“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray publicly standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets so that they may be seen by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they have their reward in full.”
— Matthew 6:5 (AMP)
Jesus, who discerns the secret thoughts and motives of every heart (John 2:25), speaks here not merely to the act of prayer, but to the motive behind it. He warns us not of prayer itself but of hypocritical prayer—prayer motivated by the need to be seen rather than to seek.
“Prayer in secret proves the soul’s true devotion—it unveils the heart stripped of performance.”
The word “hypocrites” (English word: hypocrites) is from the Greek hypokritēs (ὑποκριτής), which originally referred to an actor performing on a stage. It implies someone putting on a religious show, posturing piety outwardly but lacking sincerity within.
The Reward of Men vs the Reward of God #
Jesus reveals that such people have received their reward—that is, the applause of men. They longed for recognition, and they got it. But they also forfeited something far greater: the intimacy of the Father’s presence and His eternal commendation.
“They have their reward in full.”
— Matthew 6:5b (AMP)
This phrase in Greek, apechousin ton misthon auton (ἀπέχουσιν τὸν μισθὸν αὐτῶν), implies a transaction completed. There is nothing left to receive from God. What a sobering thought: that public applause can cancel out heavenly reward.
The Secret Place of Real Prayer #
“But when you pray, go into your most private room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is in secret; and your Father, who sees [what is done] in secret, will reward you.”
— Matthew 6:6 (AMP)
Here, Jesus invites us to withdraw into the secret place—not just a physical room, but a spiritual position of undivided attention and trust. The Greek word kryptos (κρυπτός, translated “secret”) refers to that which is hidden, veiled from public sight, yet fully exposed before God.
God does not ignore the secret life. He sees in secret (blepō en tō kryptō) and rewards in open ways—not necessarily with wealth or fame, but with intimacy, transformation, and spiritual authority.
Why Pray in Secret? #
| Motivation | Fleshly Prayer (Seen by Men) | Spiritual Prayer (Seen by God) |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Self-glory, pride | Love for God, intimacy |
| Reward Sought | Recognition, applause | Fellowship, approval from the Father |
| Posture | Outward display | Inward surrender |
| Outcome | Temporal honour | Eternal reward |
To pray in secret is to die to performance. It is to say, “I need not be seen—only God must hear me.”
“The applause of men may fill the ears, but only the Father’s approval fills the soul.”
Proving Who We Truly Serve #
To kneel unseen before God proves who we are. Not in front of the crowd, but in a hidden place. Not in rehearsed eloquence, but in quiet communion.
This is the test of true devotion:
Are we content to pray when no one sees, no one claps, no one posts a comment?
As one teacher put it:
“You are never more your true self than when no eye but God’s is upon you, and no ear but His hears your voice. There, the soul is naked, and worship is unmasked.”
Jesus echoes the same truth. Our private prayer life is the measuring rod of our real spiritual maturity.
Christ Our Pattern #
Jesus Himself often withdrew from the crowds to pray alone.
“But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray [in seclusion].”
— Luke 5:16 (AMP)
If the Son of God, who was filled without measure by the Spirit, valued secret prayer, how much more must we? In Gethsemane, when no one watched except sleepy disciples, He cried out to the Father alone. This is not just a discipline—it is the life of the Son formed in us.
And all this is only when Christ is in us, the Holy Spirit moves us, and we are dead to the world, dead to Adam and the flesh, but alive in Christ and the Spirit.
In Christ,
Shaliach.
