Sermon Snippet
For the next two days I am going to dive into Matthew 6 verse 7 because I am tired of otherwise quite genuine Christians ignoring this verse.
The Bible says in Matthew 6 verse 7 that they think they will be heard by their repetition
Yes, the Bible explicitly states this in the New Testament during the Sermon on the Mount.
The exact reference is Matthew 6:7. Here is how the verse reads across a few popular translations:

  • King James Version (KJV): "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking."

  • New International Version (NIV): "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words."

  • New Living Translation (NLT): "When you pray, don't babble on and on as the Gentiles do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again."

The Context of the Verse

  • The Target: Jesus was specifically contrasting true prayer with the practices of the "heathen" or "pagans". In ancient times, non-Jewish cultures often used long, formulaic incantations or endless recitations of god-names, believing it would force their deities to answer them.

  • The Problem: The Greek word used is battalogeo, which carries the idea of mindless chattering, stammering, or empty babbling. The issue isn't repeating a prayer because you are deeply grieved or persistent; it is treating words like a magical checklist where volume equals power.
    The Solution: In the very next verse (Matthew 6:8), Jesus provides the ultimate comfort: "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
    I will look closer at the Greek definition of that phrase tomorrow.