Jesus had been speaking of the true nature and character of the believer and pointing out that life is lived in the heart and mind before all else. Actions that are merely external in order to look good are of no value whatsoever to God.

Jesus then began to talk about praying.

Praying was not to be done in a hypocritical fashion like those who stood in the synagogues or on the street corners to be heard and seen by men. These people were hypocrites. The Greek word for hypocrite is where our word actor comes from. A hypocrite is one who acted a part, who presented to others, and the communities in which he or she lived,  an image of self that was false.