“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. 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."

In the Greek, the word "hypocrite" is most accurately translated to mean "the pretender" - someone who plays the part of a religious person to perfection, but internally does not have sincere faith. Missional Pastor Matt Hartman reminds us that a sincere heart posture before the Lord is the first step to intimacy with him. As we continue to explore The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6, Matt helps illuminate how the Lord's prayer is an expression of what it means to live in God's kingdom.