Is praying in public against a direct command from Jesus? Does this also include church and public meals?

[Drich]

I think we are almost agreeing. You seemed to be saying earlier that the only Biblical way to pray is to go into a room by yourself to do so. From what you have written now, it seems that you agree that it is fine for Christians to pray together. The Prohibition is against "praying" to show off.

My question is, is it possible to pray in a public setting without showing off?

Remember in mat 6 where this command is given We are also told to do the other works Jesus expects us to do in private as well. Meaning in conjunction with prayer to be dont privately, we are also to fast with no one knowing as well as giving to the poor. Do you not see the pattern established here? Jesus says do all three things without no one knowing... Except for prayer apparently.. Because if your heart is in the right place, then it does not matter that you are in a public setting. But we are still to fast without no know knowing, and we are to give to the poor without making an announcement... but prayer we can still do in public.

 

[ThereRoseaLamb]

I don't believe I said there was

No I mean you to the room. I've been reading what you said. I meant "you" to the ones saying you cannot pray in public.

 

[Drich]

First of all every Christian must follow their Spirit guided conscience in regard to this topic..

Would the Spirit give a directive that contradicts a very direct teaching from Jesus Himself?

So if you are convicted that you should not engage in public prayer then don't do it and if you are convicted that you should join in public prayer then do it..

It's not a matter of unfounded conviction. It is a direct command:
5 “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. 6 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.

How can someone be 'convicted' and go against a direct teaching of Christ?

But as for the scripture on the topic.. We must take in ALL that is written on the subject, let me quote the passage and point out some critical words..

Matthew 6:5 - Matthew 6:6
(Matthew 6:5-6) "¶ And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. {6} But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

Note in the above scriptures it is not only about how they are praying ( Public ) but WHY they are praying in public to be SEEN by other men..

Which is why I've asked over and over is it possible to pray in public to "NOT be seen by other men?"

I would also like to point out not only does Jesus say what you highlighted (they pray to be seen by men) , but He also tells us where and how to pray.:
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret

Then He tells us why to pray this way:
and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."

So again, it's not just about our motivation for praying that is being discussed here. It's about following the directions Jesus Gives on when, where and why Jesus says pray this way.

Not only that, the directive He gives on prayer are also mirrored the other two works He requires of us mentioned in mat 6. In that we are to give in secrete, and to fast in secrete. Which make sense, in that whatever we do for God we do not do it publicly, but in secrete. So when we pray we go to our rooms and close the door so as to not even be seen by out family. When we give we are to do so to not be seen by others. When we Fast we do it in such a way as to not let others know we are fasting. So everything we do for God is to be done quietly.

The way you read this passage says we are to fast and give in secrete but it is ok to announce your prayers publicly, so long as you do so with good intentions...

If this is the case then could you not also fast and give publicly if you have 'good intentions?' If so then why did Jesus waste almost a whole chapter in the sermon on the mount telling us otherwise?

 

[OMC]

My question is, is it possible to pray in a public setting without showing off?

What we are most concerned with, it seems is the appearance of evil, performance, when we pray in front of others.
Public prayer avoids the appearance of performance only when the speaker refuses to pray to the room.
Jesus’ command in Matthew 6 targets motive, not volume:
the moment the heart shapes its words for listeners, the prayer becomes theater.
The safeguard is simple—pray as though no one else exists.
Keep the language God‑ward, keep the tone normal, keep the posture humble, and keep the focus on dependence rather than display. When the heart is aimed at the Father, the appearance of evil dissolves because sincerity becomes visible without being performed

 

[Drich]

No, you believe whatever you want to believe, up to you. But that's baloney. Why would I walk away from someone who needed prayer? Jesus wouldn't. No, utter nonsense. And I thought I'd seen a lot here. Try evangelism, you'll learn you're wrong. smh

Do you think Jesus would have prayed for someone publicly, the same way you would have? If yes, what scripturally makes you think you would pray with the same effort He would?

 

[Drich]

What we are most concerned with, it seems is the appearance of evil, performance, when we pray in front of others.

If you look at mat 6 putting on a show for others is 1 of three reason given as to the nature of why/how and where we are told to pray.

Jesus says do not pray LIKE the hypocrites do. The hypocrites pray openly in crowds to be seen by others.. We both agree on this bit, but Jesus Keeps going. So rather than pray openly, He says go to your room. He does not say you can stay and pray openly in public if you have a clean/clear heart. The directive was to not pray like men who pray in the public pray. Jesus is saying ALL who pray in public do so to be seen by others. Which is why He says: ' Go to your room and pray privately." for if you pray in secrete, your Father will reward you openly.

