Here Jesus continues to teach his disciples that they are to be careful that they do not practice their righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. He first illustrated this truth by speaking about giving to the poor. In this passage Jesus illustrates this same truth by speaking about prayer. Prayer is not a performance, nor is it a tool by which we seek to manipulate God. Rather it is an instrument by which we enter into intimate personal fellowship with God who is over all things, who made us, and who loves us.
