The Sermon on the Mount – A Sermon Like No Other Week 23 – Righteousness and Practical Religion And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the street, that they may be seen by men ... But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly ... and don’t use vain repetitions as the heathen do ... (Matthew 6:5a,b,6,7b)
As Jesus addressed the people, His heart to teach turned to the topic of prayer. This form of worship is personal and intimate. Jesus had many quiet times with His Father. They were always personal and away from public display. The teachers of Jesus' day did not teach or practice this true piety. Their outward display only fueled hypocrisy. True prayer comes from a heart of worship and is very personal. It is not liturgy memorized and said without thought. As we will see next week, Jesus gives a model for true heart praying. Truth 22: Prayer is personal and worship toward God -- from the heart!
Blessings to all,
Sandy Davis, for the team at Women In Discipleship (sm) womenindiscipleship.org – P.O. Box 694, Goldenrod, FL – 32733 – (407) 325-2986 sandydaviswid@earchlink.net
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