Why Do People Still Pray in Public (Despite Jesus' Command Not to)?

[JediJohnnie]

I disagree that this is a stand-alone passage.  Verse 1 of that chapter says: 

“[But] take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father."

I think we are being told not to do good deeds just so other people can see them or that we can brag about them.  The same goes with praying; if we pray in public only to be seen by others to show how righteous we are, we are only fooling ourselves.  Jesus himself prayed in public.  And He taught us the "Lord's Prayer" to give us a guideline.

Yes,that is the correct and blatantly obvious interpretation.

[hitch0403]

Mr Johnson...your last post wasn't for me...correct...about Jesus being God?

Godlike...yes....son of God...yes.....

Psalms 83:18 Says Jehovah is God.

[mythociate]

Mr Johnson...your last post wasn't for me...correct...about Jesus being God?

Godlike...yes....son of God...yes.....

Psalms 83:18 Says Jehovah is God.

Jesus IS God, like newborn Prince George IS the King of England ... oh, in the TEMPORAL view Prince George is 'finding- & growing-the ability to BECOME the king that he WILL be,' which is sorta what Jesus was doing on Earth with regard to His Godhood.

"The Father, the Son & the Holy Spirit" AREN'T 'the Three Branches of Heaven's Government!' ... not even some Royal Trio that discusses matters and votes on the decisions. They're more like 'Three Personalities of One God': sometimes He's up there planning the long-term goals He wants to accomplish, sometimes He's 'down here digging in the muck to make the mortar for the mosque' (necessity of alliteration), sometimes He's helping everyone to get 'on the same page of the plan.'

[skinnygwenny]

Sometimes your situation may dictate where and when you pray. If you happen to get hit by a car and remain lucid, will you wait until the ambulance come and take you to the hospital to pray or would you start while you were there laying on the ground.

[mythociate]

Sometimes your situation may dictate where and when you pray. If you happen to get hit by a car and remain lucid, will you wait until the ambulance come and take you to the hospital to pray or would you start while you were there laying on the ground.

So 'prayer' becomes "what you do when there is nothing else you can do?" (rather than 'what you are constantly doing anyway')