Matthew 6:5-9. 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. 6 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. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven,’
In Today’s Word, Jesus begins to teach us the true nature of prayer by first distinguishing it from the empty practices of religious performance. He cautions against praying like those who treat devotion as a public spectacle, standing in synagogues and on street corners to be seen and praised by men. These religious practitioners rely on repetitive babbling, believing that their prayers are answered based on the sheer volume of their words. Jesus seeks to heal our religious minds by urging us to stop praying like unbelievers and start praying as true children of God.
The foundation of this transformation is found in the opening address: “Our Father in heaven.” For the disciples, calling the Holy Creator “Father” was a revolutionary concept virtually unthinkable in Old Testament times. However, through faith in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, we have been granted the legal right to become children of God (John 1:12). This intimate relationship is confirmed by the Holy Spirit, whom God sent into our hearts to cry out, “Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6). Through Christ, we have been justified by faith and now possess permanent peace with God (Romans 5:1).
We have been adopted into God’s family according to the law of heaven, and our names are officially registered in the book of life—a reality made possible only by the power of Jesus’ name (Acts 4:12). By the authority of our Lord, the power of our former father and master, Satan, has been crushed (Genesis 3:15). Now, the God who formed and established the earth (Jeremiah 33:2), the One who transcends time and space while holding our very lives in His hand, is the One we call Father.
As a child of God, prayer is your highest privilege; it is a personal meeting with your Father. You do not need to approach Him with a religious attitude, frantic zeal, or the formality you would use for a stranger. Instead, you can enter His presence with “shameless audacity” (Luke 11:8). To pray effectively, you must understand His heart toward you. He desires to bless you, keep you, and make His face shine upon you with grace and peace (Numbers 6:24-27). He is a Mighty Warrior who saves, taking great delight in you and even rejoicing over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).
Even if your heart has grown cold or you have wandered away, His love remains constant. Even when we are faithless, He remains faithful because He cannot disown His own children (2 Timothy 2:13). Understanding this love allows you to give Him your undivided attention. Jesus instructs us to go into a private room and close the door, focusing on the Father who is unseen (Matthew 6:6). This secret meeting is not a chore but the greatest reward of the Christian life.
When you converse with Him, speak from the heart without worrying about flowery language or “many words,” for He is not impressed by babbling (Matthew 6:7). He simply wants to spend time with you. If you feel too busy to pray, consider that you might be busy precisely because you are not spending enough time with the Source of your strength. Prayer is the source of every answer in life. By making this “downtime” with your Father the happiest part of your day, prayer becomes your life itself.
Prayer. Father, I thank You for teaching me how to pray. Open my heart to truly understand Your love and restore the joy of prayer in my daily walk. Help me to seek You first, knowing that You are my Father and my greatest reward. In Jesus’ name, Amen.