Matthew 6:6

Sunday, 29 December 2024

 

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. Matthew 6:6

 

“And you, when you may pray, you enter into your chamber, and having closed your door, you pray to your Father, the ‘in the secret.’ And your Father, the ‘seeing in the secret,’ He will reward you in the revealed” (CG).

 

In the previous verse, Jesus gave directions to His disciples on how not to pray. Now, He will give instructions to them on what prayers are acceptable to God, beginning with, “And you, when you may pray.”

 

As with the previous verse, the verb is subjunctive. It is thus a hypothetical intended for any such situation. When someone decides to pray, Jesus says, “you enter into your chamber.”

 

The Greek word is tameion. Of this word, Strong’s says, “A chamber on the ground-floor or interior of an Oriental house (generally used for storage or privacy, a spot for retirement) -- secret chamber, closet, storehouse.”

 

This room, set aside for quietness, storage, or whatever else is completely different than the open synagogue or plaza corner of the previous verse. It is not a place you would expect to see the masses thronging to. In fact, you would not expect anyone to show up there. Once in the chamber, Jesus next says, “and having closed your door.”

 

It may not be that someone would show up to come into another person’s chamber, but someone else may be in the house and could walk by and see someone in there. To make sure that total privacy is obtained, He says to close the door. There would then be total isolation from anyone coming by and seeing or hearing. Once so secreted away, He continues with, “you pray to your Father, the ‘in the secret.’”

 

Without any fanfare, any accompanying ears, or any distractions, a person in the chamber should only then make his prayer to God. In such a state, there is no chance of anyone else noting you for your supposed piety, and in such a place while praying to God, it indicates a state of faith that the Father truly does see and hear. As such, Jesus then says, “And your Father, the ‘seeing in the secret,’ He will reward you in the revealed.”

 

The words are the same as Matthew 6:4. The Father will respond according to His will for each person who prays in this manner. Jesus does not say how a person will be rewarded, and it would be presumptuous to expect that every prayer of petition a person makes will be favorably responded to as requested.

 

Further, there are various types of prayers, including praise, thanksgiving, intercession, supplication, petition, etc. Jesus does not specify what prayer is being referred to. Therefore, His words must cover each and every type. In whatever way God will openly reward such prayers, it is assured that it will come about.

 

Life application: In the gospels, it is seen that Jesus went to isolated places to pray, such as on a mountain, in the wilderness, or away from the disciples when in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the Garden, we are given insights into what He prayed as He poured out His heart to God.

 

We may pick up the phone to call a friend for advice or help. We might drive to a family member’s house to do the same thing. But are we willing to go somewhere private and speak of those things with the Lord?

 

God is omnipresent. Any place we go, He is already there. So why should we find it a simple thing to call or go to someone to relay our needs but not feel that way with God, who is right where we are or where we will be when we isolate ourselves from others?

 

Let us take Jesus’ examples along with His words of instruction to heart and be willing to meet intimately with the Lord at whatever time we may find it convenient. Jesus doesn’t tell us how long we should pray. He doesn’t tell us what time of day we should pray.

 

So many things are left open for us to meet with the Lord and commune with Him through prayer. So take advantage of this marvelous avenue God has set forth for us to meet with Him. As Jesus is our High Priest, it is good to include Him in our prayers to the Father, knowing that He is perfectly mediating on our behalf.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You that we have the assurance that when we pray, You will hear and respond according to Your wisdom. We know that our prayers will be found acceptable to You as we pray through our great Mediator, Jesus. Amen.