When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to pray in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets, so that they may be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have already received their reward.
In this passage Jesus teaches that prayer must be sincere and directed to God, not done to attract people’s attention. The hypocrites pray in places where they can display their piety in order to receive praise from people. But Jesus says that such people have already received their reward, namely, praise from people, and they will receive no other reward from God. Prayer should be personal, a real connection with God, not some action put on display.