When You Pray

When You Pray

The Fourth Wednesday of Lent – 3/11/2026

Matthew 6:5-14

Rev. Dr. Christopher W. Brademeyer

That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration this evening is our lesson from Matthew chapter six with special emphasis on verses five through eight which read as follows:

[Jesus said,] “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.  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. 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. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”[1]

Thus far the Scriptures.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer is one of the most basic and familiar parts of the Christian life. Even those who know very little about Christianity often know that Christians pray. Yet familiarity can sometimes hide the deeper truth. Because prayer is common, we may assume we already understand it. But when we listen carefully to the words of our Lord in the Gospel, we discover that prayer is not quite what many people imagine it to be.

In the world around us, prayer is often treated as something dramatic or impressive. It becomes a performance. The person who uses the most elaborate language, the longest sentences, or the most emotional expressions is assumed to be the most devout. In other cases, prayer becomes a way of drawing attention to oneself. The act that should be directed toward God quietly becomes directed toward other people.

But Jesus speaks very differently about prayer. In the Sermon on the Mount, which is our reading from Matthew 6, our Lord says: “When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites.” And what makes them hypocrites? They love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by others. Their concern is not really that God hears them, but that people notice them. In other words, prayer is not meant to be a performance.

Jesus tells His disciples something very simple instead: “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.” The emphasis is not on spectacle but on faith. Prayer is a conversation between the child and the Father. It does not need an audience. It does not need applause.

This helps us understand something very important. Prayer is meant to be simple. Jesus explicitly warns against what He calls “heap[ing] up empty phrases as the Gentiles do.” Many people think that prayer becomes more effective if it becomes longer or more complicated. But our Lord says the opposite. Your Father already knows what you need before you ask Him.

That means prayer does not need elaborate language. It does not require carefully crafted speeches. The Lord’s Prayer itself shows us how simple prayer can be. “Our Father who art in heaven…” These are not complicated words. They are the words of children speaking to their Father.

Prayer is meant to be simple. And it is meant to be to the point.

When Jesus gives the Lord’s Prayer, every petition is direct and clear. “Give us this day our daily bread.” “Forgive us our trespasses.” “Lead us not into temptation.” These are not vague spiritual reflections. They are straightforward requests made in trust.

Prayer does not have to circle around its meaning. It does not have to dress itself up in impressive language. God does not need to be persuaded by rhetoric. He is already inclined toward mercy. So prayer is simple, and it is to the point. And it is not showy.

The Pharisees prayed in ways that drew attention to themselves. Their concern was not only God’s ear but the admiration of those around them. But Jesus strips prayer of this outward display. He moves it away from the stage and back into the quiet life of faith. True prayer does not seek recognition. It does not try to impress. It simply trusts that God hears.

For the same reason, prayer is not self-aggrandizing. Sometimes prayers can subtly turn into speeches about ourselves, about our accomplishments, our struggles, or our spiritual insight. But Christian prayer is not meant to elevate the person who prays. Its focus is God: His name, His kingdom, His will.

Notice again how the Lord’s Prayer begins. Not with us, but with God. “Hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done.” The prayer begins with God’s purposes before it ever turns to our needs. The order of these petitions matters. It reminds us that prayer is not about presenting ourselves as important before God. It is about turning us toward His will and directing us to where we receive what He gives.

And all of this leads us to the most important point: Christian prayer is made in the Name of Jesus. To pray in the Name of Jesus is not simply to attach His name to the end of a prayer as a magic formula that transforms words into prayers. It means something deeper. It means praying in faith in Him and in conformity with His will.

Through Jesus Christ we have access to the Father. By His death and resurrection He has reconciled us to God. We do not approach God because we are worthy, but because Christ has opened the way. So when we pray in His Name, we pray trusting in His promises and seeking what accords with His Word. Prayer is not a way of bending God’s will toward ours. It is a way of placing ourselves under His will.

And that connects with the words we heard from the apostle Paul in the epistle: “Pray without ceasing.” This does not mean that Christians are expected to spend every waking moment speaking words of prayer. Rather, it describes a life lived in constant reliance on God. A life where the believer continually turns to the Father with thanksgiving, with requests, with repentance, and with trust.

Such prayer does not require dramatic gestures or impressive language. It simply flows out of faith. So our Lord teaches us that prayer is simple. It is direct. It is not a performance for others. It does not seek to glorify the one who prays. And above all, it is offered in the Name of Jesus, trusting in Him who has made us children of the Father. This means you do not need to wonder whether your prayers are good enough. You do not need to search for perfect words. You do not need to construct elaborate speeches. You have already been given the words. “Our Father...” Those two words say everything. They confess that God is your Father through Christ. They confess that you are His child. And children do not need impressive speeches when they speak to their Father. They simply speak.

So pray. Pray simply. Pray directly. Pray in faith. And pray in the Name of Jesus, who has opened the way to the Father and who promises that your Father in heaven hears you.

In the holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

[1] Matthew 6:5-8 English Standard Version. All further quotations from Holy Scripture are from the ESV.