Then He tells Not to openly Fast, or openly give to the poor. Jesus spends almost a whole chapter in the sermon on the mount telling us, when we do works like fasting prayer and giving to do so in secrete. Why would He tell us to do 2 of those three things always in secrete, but pray openly if your heart is in the right place?

And if He intended us to pray publicly if our heart is in the right place why wouldn't He tell us this point blank, rather than tell us to go to our room and pray in secrete? Then pair this teaching with two others that also says always do these things in secrete?

 

[Drich]

No, stay true to God's purpose, but understand what His purpose is. Discern whether God would have you pray then and there or do it in private.

Do we have a directive/direct teaching to pray openly like we do to pray privately?

 

[Drich]

If it bothers anyone to pray vocally around others (there is no commandment from Jesus not to pray in public!), pray "in spirit and in truth" from within yourself. Problem solved

You mean beside the commandment given by Jesus in the sermon on the mount in mat 6:5 “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.

Not only are we told not to pray publicly, we are told why, and what will happen if we do:

6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.

Then we are told what Happens is we pray privately:

Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

What we do not have is a command to pray publicly.

 

[OMC]

If you look at mat 6 putting on a show for others is 1 of three reason given as to the nature of why/how and where we are told to pray.

Jesus says do not pray LIKE the hypocrites do. The hypocrites pray openly in crowds to be seen by others.. We both agree on this bit, but Jesus Keeps going. So rather than pray openly, He says go to your room. He does not say you can stay and pray openly in public if you have a clean/clear heart. The directive was to not pray like men who pray in the public pray. Jesus is saying ALL who pray in public do so to be seen by others. Which is why He says: ' Go to your room and pray privately." for if you pray in secrete, your Father will reward you openly.

Then He tells Not to openly Fast, or openly give to the poor. Jesus spends almost a whole chapter in the sermon on the mount telling us, when we do works like fasting prayer and giving to do so in secrete. Why would He tell us to do 2 of those three things always in secrete, but pray openly if your heart is in the right place?

And if He intended us to pray publicly if our heart is in the right place why wouldn't He tell us this point blank, rather than tell us to go to our room and pray in secrete? Then pair this teaching with two others that also says always do these things in secrete?

Matthew 6:5–6 is the core: Jesus condemns praying “to be seen by men” and commands prayer directed “to your Father.”
That alone establishes motive, not volume.
Matthew 6:1 reinforces it: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before others to be seen by them.”
Matthew 6:7 adds the warning against performance‑style speech.
Acts 4:24 shows God‑ward public prayer (“they lifted their voice to God”).
John 11:41–42 shows Jesus praying aloud but explicitly to the Father, not the crowd.
Ecclesiastes 5:2 anchors humility and sincerity (“God is in heaven… let your words be few”).
James 4:6 ties humility to God’s favor. Together these passages confirm the principle: prayer must be aimed at God, not the room, or it becomes performance. Public prayer is not condemned.

 

[Roger316]

Do we have a directive/direct teaching to pray openly like we do to pray privately?

Review Ephesians 5:15-21

 

[Watchman22]

Do we have a directive/direct teaching to pray openly like we do to pray privately?

no, not even a good example.

 

[Roger316]

Do we have a directive/direct teaching to pray openly like we do to pray privately?

1 Corinthians chapter 11 speaks about praying publicly for each other in church. The question is whether a woman should keep her head covered when praying or not.

 

[Drich]

I think it’s situational at times jesus prayed aloud

Jesus prayed aloud 6 different times in the gospels. 3 of which where from the cross. (He could not go someplace else to pray.

Then again at Lazarus' tomb, which He says He only prayed aloud so that the crowd knew He was sent from the Father. (As God would not have supported His miracle otherwise) Then when He fed the 4000, and again when He feed the 5000.

So again, He only prayed to show the people He was sent from God. All other times Jesus prayed He went off by Himself somewhere or He was teaching the disciples or communicating with the disciples privately.

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me. And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”
‭‭John‬ ‭11:41-44‬ ‭KJV‬‬

funny how you did not embolden the reason why Jesus said He felt it necessary to pray aloud, but emboldened everything around it.

Other times he went off alone to pray

“And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

You seem to be confusing "outside" with "public."

If we look at Jesus teachings we can sometimes see the issue he’s adressing usually directly involving the state of the heart of the person

“Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

...and if you keep reading you will note that Jesus does not say if you have a good heart you can stay and pray in public.

