Mt 6:7-8 “…when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.” 8So do not be like them…”
Summary Notes
What did Jesus say?
Jesus said to use my mind to think when I pray.
Why would He say this?
Lake St. Clair is very shallow and large ships will run aground should they stray off the deep channel. The Lake St. Clair Light Station marks the channel for these larger ships.
At night the light, like any lighthouse communicates its position and identity with its color and flash pattern. The light need not stay on during the day. It would be silly and wasteful because the light station’s position and identity are obvious in the light of day. Meaningless repetition in prayer with God or in speech with people is similarly silly and a waste of time and effort; and it’s annoying to people who have to listen. Click here see why I like lighthouses.
Jesus was talking specifically about a method of prayer that involved repeating a word or phrase over and over and over again. The Gentiles’ method of prayer involved repeating a word or phrase over and over and over again. The Judeo-Christian belief is God already knows what I need more than I do and therefore such repetition is not necessary. My simple prayer is a demonstration to God that I believe in Him and that He hears me..
Mindful repetition has value
I have found that a good way to drive conscience ideas into my mind is to memorize. When I memorize anything it involves a lot of repetition; but it is not mindless. Mere repetition does not work well for me to memorize or meditate on something I want to learn. A method that works well for me is to write what I’m memorizing and even draw pictures of the ideas and then speak it out load. This method works well for memorization of school or professional topics as well as personal subjects such as Bible verses and even chapters.
Click here for my personal application and your comments link …or Scroll down for my full notes…
Command 26 “…do not use meaningless repetition…”
Command 27 “…do not be like them…”
Mt 5:40 also Lk 6:29
RECIPIENT: To the disciples in the hearing of the crowds on the mountain
Mt 5:1-2 When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him. 2He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,
CONTEXT: A continuation of the Sermon on the Mount
Mt 6:1-6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.”
2“So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
5“When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.”
COMMAND FULL TEXT AND IMMEDIATE RESULT:
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.” 8So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”
RESULT after Jesus concluded that sermon and came down from the mountain:
Mt 7:28-29; 8:1 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.
MY COMMENTS AND NOTES:
Why did Jesus mention the Gentiles here and who are they and what is their significance to this command?
Jesus was speaking to a crowd that consisted primarily of Jewish people. The Greek word ἔθνος eth’-nos, is translated into English as, “gentile” means a multitude of the human family and by implication non-Jewish.
The Bible states that the Jewish nation was chosen by God to be the nation whereby if they would obey His commands then He would demonstrate His goodness so that the greater world of people would see and be drawn to obedience to God. In this way He could bless them too.
Unfortunately the Jewish nation failed to obey God’s commands and incurred His wrath instead. But, the Jewish people of Jesus’ day held dearly to the bigoted belief that they were better than the rest of the people in the world. Therefore, Jesus’ use of the term ἔθνος in this command as a negative example was an acknowledgement of the crowd’s beliefs and not an endorsement of them.
Repeating over and over and over again
Jesus told his followers not to use the methods of prayer that the Gentiles used when praying to their gods. The Gentiles’ method of prayer involved repeating a word or phrase over and over and over again. The Judeo-Christian belief is that God already knows what I need more than I do. My non-repetitious prayer is a demonstration to God that I believe in Him and that He hears me.
Persistent prayer is deliberate
Persistent prayer is deliberate and not mindless. Jesus said not to use mindless repetition in prayer. He also said elsewhere to pray persistently. He even told a story about persistent prayer.
Lk 18:1-7 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2Saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. 3There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’ 4For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ 6And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said; 7Now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?
A good way to drive conscience ideas into my subconscious mind is to memorize. When I memorize anything it involves a lot of repetition; but it is not mindless. Memorizing a great quote or a relevant Bible verse is a form of meditation. I’ve found, for me, that mere repetition does not work well to memorize or meditate on something I want to learn. However, writing what I’m memorizing and drawing pictures of the ideas and then speaking it out load are very effective.
DEFINITIONS: Key Greek Words – Removes ambiguity of the Bible text
(word: Strong’s # greek word pronunciation — definition)
meaningless repetition: 945 βαττολογεìω bat-tol-og-eh’-ō — to talk much with little purpose
gentiles: 1482 ἐθνικοìς eth-nee-kos’ — the nations
MY PERSONAL APPLICATION: I encourage you to make your own application and please share it in the comments
I should creatively involve my mind and not use mere repetition for more effective meditation or prayer. I must use words that are meaningful. Any repetition I use must be deliberate for a purpose beyond filling the time or to just to be heard.
© 2018 Christopher Carlson
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB
Please share a comment, question or perhaps another application for this command of Jesus.