Jesus is not prohibiting all public prayers (see Matthew 18:19–20; Matthew 21:13; Acts 1:24; Acts 3:1; Acts 4:24–30; 1 Timothy 2:8).1 As with his other examples and teachings elsewhere in his Sermon, he makes use of overstatement to emphasize a particular point and for the sake of memorization. Public prayers are appropriate, but they must not be done with a desire to impress those who will be present to hear the prayer.2 Jesus is critiquing insincere Jewish practice rather than appropriate public prayer.3
6 Mais quand tu pries, entre dans ta chambre, ferme ta porte, et prie ton Père qui est là dans le lieu secret; et ton Père, qui voit dans le secret, te le rendra.