What He is saying here is everyone who prays outside does so to be seen by others... Just like the hypocrits. Otherwise save your prayer go to your room and pray in secrete. For anyone who prays publicly has their reward. But, if you go to your room and pray God will reward you openly for what you have prayed secretly.

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:1-2, 5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

My opinion is that God is always looking at the inner things . If I’m praying in public in order to seem holier than thou or Impress people or somehow improve my image I’m in the wrong not because I spoke in public but because of my motivations in doing so . Same with many things I give to charity but if I announce to everyone how much i give and how I’m so good and helping people then I’m in the wrong because of the motives I’m pursuing

Again this is only 1/3 of the passage. He says do not pray like they do to be seen. Meaning if you pray publically you will be seen and you will be idolized by others. There is no path that Jesus gives that allows us to stay in public praying that does not end with the 'reward' for prayer to be given right there on the spot in the eyes who sees you and your prayer .

If you want God to answer your prayer Jesus only gives one way for that to happen. That is to go to your room and pray in secrete.

when we are alone with God it’s some of the most intimate and fruitful time we can spend but there are times when prayer is urgently needed and may even change a persons view of the lord


Just an old man’s opinion but I think the place to look at ourselves is in the heart and mind to assure that our motives are pure that’s what he cares about

great sentiment. Just know, you heart being in the right place, do not change Where, why or what Jesus told us to pray.

 

[Drich]

1 Corinthians chapter 11 speaks about praying publicly for each other in church. The question is whether a woman should keep her head covered when praying or not.

where? I just read chapter 11 again. it talks about head covering and partaking in the Lord's supper.

 

[Drich]

Sometimes it's just us, sometimes along with guests.

So.. invitation only, or can people just come and go as they please.. You know, like how they do in public?

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Jesus prayed aloud 6 different times in the gospels. 3 of which where from the cross. (He could not go someplace else to pray.

Then again at Lazarus' tomb, which He says He only prayed aloud so that the crowd knew He was sent from the Father. (As God would not have supported His miracle otherwise) Then when He fed the 4000, and again when He feed the 5000.

So again, He only prayed to show the people He was sent from God. All other times Jesus prayed He went off by Himself somewhere or He was teaching the disciples or communicating with the disciples privately.

funny how you did not embolden the reason why Jesus said He felt it necessary to pray aloud, but emboldened everything around it.

You seem to be confusing "outside" with "public."




...and if you keep reading you will note that Jesus does not say if you have a good heart you can stay and pray in public.

What He is saying here is everyone who prays outside does so to be seen by others... Just like the hypocrits. Otherwise save your prayer go to your room and pray in secrete. For anyone who prays publicly has their reward. But, if you go to your room and pray God will reward you openly for what you have prayed secretly.


Again this is only 1/3 of the passage. He says do not pray like they do to be seen. Meaning if you pray publically you will be seen and you will be idolized by others. There is no path that Jesus gives that allows us to stay in public praying that does not end with the 'reward' for prayer to be given right there on the spot in the eyes who sees you and your prayer .

If you want God to answer your prayer Jesus only gives one way for that to happen. That is to go to your room and pray in secrete.

great sentiment. Just know, you heart being in the right place, do not change Where, why or what Jesus told us to pray.

Jesus prayed aloud 6 different times in the gospels. 3 of which where from the cross. (He could not go someplace else to pray.

Then again at Lazarus' tomb, which He says He only prayed aloud so that the crowd knew He was sent from the Father. (As God would not have supported His miracle otherwise) Then when He fed the 4000, and again when He feed the 5000.

So again, He only prayed to show the people He was sent from God. All other times Jesus prayed He went off by Himself somewhere or He was teaching the disciples or communicating with the disciples privately. “

right like I said see how all those different situations determined things ?

That’s what I was saying I think it’s situational ….. lole another aspect and situation that could alter the situation is praying together with other believers

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18:19-20‬ ‭KJV‬‬

good time to pray is when god is in our midst .

there are situations where prayer is needed immediately other times we need some private talks with the lord other times we should have partners praying with us ect ect

“And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭12:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

There he is in the midst

“And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭4:31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭1:14‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the key is they aren’t praying to look cool or pious or seem holy in a religious society they’re believers and seeking the lord in prayer alone together in private and public

 

[Watchman22]

Jesus prayed aloud 6 different times in the gospels. 3 of which where from the cross. (He could not go someplace else to pray.

