Sincere Prayer

For Friday, August 20, 2021

Matthew 6:5 NLT, Jesus speaking: “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get.”

Jesus is in favor of prayer; He prayed himself, all the time. And praying in public is fine, like we do at church. Jesus did that himself, as did his disciples.

But Jesus could not tolerate the “prayer show.” People would stand on street corners, praying as loudly as they could, attracting as much attention as they could, so all the passers-by could see just how holy they were! In fact, they weren’t. It was all a show; it wasn’t real. They were pretending to be righteous, like actors in a theater. Such prayer is not real prayer, but empty words meant only for the ears of other people. Their motive – to be seen by others – was the problem. They were hypocrites!

Pray sincerely from the heart. Let your spirit communicate with the spirit of the Lord.

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406