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[[Image:Jesus praying.jpg|thumb|Jesus praying at Gethsemane]]

[[Image:Jesus praying.jpg|thumb|Jesus praying at Gethsemane]]

In the [[Sermon on the Mount]], Jesus told followers how to pray and offered an ideal prayer ({{Bible ref|Mathew|6|9-13}}).  He cautioned against praying hypocritically, such as praying in public to look good, and said that instead one should pray alone, secretly, and should not announce one's prayer.  Some Christians interpret this as direct instructions and for this reason oppose prayers in schools, public meetings, or other non-religious meetings.

In the [[Sermon on the Mount]], [[Jesus Christ]] told followers how to pray and offered an ideal prayer ({{Bible ref|Mathew|6|9-13}}).  He cautioned against praying hypocritically, such as praying in public to look good, and said that instead one should pray alone, secretly, and should not announce one's prayer.  Some Christians interpret this as direct instructions and for this reason oppose prayers in schools, public meetings, or other non-religious meetings.

{{Bible quote|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 men. I tell you the truth, 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.|book=Matthew|chap=6|verses=5-7|rmargin=230px}}

{{Bible quote|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 men. I tell you the truth, 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. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.|book=Matthew|chap=6|verses=5-7|rmargin=230px}}