Matthew 6:5-6, “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Today, many in Christendom pray through social media (much like the hypocrites prayed standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets) — because they love to be seen on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, etc.. Consequently, for those who pray in these online venues “they have their reward” — the honor of men, not the honor that comes from God ONLY!
Remember what Jesus said, “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” (John 5:44). The word “honour” in John 5:44 refers to those who loved to receive the “reputation, praise, and honor” of men in those days …and… it also refers to today’s glory seekers through social media — but the honour that comes from God only … not sought after!
Paul wrote in Romans 15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” — these scriptures are for our learning at this moment in time as they were for the people during the first century.
We have no record of Jesus praying in the streets, neither the prophets, nor the apostles. And, it is affirmed by these writers — Isaiah and Matthew:
- (Isaiah 42:2) He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
- (Matthew 12:19) He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets.
That being said, praying private (secret) prayers to the Lord on social media is equivalent to praying as the hypocrites (actors under an assumed character). The enemy has many people believing that God will answer their publicized “secret” prayers, but Jesus said … “they have their reward” amongst themselves, not from Him. And we also know that, in the time of this ignorance God winked at; but now He commands all men every where to repent (Acts 17:30).
Ephesians 4:17-19 says, “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”
Therefore, knowing the terror of the Lord, we beseech those who fell into the trap of publicizing their secret prayers to Him, and by His mercy, please cease from this ignorance (through moral blindness), and repent. The Lord is extremely compassionate and of tender mercy to forgive, cleanse, and give sight to the blind. If these people want the Lord to reward their secret prayers openly (that is, publicly), then go “into thy closet” and pray to Him “which seeth in secret…” as it is written in His word.