Most homes had only one room, with a small storage space. This storage space is most likely in view, and it would be the most private part of the home. The emphasis in Jesus’ words is not that prayer must take place in complete secrecy where no one can see, but that the desire to impress others must be absent from our prayers.1 Even so, private prayer should definitely have a place in the life of the Christian, as demonstrated by Jesus’ example (Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:18, Luke 9:28; Luke 11:1; Luke 22:41–44).2
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.