"But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking." -Matthew 6:7
2006-10-31 09:09:40 · 15 answers · asked by I-C-U 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
They are too caught up in vain man made doctrines.
Shalom
2006-10-31 09:16:13 · answer #1 · answered by Pashur 7 · 2⤊ 5⤋
Repetition is not condemned by jesus. If you look at some of the Psalms, you will see a lot of repetition.
When a person prays the Rosary, he or she should be reflecting on the events of the life of Jesus and Mary. If this is done while praying the prayers of the Rosary, then it is not vain repetition.
Additionally, Jesus was speaking of people who prayed in order to be heard by others and thus appear to be devout. The Rosary is a PRIVATE devotional. Yes., people gather together to pray the Rosary, but they are not doing so in order to be heard by others.
2006-10-31 09:19:41 · answer #2 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Matt. 6:7 - Jesus teaches, "do not heap up empty phrases" in prayer. Protestants use this verse to criticize various Catholic forms of prayer which repeat phrases, such as litanies and the Rosary. But Jesus' focus in this instruction is on the "vain," and not on the "repetition."
Matt. 26:44 - for example, Jesus prayed a third time in the garden of Gethsemane, saying the exact same words again. It is not the repetition that is the issue. It's the vanity. God looks into our heart, not solely at our words.
Luke 18:13 - the tax collector kept beating his breast and praying "God be merciful to me, a sinner." This repetitive prayer was pleasing to God because it was offered with a sincere and repentant heart.
Acts 10:2,4 - Cornelius prayed constantly to the Lord and his prayers ascended as a memorial before God.
Rom. 1:9 - Paul says that he always mentions the Romans in his prayers without ceasing.
Rom. 12:12 - Paul commands us to be constant in prayer. God looks at what is in our heart, not necessarily how we choose our words.
1 Thess. 5:17 - Paul commands us to pray constantly. Good repetition is different than vain repetition.
Rev. 4:8 - the angels pray day and night without cessation the same words "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty." This is repetitious prayer that is pleasing to God.
Psalm 136 - in this Psalm, the phrase "For His steadfast love endures forever" is more repetitious than any Catholic prayer, and it is God's divine Word.
Dan. 3:35-66 - the phrase "Bless the Lord" is similarly offered repeatedly, and mirrors Catholic litanies.
2006-11-03 00:44:35 · answer #3 · answered by Daver 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It does not say not to repeat but not to have vain repetition.
Rosary is anything but vain, it is a very very serious prayer with alot of deep prayer and though on each and every mystery.
If you want vain repetitions, go to a protestant church and listen to them say the Lords prayer, ( half don't even know all the words) they are not thinking what each line mean, only what is going to be for lunch)
If I was looking close at this bible verse I would be in deep fear for most protestant churches in the US, if you want to look at real vain repetitions. ( public confessions of sin, lords prayer, apostles creed) all repeated each sunday, and I bet most in the pew can tell you what the words means.
When you pray following the rosary, you are praying on each word, and thinking closely about the suffering and victory of Christ.
I would recomend since it is obvoius you dont understand what you are asking about, you study more so you don't appear so uninformed, I feel sorry for you after the past few questions.
2006-10-31 09:21:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Catholics do not pray "repetitive" words when they are saying the rosary, they are reflecting on the mysteries. That may be "your" interpretation, but it certainly doesn't apply to the way we pray the rosary.
Any Catholic who prays the rosary understands that we are doing much more than just "praying repetitive words".
2006-10-31 09:32:28 · answer #5 · answered by Mugsy's Place 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Many written words in the Bible both the Old and the New are changed by the Catholic practices and new things come to order as an infallible decree of the Pope. Like only to God your knee shall bend and yet everytime they pary to call for God's grace, they kneel in front of their saints to intercede. They take Gospel words from the Prophets of the Old Testaments at every Mass and the Epistles from their apostles before it and yet when you start qouting words from the Old Testament that may contradict their practices watch out it is either they ignore you as if you did not exist or return to you insulting remarks. the best thing to do, do not ever bother. It's their belief.
2006-10-31 09:21:26 · answer #6 · answered by Rallie Florencio C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Perhaps your prayers are vain, but mine are not, regardless of how many times I repeat them. Jesus gave us just one prayer, and told us to say it whenever we pray. How often can I say this God-given prayer before it violates your personal interpretation of the Bible and becomes "vain"? Can I say it three times a day? Three times in a hour? How about ten times in succession? Would this constitute vain repetition? Or simply obedience to God?
2006-10-31 09:30:18 · answer #7 · answered by PaulCyp 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Be on guard against Satan and his seductive teachings through his False Apostles and Deceitful Workers. God did not send them they are not speaking His word but still they accept the teachings of men rather than the teachings of the Bible.
There are many who are speaking in the name of God but they are not of God and we can be misled and can sincerely believe a lie and also show us how gullible people we can be.
Many have fallen away from the truth because they are misguided to believe in the false doctrines of evil men that have corrupted God's truth.
It is so important that true Christianity should build the hope of there salvation on knowledge of God made and not man made.
2006-10-31 09:23:43 · answer #8 · answered by House Speaker 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Is there not a difference between a repetition and a vain repetition?
2006-10-31 09:13:03 · answer #9 · answered by Ranto 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is a strong historical reason to believe that the Catholic Church borrowed the use of prayer beads from Islam.
2006-10-31 17:50:59 · answer #10 · answered by Ernesto 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You answer your own question.
"VAIN repetitions."
A Catholic who fazes out and doesn't keep focused on the mysteries of the rosary is violating the verse you mention. Prayer must be active and intentional and clearly focused or it isn't prayer at all.
2006-10-31 09:11:34 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 4⤋