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In praying, don`t use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.
Verse Takeaways
1
Prayer's Weight, Not Length
Commentators emphasize that Jesus isn't forbidding long or repeated prayers, but "vain" ones. The focus is on quality over quantity. A prayer's value is measured by its sincerity and earnestness ("weight"), not its duration ("length"). As Charles Spurgeon notes, "Many of the most prevailing prayers have been as short as they were strong." The goal is heartfelt communication, not a mechanical or "parrot exercise."
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Matthew
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12
18th Century
Presbyterian
Use not vain repetitions. The original word here is supposed to be derived from the name of a Greek poet, who made long and weary verses, …
Use not vain repetitions (μη βατταλογησητε). Used of stammerers who repeat the words, then mere babbling or chattering, empty repe…
19th Century
Anglican
Use not vain repetitions — The Greek word has a force that is only weakly conveyed in the English translation. The term is formed …
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Baptist
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 …
Matthew 6:7–15 digresses from the three chief acts of Jewish piety. Yet the content of these verses is certainly relevant to the issue …
16th Century
Protestant
Use not vain repetitions. He reproves another fault in prayer: a multiplicity of words. There are two words used, but in the same sense: f…
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17th Century
Reformed Baptist
But when you pray, use not vain repetitions Saying the same things over and over again,
as the He…
It is taken for granted that all who are disciples of Christ pray. You may as soon find a living man who does not breathe, as a living Christian wh…
13th Century
Catholic
And when you pray. Above, regarding the work of almsgiving, the Lord showed that it ought not to be done for human glory.…