Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 6:7-8

"And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." — Matthew 6:7-8 (ASV)

To repeat a form of prayer a very large number of times has always seemed to the ignorantly religious to be a praiseworthy thing, but assuredly it is not so. It is a mere exercise of memory and of the organs of noise-making, and it is absurd to imagine that such a parrot exercise can be pleasing to the living God. Muslims and Roman Catholics keep to this heathenish custom, but we must not imitate them.

God does not need us to pray for His information, for He knows what things you have need of, nor to repeat the prayer over and over to persuade Him, for as our Father, He is willing to bless us. Therefore, let us not be superstitious and dream that there is virtue in much speaking. In the multitude of words, even in prayer, there wanteth not sin.

Repetitions we may have, but not vain repetitions. Counting beads and reckoning the time occupied in devotion are both idle things. Christians’ prayers are measured by weight and not by length. Many of the most prevailing prayers have been as short as they were strong.