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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The text highlights that "your Father who is in secret" is not just in the secret place with you, but He is the one who sees in secret, focusing on His unique ability to perceive the hidden motivations and heart behind your prayer. This emphasizes that the reward isn't for finding the perfect hidden spot, but for the genuine, unseen communion with God Himself.
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is teaching about authentic worship, contrasting it with the showy practices of some religious leaders who perform good deeds, give to the poor, and pray publicly to be seen and praised by others. He’s emphasizing that the motivation behind our actions matters immensely to God, urging His followers to do these things with genuine humility and a focus on pleasing Him, not people. This verse provides specific instruction on the how and where of personal prayer, directing us away from public display and toward intimate communion with God.
Jesus tells us to go into our room and shut the door. What does this physical act really mean for our prayer lives?
When Jesus says to enter your 'closet' and shut the door, He's not just talking about a physical room. The original word, 'tameion,' could refer to any inner chamber or storage room within a house – a place set apart. The key isn't the specific location, but the intention: creating a dedicated space, free from the eyes and ears of others, for undistracted communion with God.
This practice establishes a vital principle: personal prayer is precisely that – personal. It's a private appointment with your Heavenly Father. While public prayer has its place, Jesus emphasizes the need for a sanctuary where your motives aren't influenced by the desire for human praise.
Your Father sees you in secret. What does this truth mean for how you pray and what you expect?
The promise following the instruction to pray in secret is profound: 'And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.' This highlights God's perfect awareness. He doesn't need an audience to see your devotion. He sees the hidden gestures, the silent sighs, the genuine desires of your heart, even when no one else does.
This isn't about earning a reward through works, but about understanding that God notices and values sincere, private devotion. He rewards not the performance, but the heart's posture – the seeking, the trusting, and the reliance on Him that happens in those hidden moments.
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Understand the original words
proseuchomai · Greek Verb
To speak to God in devotion, petition, or praise; a relational act of seeking communion and communication with the Creator.
patēr · Greek Noun
The primary relational term for God, emphasizing His role as the source of life, provision, and covenant relationship with His people.
kryptos · Greek Adjective
That which is concealed or private; in a spiritual sense, it refers to the heart and the hidden places where genuine communion with God occurs, away from public display.
apodidōmi · Greek Verb
To grant recompense or recognition; in a biblical context, it refers to God's gracious response to those who seek Him in faith and obedience.
This passage speaks of entering one's room and shutting the door during times of trouble, a parallel to Jesus' instruction for seeking private communion with God away from the world.
1 Kings 4:33The wisdom of Solomon is described as speaking of nature and earthly things, hinting at a deep, hidden understanding that can be sought in private, much like seeking God in a secret place.
Luke 12:3Jesus again emphasizes the unseen nature of God's listening and the ultimate exposure of our private words, reinforcing the idea that what is whispered in secret will be proclaimed from the housetops.
Romans 8:26This passage highlights the Spirit's intercession when we don't know how to pray, showing that even our private, unspoken groans are heard and understood by God.
Matthew 18:19-20While emphasizing private prayer, Jesus also affirms the power of corporate prayer when two or three are gathered in His name, showing that His presence is with His people in both secret and gathered moments.
vincentMatthew 6:6: "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."
Closet (ταμιεῖον)See on Luke 12:3.
barnesMatthew 6:6: "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."
Enter into thy closet - Every Jewish house had a place for secret devotion. The roofs of their houses were flat places, well adapted for walking, conversation, and meditation. See the notes at Matthew 9:2 . Professor Hackett ("Illustrations of Scripture," p. 82) says: "On the roof of the house i…
The text highlights that "your Father who is in secret" is not just in the secret place with you, but He is the one who sees in secret, focusing on His unique ability to perceive the hidden motivations and heart behind your prayer. This emphasizes that the reward isn't for finding the perfect hidden spot, but for the genuine, unseen communion with God Himself.
Jesus is teaching about authentic worship, contrasting it with the showy practices of some religious leaders who perform good deeds, give to the poor, and pray publicly to be seen and praised by others. He’s emphasizing that the motivation behind our actions matters immensely to God, urging His followers to do these things with genuine humility and a focus on pleasing Him, not people. This verse provides specific instruction on the how and where of personal prayer, directing us away from public display and toward intimate communion with God.
Jesus is teaching about authentic worship, contrasting it with the showy practices of some religious leaders who perform good deeds, give to the poor, and pray publicly to be seen and praised by others. He’s emphasizing that the motivation behind our actions matters immensely to God, urging His followers to do these things with genuine humility and a focus on pleasing Him, not people. This verse provides specific instruction on the how and where of personal prayer, directing us away from public display and toward intimate communion with God.
"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." — The text highlights that "your Father who is in secret" is not just in the secret place with you, but He is the one who sees in secret, focusing on His unique ability to perceive the hidden motiv…
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Last reviewed October 2026