Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 6:5

"And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward." — Matthew 6:5 (ASV)

In his second example, Jesus assumes that his disciples will pray, but he forbids the prayers of “hypocrites” (see comment on v.2). Prayer had a prominent place in Jewish life and led to countless rabbinic decisions. To Jesus, the critical element was not the location or position of the one praying, but the motives (“to be seen by man”). And again there is the same reward (cf. v.2).