Photo: My Lovely Scotland (Loch Fyne, Scotland.)
Author: Stephen Weller
1,743 words, 9 minutes read time
Real Prayer & Fasting
Scripture Reference: Matthew 6:5-8, 16-18
Context:
These verses occur within the heart of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), where Jesus is teaching His disciples what true righteousness looks like in contrast to the outward, performative religion practiced by many of the religious leaders of His day. In Matthew 6, Jesus addresses three key expressions of Jewish piety—giving (6:1–4), praying (6:5–15), and fasting (6:16–18), all of which were good and expected practices under the Law. However, His concern is not with the acts themselves, but with the motive behind them. In 6:5–8, He warns against praying like the hypocrites who seek public recognition, standing in visible places to be seen by others, and against the Gentiles who use empty, repetitive words thinking they will be heard for their verbosity. Instead, Jesus emphasizes a personal, sincere relationship with God, encouraging private prayer rooted in trust that the Father already knows our needs. In 6:16–18, He applies the same principle to fasting, rebuking those who disfigure their faces to advertise their sacrifice and calling instead for quiet devotion that seeks God’s approval rather than human praise. Altogether, this section reinforces a central theme of the Sermon: true righteousness is inward, God-centered, and rooted in a genuine relationship with the Father, not external display. Jesus is redefining spiritual devotion by shifting the focus from public recognition to private faithfulness, teaching that God rewards what is done in secret and values the heart over outward performance.
Event Narrative:
Event Narrative:
Mt 6:5 “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Mt 6:16 “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Event Summary:
In this event, Jesus teaches about authenticity and humility in prayer and fasting. He emphasizes that spiritual practices should be genuine and directed toward God, rather than performed for public approval or recognition. The key themes are sincerity, humility, and an intimate relationship with God.
Key points of this event are:
(1) Jesus warns against praying like the hypocrites who pray publicly to be seen by others. He encourages his followers to pray in secret, where only God sees, and to avoid using “vain repetitions” or empty phrases. This teaching emphasizes that prayer is about a personal, sincere connection with God rather than a performance for others. True prayer is not about impressing people but about seeking a genuine relationship with the Father, who already knows our needs. (Matthew 6:5-8)
(2) Jesus cautions against fasting to gain admiration from others. He describes hypocrites who disfigure their faces to show that they are fasting. Instead, he instructs his followers to fast in secret, appearing as usual so that only God knows. Fasting, like prayer, should be a private act of devotion to God. Jesus teaches that God, who sees what is done in secret, will reward true, humble fasting. This emphasizes that God values sincerity and humility in spiritual practices, and it is his recognition, not public approval, that matters. (Matthew 6:16-18)
(3) Both teachings in this event point to the importance of a heart that is focused on God alone. Jesus calls his followers to cultivate a sincere and humble spirit, recognizing that God values authenticity over appearances. By instructing his disciples to avoid attention-seeking behavior, Jesus highlights that spiritual practices are ultimately about drawing closer to God and deepening one’s faith, not achieving a public image of righteousness.
(4) Jesus assures his followers that God sees what is done in secret and rewards those who seek him with a genuine heart. This reward is not about earthly praise but about spiritual fulfillment and closeness to God. The promise of God’s reward reinforces the idea that authentic devotion brings true spiritual benefit, which is far more valuable than human approval.
The message of this event is that authenticity and humility are essential in spiritual practices. Jesus teaches that prayer and fasting should be directed toward God alone, not performed for public recognition. By focusing on God rather than on appearances, believers nurture a genuine relationship with the Father and experience the true reward of spiritual growth and closeness to him. These teachings encourage a heart that values sincerity, humility, and a private devotion to God, reminding believers that God values the unseen intentions of the heart over outward displays.
