Matthew 6:7

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

But {G1161} when ye pray {G4336}, use {G945} not {G3361} vain repetitions {G945}, as {G5618} the heathen {G1482} do: for {G1063} they think {G1380} that {G3754} they shall be heard {G1522} for {G1722} their {G846} much speaking {G4180}.

"And when you pray, don't babble on and on like the pagans, who think God will hear them better if they talk a lot.

And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard.

And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Commentary

In Matthew 6:7, Jesus provides a crucial instruction regarding the nature of prayer, cautioning against insincere and mechanical approaches often associated with pagan practices of His time. This verse challenges the notion that prayer's effectiveness is tied to the volume or repetition of words, instead emphasizing sincerity and genuine communication with God.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus's profound teachings known as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), specifically within a section addressing religious practices like almsgiving, prayer, and fasting. Prior to this verse, Jesus condemns hypocritical public prayer (Matthew 6:5-6), encouraging believers to pray in private. Matthew 6:7 serves as a bridge, leading directly into the model prayer, often called the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), which exemplifies the very principles of sincere and focused prayer that Jesus advocates.

Key Themes

  • Sincerity Over Show: Jesus contrasts the genuine heart of prayer with the ostentatious or ritualistic prayers of "the heathen." True prayer is about a personal, honest connection with God, not about impressing others or manipulating divine favor through performance.
  • Quality, Not Quantity: The verse directly challenges the belief that more words or repeated phrases will make prayers more effective. God is not deaf; He knows our needs and thoughts before we even utter them (Matthew 6:8). This emphasizes the importance of meaningful, heartfelt communication over mere verbosity.
  • Distinction from Pagan Practices: The term "heathen" (Greek: ethnikos, referring to Gentiles or nations) points to the common pagan belief that gods needed to be persuaded or awakened through lengthy, repetitive incantations or rituals. Jesus explicitly distances Christian prayer from such practices, highlighting the unique, intimate relationship believers have with their heavenly Father.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "vain repetitions" translates the Greek word battalogeo (βατταλογέω), which can mean to stutter, stammer, babble, or repeat the same words senselessly. It suggests a meaningless, mechanical utterance of words without thought or devotion. The accompanying phrase, "much speaking" (Greek: polulogia, πολυλογία), reinforces this idea, referring to excessive wordiness or verbosity, often implying a lack of genuine content or purpose. These terms together paint a picture of prayer that is empty and ineffective because it lacks sincerity and understanding.

Practical Application

For believers today, Matthew 6:7 serves as a vital reminder to examine the motives and methods of our prayer life. It encourages us to:

  • Pray with Purpose: Approach prayer as a conversation with a loving Father who already knows our hearts, rather than a recitation of demands or a performance.
  • Focus on Relationship: Prioritize building an intimate relationship with God through honest communication, listening as much as speaking.
  • Trust God's Knowledge: Rest in the assurance that God is omniscient and understands our deepest needs and desires, even those we cannot articulate perfectly. This removes the pressure to "get it right" through endless words.
  • Cultivate Sincerity: Ensure that our prayers flow from a genuine heart of faith, gratitude, and dependence, rather than from a desire for outward show or a superstitious belief in the power of mere words.

This verse does not forbid fervent, persistent prayer (see Luke 18:1-8 on the persistent widow) or repeated requests, but rather cautions against the empty, thoughtless, or manipulative use of words in prayer.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Ecclesiastes 5:2 (40 votes)

    Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter [any] thing before God: for God [is] in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:3 (40 votes)

    For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice [is known] by multitude of words.

  • Ecclesiastes 5:7 (20 votes)

    For in the multitude of dreams and many words [there are] also [divers] vanities: but fear thou God.

  • 1 Kings 18:26 (13 votes)

    And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed [it], and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But [there was] no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.

  • 1 Kings 18:29 (13 votes)

    And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the [time] of the offering of the [evening] sacrifice, that [there was] neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.

  • Matthew 26:44 (9 votes)

    And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

  • Matthew 6:32 (7 votes)

    (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.