This is from my daily Greek exercise of sight reading some time ago, courtesy of Vincent S Artale Jr.
Our text is from the Greek translation of Matthew 6:7 Here is my translation:
“Προσευχόμενοι δὲ μὴ βατταλογήσητε ὥσπερ οἱ ἐθνικοί, δοκοῦσιν γὰρ ὅτι ἐν τῇ
But while praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles, because inπολυλογίᾳ αὐτῶν εἰσακουσθήσονται. ”
their many words they suppose that they will be heard
Here are some observations:
- In the context this is Jesus’ teaching on the Sermon of the Mount.
- Jesus in this verse assumes believers (His listeners) will pray. The participle “while praying” indicates not “if” but “when.”
- Concerning prayers Jesus gives a prohibition here: “do not use meaningless repetitions“
- The verb for “use meaningless repetitions” is clearly a prohibition since it is a subjunctive mood verb that is in the second person with a negative particle. Thus it is telling us not to do something.
- The verb appears only once in the New Testament: Here in this verse.
- The verb “use meaningless repetitions” is a compound word: It has the word that sounds like babbling plus “word.” In other words its words which babbles.
- A comparison is being made that is also a negative example of what not to be like: “as the Gentiles”
- The Greek adverb ὥσπερ is indicating a comparison.
- Keep in mind Jesus’ original audience were Jews. In saying “Gentiles” Jesus’ point is that Gentiles who didn’t know God in a saved relationship would not know how to pray. But the Jews should know, having God’s revelation.
- Yet sometimes we too as Christians can be like the Jews here, we pray like the way nonbelievers do.
- The reason for the prohibition is given: “because in their many words they suppose that they will be heard”
- The Greek word γὰρ indicates reason.
- They suppose that “many words” is whey are heard by God.
- But this is not the case.
- God hears us because of His attributes: God’s omnipresence, omniscience, grace, mercy, love, etc.
- Knowing God’s attributes should be a motivation for us to pray!
Application:
- Do you pray?
- Do you think praying is optional or do you instead assume bibilcally you should pray?
- Do you babble a lot and feel your prayer is meaningless? Think about the words you say.
- What is your prayer life like compared to the people of this world who does not know God; do you pray the same or different than them?
- Do you feel sometimes you don’t have all the right words? Know that God knows what we mean and desire in our prayer! Be comforted.
- Ultimately do you pray trusting in God or yourself? That will dictate how you pray.
- Study God’s attributes to motivate you to pray! Go read the Bible and also sound books on the attributes of God!
Excellent analysis and insight! It is about God and His attributes and not us.
Blessings.
Thank you Jim for shedding light on this particular verse (which I want to know for more than 20 years). Indeed, it is all about faith in GOD in addressing our prayer according to His will (not ours), based on the knowledge on His attributes (thanks too); Omniscience and Sovereignty included. My core thank you prayer to GOD is almost the same for two decades. Blessings to you and your family!
Awesome to hear you share this and especially the core of your prayers for nearly two decades! I love this: “ it is all about faith in GOD in addressing our prayer according to His will (not ours), based on the knowledge on His attributes (thanks too); Omniscience and Sovereignty included.”. To that I say a hearty amen! Have a good night and Lord willing we will see you in the morning during the study?
Looking back then, it is actually 2 decades plus of uniformity. Hopefully the phone alarm works in 2 hours plus.
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Good question to keep in mind while praying: “Ultimately do you pray trusting in God or yourself?”
Thank you Jim for sharing more about prayer. Daily conversations with our Heavenly Father offer heartfelt comfort.
“Knowing God’s attributes should be a motivation for us to pray!” Amen, hallelujah! It should also motivate us to praise Him for who He is and what He has done as well. Prayer is the most life-giving and humbling activity that we can do. I hope your readers take these questions to heart. The thing about individual prayer is that in the Christian life, it is NOT cookie-cutter! God has designed each of us differently in how we pray in relationship to Him. Thank you for this (not so) quick devotional!!
