Matthew 6:5Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

In this passage, He designates those who pray with ostentation as hypocrites. This characterization is accurate, for they feign communication with God while merely seeking the attention of others, rendering their actions not genuine prayer but rather absurd displays.

As you approach this divine realm, akin to entering a magnificent palace—not one fashioned by human hands, but a far more awe-inspiring heavenly abode—maintain a sense of reverence. You find yourself among the hosts of angels, the assembly of archangels, and harmonizing with the seraphim. All the celestial beings exhibit profound decorum, offering their solemn praises and sacred hymns to the Sovereign of all, God. Therefore, merge your supplications with theirs and take delight in their divine splendor.

He refers to these individuals as hypocrites because, although they seem to be attentive to God, in truth, they are focused on pleasing people, from whom they receive their reward.

They have already attained their recompense, not the reward of God, but their own; for they seek honor from people for whom they have performed good deeds and practiced virtues.

Stogny, in Slavic and Russian interpretations, refers to narrow passageways that allow only a few to traverse, whereas paths, as understood in the same traditions, denote the broader thoroughfares that enable many to journey along together.

They present themselves as hypocrites when giving to the needy and similarly in their prayers. Instead of genuinely reaching out to God, they assume the appearances of those who pray, seeking only the empty praise of men. To achieve this superficial honor, they select places for prayer that are highly visible to many onlookers. Consequently, the Saviour renders this righteous verdict on their actions: Truly I say to you, they shall receive their reward. Their empty prayers earn them only fleeting glory from others. However, from the Heavenly Father, to whom they do not sincerely direct their hearts in their insincere prayers, what reward can they anticipate?

We refer to a type of prayer that is uniquely offered by an individual as a gift to God from the depths of their being. Each truth that a person embodies is realized according to their capacity, and it is through this ability that they produce results. Prayer, however, is expressed in accordance with one’s faith, and it is through this belief that one communicates. Would you like to grasp the immense value of prayer? No righteous deed is comparable to prayer in its resemblance to incense, as revealed in the book of Revelation, where we see the mighty angel standing before the altar with a censer filled with incense, and it is declared, “These are the prayers of the saints” (Rev. 8:3; Rev. 5:8).

After imparting the lesson on charity, the Lord focuses on the significance of prayer. WHEN YOU PRAY, lifting your thoughts and heart to God to humbly seek His mercy, express gratitude for His blessings, and exalt His holy name, DO NOT be like the hypocrites, WHO PREFER TO PRAY IN SYNAGOGUES AND AT STREET CORNERS, intentionally stopping at intersections to PRAY FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF BEING NOTICED BY OTHERS. TRULY I TELL YOU, THEY HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THEIR REWARD. St. John Chrysostom remarks that these hypocrites, under the pretense of praying, are merely seeking the attention of others, presenting themselves not as sincere supplicants, but as absurd figures. A true seeker of prayer sets aside all distractions, focusing solely on the One who has the power to grant his requests.

When you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites who enjoy standing to pray in synagogues and on street corners for the sake of being seen by others. Instead, when you pray, enter your private room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you openly. With these words, Christ does not prohibit prayer in temples or public places, nor does He disallow charitable giving in front of others. Rather, He condemns the act of praying in order to be visible to people, as it is the pride that drives such behavior that is rebuked. Those who do so are not genuinely praying; their focus is not on God but rather on attracting the attention of others to gain respect as devout individuals. Such hypocrisy is denounced by the Lord.

The primary message conveyed in the initial six verses of Matthew chapter 6, along with verses 16 to 18, emphasizes that acts of mercy and those that honor God—such as prayer and fasting—should not be performed for external approval or the pursuit of personal acclaim. When these actions are done for the sake of human admiration, that recognition becomes their sole reward. It is truly blessed to focus solely on honoring the Father in heaven, allowing the light of one's good deeds to shine before others, as Jesus instructed the disciples. However, for those whose hearts are prone to vanity, it is preferable to engage in fasting, prayer, and acts of kindness to one’s neighbors in such a manner that only God is aware of these deeds. In return, your Father will reward you in secret, which is to say, at the final judgment, in the presence of all angels and humanity.

When you engage in prayer, it is a solemn elevation of the spirit towards God, seeking His assistance or expressing gratitude and worship. It is a heartfelt dialogue infused with spiritual devotion. This is particularly evident in synagogues and similar settings. However, the insincere, such as the Pharisees, demonstrated the same attitude in their prayers as in their acts of charity; they preferred to pray in public spaces to gain the recognition and admiration of others. It is clear that the Savior does not condemn the act of praying in synagogues—designated areas for communal prayer—nor does He reject prayers offered outside of these places when they are genuine and stem from a sincere heart. The Lord only forbids prayers made in such contexts when the intent is to seek the applause and acknowledgment of people rather than to honor God.