“And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
Matthew 6:5 — Greek Interlinear
Church Fathers on Matthew 6:5
Solomon says, 'Before prayer, prepare thy soul.' This he does who comes to prayer doing alms; for good works stir up the faith of the heart, and give the soul confidence in prayer to God. Alms then are a preparation for prayer, and therefore the Lord after speaking of alms proceeds accordingly to instruct us concerning prayer.
He does not now bid us pray, but instructs us how we should pray; as above He did not command us to do alms, but shewed the manner of doing them.
He calls them hypocrites, because feigning that they are praying to God, they are looking round to men; and He adds, 'they love to pray in the synagogues.'