Encouraging comment! Love this especially: “ The thing about individual prayer is that in the Christian life, it is NOT cookie-cutter! God has designed each of us differently in how we pray in relationship to Him.” It made me think of Saturday youth group and how everyone’s prayer with regards to what they pray about the most was different! And that’s ok! Good point. Hope to see you tonight for the study?
Good point about youth study!!! I will be there! Have been and will continue praying for youth and Jin which is my request for tonight!
Thank you brother Jim for this worthy study on prayer, it was informative and encouraging. I am always checking over and over how my prayer life is, and yes I do struggle sometimes.
Hey, Alan! I don’t think Jimmy will mind me sharing this. I think that it is normal and healthy for our prayer life to be one in which we struggle with and that we are dissatisfied with. When we think our prayer life is fine, that is usually when we have the most problems, relying on ourselves etc. Prayer is our minds, hearts and hands connecting/in relation to God’s mind, heart, hands so there will be times when we have to struggle to focus, struggle to do what the Lord is telling us, trusting Him in why prayers aren’t being answered in the manner we want. I love your heart Alan and that you would admit that you struggle in your prayer life. I know I do. I get distracted by something and instead of praying, I engage the distraction only to confess and lament my time wasted on earthly things rather than in prayer/communion with God. The battle/struggle is getting more intense (at least for me) and I am so thankful that we can approach the throne of God boldly and confidently receiving help when we need it. Keep checking your prayer life and keep pressing on!
Good answer sister!
Thank you Mandy! My struggles are related to my memory/concentration issues due to my brain injury. Distractions are a problem, my biggest distractions being tv or chess. But yet I have made big strides in cutting these back considerably over the last year. I have found longhand writing a useful tool in keeping me focussed; in Bible study notes and in a prayer journal. I can write better than I can think, if that makes sense. God bless you for your valuable input sister.
I think we all struggle with our prayers but it seems that when we realize it’s a relationship that gives us grace to continue going to Him. Let me know anything I can pray for you (health automatically included!)
Thanks. Regarding prayer, most of the time, I find myself saying quick thanks for current conditions. However, when a need pops to mind, in order to keep from just reaching for God’s hand, I try to follow the model prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. That way I keep my baser nature in check.
Jesus modeling of prayer in Matthew is always good to read and check how we pray. Thanks for commenting! And for sharing that…may the Lord bless your week this week brother!
Thanks for the good exhortation! Yup, I know all about being in a religious institution that uses vain repetitions!
Ah good point. A very relevant verse then! That is a litmus test too of a group that calls itself Christian, if it prays more like Jesus’ ways or the ways of Gentiles. I think back to my nonChristian days observing my mom’s Buddhist faith and the temples praying and chanting the same thing over and over again and how people would doze off. I’m glad God saved me from that. I think you have same background like that. So much we need to thank God for amen???
Yes, Amen! As a young Catholic child, the idea of saying rote “Hail Mary’s” over and over again didn’t appeal to me.
Please don’t take this the wrong way, both use incense that makes me choke. The first time I walked into a Buddhist temple I couldn’t breathe. I just started sneezing.
Thanks for dropping by my blog. 🙂
This link also posted on your April 30th post. https://markjerde.wordpress.com/2021/05/11/war-and-wwi-wwii-videos/
Excellent.
Thanks Maw Maw! Have a blessed evening!
You too.:)
Great study on prayer. And I love the application points.
Blessings for your weekend and your ministry.
Thanks for reading this Devo! Hope you be blessed this weekend also sister!!!
I’ve just started a book about the attributes of God by Jen Wilkin, “None Like Him.” It does inspire me to reach out to the ONe who is infinite, while I am finite. It is both awe-inspiring and comforting.
Awesome! Learning about God’s truth is something that is always so beneficial every time I devote systematic effort into it. Which attributed are you reading about right now from the book?
“Incomprehensible ” I love the way she wrote about her mixed feelings about a personality test she took – excited to understand what personality type she was, but disappointed that it made her so predictable – and told her her weaknesses as well as her strengths. 😒
I want to share this chapter with someone in my life who doesn’t want to place his trust in Jesus until all his questions are answered. (Not gonna happen in this life.)
Edifying; Jesus’ teaching is always welcome
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