:Matthew 6:2
:Their ''primary'' purpose is to appear righteous, to get glory from men, not to pray to God (which is only incidental to their purpose). To be seen praying is only a means to an end, to be praised by an audience, to gain advantage for themselves by cultivating a reputation (Matthew 23:5-7). They think that God will be compelled to honor them as well, because they outwardly praise His name. They make themselves the primary object of honor, not God. The same intent is seen in [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A4-6&version=RSVCE John 12:4-6] "''This he said, not that he cared for the poor but because he was a thief''".
:Parallel Matthew 6:5 "''[[Charity|alms]]...that they may be seen by men...they have received their reward.''", 6:16 "''that they may be seen by men to be [[fasting]]...they have received their reward''"; 23:5-7. Compare [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+6%3A4-10&version=RSVCE 1 Timothy 6:4-10]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+16%3A14-15&version=RSVCE Luke 16:14-15]; [http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/ant-20.htm Josephus ''Ant.'' 20.9.'''2''' <nowiki>[205-207]</nowiki> "the high priest Ananias...he was a great hoarder up of money..."(''scroll down from chapter one to chapter nine and locate paragraph 2'')].
:[http://biblehub.com/multi/matthew/6-2.htm "'''they have their reward'''", their desire to be seen].
:That is their primary reward. They have achieved their whole end, that is their goal. No further reward remains to them. The additional praise they expect as a result of being seen may not always follow (''not all Jews admired them, because of their reputation for pride, and their arrogant contempt for the common people who did not know every detail of the [[Torah]]'' John 7:49), but they have what they desired, to be seen by an audience (1 Timothy 6:3-10). The interpretation of Jesus of the real meaning of genuinely good works as the works of evildoers in Matthew 7:21-23 is clearly explained, "''I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.''" Those who prophesy in Jesus' name, cast out demons in his name, and do many mighty works in his name, "to be seen by men", are not doing these good things for the glory of God, or from a motive of compassion, but for their own reputation and glorification. Their hearts are not right with Him ([https://biblehub.com/john/5-42.htm John 5:42] and [https://biblehub.com/acts/8-21.htm Acts 8:21]). They are not in fact actually "'''''DO'''''-ing the will of my Father who is in heaven", but their own will. Whatever real good they do is incidental to their true purpose, to serve their real ends. (see Matthew 25:34-46; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Sirach+14%3A7&version=NRSVCE Sirach 14:7].) Compare [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/1_timothy/5-24.htm 1 Timothy 5:24-25] and [http://biblehub.com/commentaries/revelation/22-11.htm Revelation 22:11] "''let them continue''" in light of Matthew 15:13-14 "''leave them alone''"; also [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+13%3A24-30&version=RSVCE Matthew 13:24-30] ''and'' [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+4%3A5&version=RSVCE 1 Corinthians 4:5]; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+14%3A10-12&version=RSVCE Romans 14:10-12].
:[https://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/10-12.htm '''1 Corinthians 10:12''']; [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+12%3A9-21&version=RSVCE '''Romans 12:9-21'''].