Then again at Lazarus' tomb, which He says He only prayed aloud so that the crowd knew He was sent from the Father. (As God would not have supported His miracle otherwise) Then when He fed the 4000, and again when He feed the 5000.

So again, He only prayed to show the people He was sent from God. All other times Jesus prayed He went off by Himself somewhere or He was teaching the disciples or communicating with the disciples privately.

funny how you did not embolden the reason why Jesus said He felt it necessary to pray aloud, but emboldened everything around it.

You seem to be confusing "outside" with "public."




...and if you keep reading you will note that Jesus does not say if you have a good heart you can stay and pray in public.

What He is saying here is everyone who prays outside does so to be seen by others... Just like the hypocrits. Otherwise save your prayer go to your room and pray in secrete. For anyone who prays publicly has their reward. But, if you go to your room and pray God will reward you openly for what you have prayed secretly.


Again this is only 1/3 of the passage. He says do not pray like they do to be seen. Meaning if you pray publically you will be seen and you will be idolized by others. There is no path that Jesus gives that allows us to stay in public praying that does not end with the 'reward' for prayer to be given right there on the spot in the eyes who sees you and your prayer .

If you want God to answer your prayer Jesus only gives one way for that to happen. That is to go to your room and pray in secrete.

great sentiment. Just know, you heart being in the right place, do not change Where, why or what Jesus told us to pray.

I do think there is a difference between Jesus telling us "when YOU pray" , and when He prays.
So to try and sell the notion that we can pray aloud because Jesus might have, not comparing apples to apples.

 

[Roger316]

where? I just read chapter 11 again. it talks about head covering and partaking in the Lord's supper.

Yes — the setting is the gathered worship of the church, and the specific activity Paul is addressing in 1 Corinthians 11:1–17 is men and women praying and prophesying in the assembly. That is the immediate context of the head‑covering discussion.

Jesus and Paul have opened wide the door for women to participate in the gathered church—praying, prophesying, and exercising Spirit‑given gifts. The Corinthians wrote to Paul because this new freedom created a cultural tension. When men prayed, they removed their head coverings as a sign of honor toward God. But in Corinthian society, if a woman removed her head covering in public, it signaled sexual impropriety and brought shame upon her husband.

So the question arises: Should a woman remove her covering to imitate the men and show honor to God, even though doing so would disgrace her husband? Or should she keep her covering and risk appearing to dishonor God?

Paul resolves the dilemma by reframing the issue. He argues that when a woman prays or prophesies, she should keep her head covering, because honoring her husband within the creational order is itself an act of honoring God. The covering is not a symbol of inferiority but a culturally intelligible sign of respect for the relational structure God established. Thus, her participation in worship remains fully affirmed, and her public demeanor communicates honor both to her husband and to the Lord.

 

[Drich]

Yes, of course it is.

Jesus Didn't seem to think so. Remember in mat 6 He says 'do not pray like the hypocrites do.' (Publicly)
His remedy wasn't to have us search ourselves, and if we had pure intentions we could pray in public. No, His fix for this problem was to tell everyone to take themselves out of the public space and to go into their room/closet close the door and pray to your Father in private.

Then your Father seeing what you have done in private will openly reward you publicly.

Again, No where is a path given to pray to God publicly.

Not only that in chapter 6, Jesus also tells us to Fast and give to the poor in secrete. Why would He in chapter 6's over lapping message to do your works in secrete, then change this message for those who want to pray openly? Doesn't it make more sense to keep the whole 'pray, give and fast in secrete' a consistent message, rather than teach give, and fast in secrete, but pray in public/let everyone know who and what you are praying for, so long as you check the condition of your heart first?

That's not what the Bible is talking about. It's talking about an attitude of the heart. The manner in which you bring attention to yourself.

So why didn't Jesus say, if your heart is pure stay and pray publicly? Why did He command that all still go to their room and pray in secrete?

They are praying to a false god. And their intent is to be noticed. It's not a religion... or a religion only.

So Praying in earnest means nothing if your ideologies are false?

If this is the case then why would praying to Jesus means something, if Jesus is on record saying if you pray this way, you have all the reward you are ever going to get? But if you pray in secrete, Your Father will reward you publicly?

 

[CS1]

Apparently any where where the Spirit moves him to pray.


I'm asking is it possible to pray publicly and not 'look holy?'

When there is a mess of christians at a restaurant after church and they all 'bless the food.' How is this not an example of people not "looking holy?"

yes