“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.” Matthew 6:6 NIV
This verse is part of a teaching from Jesus on doing the right thing but for the wrong reason. In the time that Jesus lived, it was acceptable to do ‘good deeds’ in public, that way you could be seen as a person who did the ‘right’ thing when they were supposed to do it. This mindset of wanting to be seen by others so that you were seen as a good person because you did the right thing was completely turned upside down by Jesus when He gave this instruction.
The idea of doing ‘good deeds’ in private not in public was foreign to His disciples and the other people who followed Jesus around listening to His teachings. Anyone can maintain their behaviors for a short period of time especially when they are in public if they want others to view them in a positive light. When you do this, you have already gotten the reward you were looking for in that those around you are thinking of you in a certain way, which is what you wanted, to be thought of in a positive way. This is a ‘you-centered’ way of living life, always seeking the approval of those around you to give you worth.
Jesus wants us to look in our hearts and examine why we do what we do, why do we give money to charities, why do we hold doors for others, why do we speak kindly to others. It matters what is in our hearts. If we are led to give to others and the setting is a public setting then we should examine our hearts to make sure that when we are giving we are not ‘performing’ for those around us but giving because God has led us to give.
Jesus is saying that the more we can do the ‘good deeds’ without others knowing about it, the better. This way we are not doing things to please others or obtain others’ approval but because God has led us and we are trying to please God. I do not believe that Jesus is saying in this verse that no one should ever pray in public but I believe He is saying to check ourselves as to our motive when we do.
Heavenly Father, please help us to always listen to Your leading. Help us to not make our relationship with You into a public performance for others so we are seen in a good light, but to keep our relationship with You between us and You. In Jesus’s name, Amen.