Why does Bible warn about public displays of faith?

Question

"Be careful not to practice your religion in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

I think of Tim Tebow kneeling and praying after scoring a touchdown in front of millions on TV. It seems he is going against what Bible commands

Answer 1

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This isn't a warning against public displays of faith so much as it is a warning against publicly pretending to have faith so that you can get something out of it. Jesus called people who did this "hypocrites" (from the Greek for "actors"). They were praying in public "to be seen by others" but they didn't really believe in what they were doing. They were just trying to get a social benefit - well, "they have received their reward in full." The real reward comes from genuine belief, not from putting on a social show.

Answer 2

Friend this refers to blowing your horn ahead of you to announce to the world that you're about to do some charitable Act! the New Testament specifically Jesus Christ specifically commands go ye therefore and Make Disciples of people of all the nations baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. People of all the nations obviously refers to preaching in public.

Answer 3

The warning is about being religious and against selfish displays to bring glory to yourself, not God. Tim may be sincere about giving God the glory when he kneels and gives thanks in public. The same is true about those who pray over their meals in restaurants. Only God knows if their hearts are sincere... and it's not something anyone else can righteously judge. In this country we have freedom of religion and to express our beliefs... not freedom "from" religion.

Answer 4

What you quote is not the Bible.

Unless it is a wicked mistranslation.

Maybe you should go and read a proper translation?

Answer 5

Because publicly displaying one's religion is a show of ego.

Answer 6

Displays of how humble one is, in front of other church goers just brings the focus of your faith upon you, instead of on Christ. Approaching Jesus in humility, and not drawing attention to yourself is what Christ has asked us to do. He never drew attention to Himself, and never made a reputation for Himself. His goal was to do the Father's will.

Answer 7

In today's words, it means "virtue signaling" is a load of hypocritical b.s., and God sees through it.

Answer 8

Because look at what happened to Jesus. They killed him for His faith and good works.

Answer 9

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also commands his followers to sell what they have and give to the poor. I don't believe Tim Tebow has done this, either.

Answer 10

It doesn't warn against public displays of faith. It warns against doing those things solely for the purpose of being seen by others. Jesus is saying if that is the reason you do it, then being seen by others will be the only reward you get for your prayers. God knows our hearts.

Answer 11

The bible is full of stuff like this. Do this, don't do that. Do whatever you want. Pray on a mountaintop if that's what you want.