“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.” (Matthew 6:5)

In Jesus’ time, the synagogues were the likeliest and most appropriate  places for sincere public praying. Devout jews also offered many prayers on street corners, if that’s where they were at the appointed hour of prayer.

But the word Jesus uses here indicates indicates a major street, and therefore a major street corner where a bigger crowd would likely be. By inference the hypocrites were at fault for wanting to pray before the biggest possible audience.

No location is intrinsically forbidden as a place of prayer. But it’s not right to consistently choose such a spot just to attract the largest audience. As with anything tainted by human ambition and pride, the sin of praying in the wrong place begins in the heart.

Like the Pharise in Jesus’ parable (cf. Luke 18:11), the hypocrites He mentions here prayed primarily to themselves and before others, not to God—and He wants no part of that. Some Christians have thought Jesus’ warnings here rule out all forms of public prayer.

But to do so was not our intentions. He prayed many times with His apostles (e.g. Luke 11:1) and in the midst of much larger crowds (e.g. Matt. 14:19). The early church rejoiced and “lifted their voices to God with one accord” (Acts 4:24) after Jewish released Peter and John.

Public praying also is available to us, whether in church, Sunday school, or any smaller meeting of fellow believers.[1]

John MacArthur

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End notes:

[1] John MacArthur, Daily Readings From the Life of Christ [Chicago: Moody, 2008], May 11.

See also:

BEWARE OF EMERGING SPIRITUALITY AND EMERGENCE THEORY

ELEPHANT ROOM 2′S T.D. JAKES SAYS TBN’S PAUL CROUCH LED BY GOD TO LAUNCH JAKES’ MINISTRY

RICK WARREN’S SADDLEBACK CHURCH MEN’S GROUP STUDIES JOYCE MEYER