Do Not! (Session 2)
Do Not Pray to Look Spiritual (Part 1)
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. 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:5-8
Episode Summary
In Matthew 6, Jesus challenges the way religious people pray, warning that even a deeply meaningful spiritual practice can become self-centered and performative. In this video, we explore Jesus’ teaching on prayer, including his warning against praying to impress others, boasting through our prayers, and neglecting the private relationship with God. Rather than treating prayer as a formula for getting what we want or gaining religious status, Jesus presents it as honest, genuine conversation with God.
This session explores what it means to pray authentically, why private prayer matters, and how our motivations can transform prayer from a religious performance into a relationship with God. Through Jesus’ teaching, the Pharisee and tax collector, and the contrast between public and private prayer, we’ll consider how prayer can move us away from religious hierarchy and self-promotion and toward deeper connection with God and a more authentic kingdom community.
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