prayer.