Understanding and Application:
Questions of Understanding with Extended Answers
1. What contrast does Jesus make between the hypocrites and true disciples in prayer (vv. 5–6)?
Answer:
Jesus contrasts those who pray for public recognition with those who pray for genuine communion with God. The hypocrites love to stand in synagogues and on street corners to be seen by others, making prayer a performance rather than an act of devotion. Their reward is limited to human praise, temporary and shallow. In contrast, Jesus instructs His followers to go into a private room and pray to the Father in secret. This emphasizes sincerity, humility, and intimacy with God. True prayer is not about being noticed by others but about being known by God. The Father, who sees what is done in secret, rewards such authentic devotion—indicating that spiritual value lies in the heart’s posture, not outward display.
2. Why does Jesus warn against “heap[ing] up empty phrases” in prayer (v. 7)?
Answer:
Jesus warns against meaningless repetition because it reflects a misunderstanding of God’s nature. Pagan practices often involved repetitive chants or long-winded formulas intended to manipulate or persuade their gods. Jesus teaches that such methods are unnecessary with the true God, who is personal, attentive, and already aware of our needs. Prayer is not about quantity of words but quality of relationship. Empty phrases lack sincerity and demonstrate a mechanical approach to communication with God. Instead, Jesus calls for thoughtful, heartfelt prayer that flows from trust in God’s character and care.
3. What does verse 8 reveal about God’s knowledge and how should this shape our prayers?
Answer:
Verse 8 teaches that God already knows what we need before we ask Him. This reveals His omniscience and intimate awareness of our lives. However, this does not make prayer unnecessary; rather, it transforms its purpose. Prayer is not informing God but aligning ourselves with Him, expressing dependence, trust, and submission. Knowing that God already understands our needs should remove anxiety and lead to confident, simple, and sincere prayer. It encourages believers to approach God relationally, not transactionally, trusting that He hears and cares even before words are spoken.
4. What is the problem with how the hypocrites fast, according to verses 16–18?
Answer:
The hypocrites distort fasting by turning it into a public display of piety. They intentionally make their appearance gloomy; disfiguring their faces to signal to others that they are fasting. This outward show is designed to gain admiration and recognition, not to honor God. As with prayer, their reward is limited to human approval. Their fasting becomes self-centered rather than God-centered, revealing that their true desire is not spiritual growth or repentance, but attention and validation from others.
5. How does Jesus instruct His followers to fast differently?
Answer:
Jesus teaches that fasting should be done discreetly and with normal outward appearance. By anointing the head and washing the face, acts associated with regular grooming, His followers are to avoid drawing attention to their fasting. This ensures that the focus remains on God rather than on self. Fasting becomes a private act of devotion, humility, and dependence on God. It is meant to deepen one’s relationship with the Father, not to serve as a public announcement of spirituality.
6. What does it mean that “your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (vv. 6, 18)?
Answer:
This statement emphasizes God’s omniscience and His concern with the inner life rather than outward appearances. The “reward” is not necessarily material or immediate but spiritual, such as deeper fellowship with God, spiritual growth, peace, and eternal recognition. It highlights that God values sincerity and humility. While human recognition is fleeting, God’s reward is lasting and meaningful. This also reassures believers that even unseen acts of devotion are fully known and valued by God.
7. What common principle ties together Jesus’ teaching on prayer and fasting in this passage?
Answer:
The unifying principle is the importance of authentic, God-centered devotion over outward religious performance. In both prayer and fasting, Jesus condemns hypocrisy, doing spiritual acts to be seen by others, and calls for sincerity, humility, and a focus on God. True righteousness is not about external visibility but internal reality. The passage teaches that spiritual disciplines are meant to cultivate a genuine relationship with God, not to enhance one’s reputation among people.
8. How does this passage challenge modern expressions of religious practice?
Answer:
This passage challenges believers today to examine their motives in spiritual activities. In an age where visibility and recognition (including social media) are often emphasized, it is easy to turn acts of devotion into performances. Jesus calls for self-examination: Are prayers, fasting, or other acts done to glorify God or to gain approval from others? The passage urges believers to prioritize authenticity, cultivate a private life with God, and resist the temptation to measure spirituality by outward appearance. It calls for a return to quiet, sincere devotion rooted in a genuine relationship with the Father.
Anchor My Faith 
Leave a comment