The scriptures clearly teach that there is such a thing as praying to be (heard) -and- praying to be (seen) of men.
The "secret closet" however is a place - where no one else listens to your prayer...and is only heard and acknowledged by the Father which is in heaven.
Jesus said the Scribes and pharisee's were notorious for praying LONG PRAYERS - but it was in pretence ( meaning not sincere, feigned as it were, false piety ) Matthew 23:14
But why was it a pretence ??
And also why then would this thing of "long prayers" then bring censure from our Lord Jesus ? and resulting in a stinging reproof ?
Jesus addresses (2) issues in the one passage
A) the pharisee's devoured the widow's estates, houses, last testaments and wills.
B) AND - for pretence reasons they made up very long and drawn out prayers.
Now obviously the prayers offered were in guile with the ultimate aim to pilfer the widow's estates from them.
The prayers tricked the widows and somehow they convincd them to hand over their estates in the process ~~ and with the use of really "spiritual sounding prayers " this then was the hatchet they used to seal the signature - and to get the poor unsuspecting widow ... to hand over the moolah.
But the issue of long and drawn out prayers was clearly and evidently - on Jesus' hit list on that day also.
Now Go back to the "sermon on the mount" - and we see the same issue of praying to be heard; and to seen of men - is also addressed ( matt 6:5-6 )
Jesus said those hypocrites - love to pray
STANDING UP IN THE SYNAGOGUES ....AND IN THE STREET CORNERS - that they may be SEEN of men.
Praying for eye-service, praying for human recognition and praying to look spiritual and praying - that your praying ability would be [admired] in MEN - AND BY MEN WHO GATHER AROUND TO LISTEN.
And verily : that is their [reward] that their long prayers and their public prayers are admired in men.
If i wanted to ~~ i could spend a whole week thinking about how i might pray in public or at the next prayer meeting - or i could actually rehearse praying to such a degree that the words JUST ozze from my lips - to a point of oratorical perfection....and i could sound really really good in public.
Or i could pray from the heart - sincerely and [unfeigned] - and only praying that the father in heaven would both acknowledge, hear and recognize that prayer.
Basically Jesus has got the hypocrites pegged and knew that they wanted their prayers to be admired and for people to see what a great prayer they are
he especially nails the kind of praying that is normolly" reserved" and awaits the public appearance (as such) !
In the prayer closet though their is no room for skiting, or for showing off, or to razzle dazzle the listeners - with your long and pretentious prayers.
Are we praying to look and to sound good (or) sincerely from the heart - as unto the father ??
It's both a fair and pertinent question beloved.
We claim today that were not religious or that we don't do things religiously - but where in scripture do you see Jesus both opening and closing in prayer .... when he taught the people ??
Many times also he sat down and taught the people, he didn't always stand up - to teach.
So many things are done for shew and for recognition today - and for to be seen of men.
He didn't always dress the same way for every sermon either - we become creatures of habit don't we ? some won't preach with-out a (3) piece suit and tie ... around their necks !!
Is that somehow making the person more reverent or respectful ? because he has suit around his body ?
But i said all that to say ~~ many things today are done religiously and for eye-appeal, as being unto men. And yet often - "we" in pentecostal circles -BOAST- that we are not religious. ! :-o
Ive attended prayer meetings where it was obvious that certain prayers ( being really long ONES ) were designated for the reward and admiration of the LISTENER.
Like i said though at the out-set, if i wanted to do the same thing i could easily craft a prayer in such a way, that i would look and sound good, even to a point that the youth would probably be WOWED by it - perhaps saying to themselves - what a prayer warrior is this man i just heard pray.
Jesus appears to have discerned in matthew chapter 23 certain kinds of praying that were very pretentious in nature ( very insincere ) yes on the surface it might sound good, sound ultra spiritual and totally biblically [scripture wise] - but yet in his spirit ( Jesus ) knew something was OFF - and something was up with it.
( not right )
He knew that the religion of the Jews had this open and [public penchant] for long prayers - but he also [sensed and knew] it was often for kudos and to look and sound spiritual - and to have one's [prayers] admired in MEN !! :-) :-(
