Christians, can you help me with this bible verse?

Question

If you dont believe in the bible, please dont answer just to tell me that.

Moving on.........


Ive been taught my entire life to pray to God, pray often, and pray a lot, because he likes to hear from us, however today I found this verse:



And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.



Does this mean I'm suppose to keep my prayers short and to the point?

my tattoo isnt really any of your business. Thanks for wasting my time.

Answer 1

Maybe part of the problem is because of the translation that your using. I have several that I compare verses to help in better understanding.

Mat 6:5 "And when you are praying, you will not be like the hypocrites, because they affectionately love standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the open streets to be praying, in order that they shall be seen by the people. Positively, I say to you*, they have their reward in full. (Analytical-Literal Translation)

Pray isn't to be for show. The tone of voice (using the 'preacher voice thing) and being in front of others isn't the focus (or shouldn't be). The focus is between you and God.

Reading the verses that follow sheds a light on prayer that I think answers your question better than I ever could.

Mat 6:6 "But when you* are praying, enter into your private room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father, the [One] in secret, and your Father, the [One] seeing in secret, will reward you in the open.
Mat 6:7 "Now when you pray, do not use vain repetitions [or, many meaningless words] like the Gentiles, for they suppose that they will be heard by their many words.
Mat 6:8 "Therefore, you* shall not be like them, for your* Father knows what [things] you* have need of before you ask Him.
Mat 6:9 "Therefore, _you*_, be praying like this: 'Our Father, the [One] in the heavens, let Your name be regarded as holy.
Mat 6:10 'Let Your kingdom come; let Your will be done, as in heaven, [so] also on the earth.
Mat 6:11 'Give us today the bread sufficient for the day.
Mat 6:12 'And forgive us our debts [fig., sins], in the same way as _we _ also forgive our debtors [fig., the ones having sinned against us].
Mat 6:13 'And do not lead us into temptation, _but_ deliver us from evil [or, from the evil [one]]. Because Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory into the ages [fig., forever]! So be it [Gr. amen]!'
Mat 6:14 "For, if you* forgive the people their transgressions, your Father, the [One] in the heavens, will also forgive you,*
Mat 6:15 but if you* do not forgive the people their transgressions, neither will your* Father forgive your* transgressions.

While there are times of public prayer when gathered with other believers - there should also be personal times with just you and God.

Repeating things over and over - not needed. Talk to God. He already knows your heart and just like a husband and wife like to discuss things between each other - same thing with God and the believer. That the church/believer is called the "bride" in scripture is no mistake and a great illustration.

Take the time to thank God. Forgive others.

Answer 2

Ricoba is right.
Adding to that - "pray without ceasing" refers to an intimate relationship with God. Even though He already knows what you want and need - He will only answer prayer according to His will, which is perfect for you. You are free to ask for whatever you wish, and to ask questions too. In doing so - you should learn to discern what it is He wants of you, and how He wants you to grow and mature in Him. Your relationship becomes more intimate the more you pray - so pray without ceasing.

As far as the babbling pagans, that refers to the pomp and ceremony that had become prevelent for hundreds of years before Christ arrived. He is not a God of confusion. Repeating a prayer over and over and over (such as the rosery or penentant prayers) are not necessary. There is a difference between that and say praying for the salvation of your mother on a daily basis.

Answer 3

As a faithful person these verses means pray from your heart. You do not have to yell and cry out loud. You do not have to dress up and stand in front of the people dance and scream. If you think you are a gift of God, then God knows what to give you and when. When I go through difficult times, I thank God for every think given to me and pray if it is willing to God, bless me with my requirements. That is my prayers though.

Answer 4

Ever ask a teenage girl how school was and have her actually tell you every single little thing that went on, along with all the nuances of every single little thing that went on, and all the strategies behind every nuance of every single little thing that went on .... yeah, babbling to God is something like that lol.

You are correct, pray to God, pray often, pray a lot, He really does enjoy the conversation in the same way a father enjoys his toddler's talk. It's rare that the father gets much out of it other than the joy of listening to them, but for the toddler it is immensely valuable to their growth. Get the idea now? :)

Answer 5

This verse is found in the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon is the longest sermon that is recorded in the gospels. Christ literally turned everyone on their ears with the things he was saying. The full passage is Matthews 6:5-15. It addresses the two serious errors found in prayers. The first is the practice of it. The second is the theology. It was speaking of Jewish prayer in the first couple of verses. I do not know what version you are using, but mine says doesn't use the word pagans, but it uses the word Gentiles. That simply means anyone that isn't Jewish by race or by religion. In these verses, the Gentile idea of prayer comes into view. The reference of babbling or empty phrases refers to the practice of the Gentiles to name numerous gods as the audience of one's prayers. They sometimes used mysterious sounds that were understood as a language of the gods.
This practice is contrasted by what disciples of God should be doing.

It doesn't mean that we shouldn't have long prayers. It means that we shouldn't sit there and babble on thinking that it makes God listen to us MORE. God knows what we want before we open our mouths. God knows our needs. We shouldn't sit there trying to impress God with big words thinking it makes our request more likely to be granted.

Answer 6

The idea is that God already knows what you need, what you want. It doesn't take long-winded prayers. There were "religious authorities" who thought that they could make a show of their great "spirituality" and "religiosity" by praying long, hard, so everyone can see and admire them. The bible verse you alluded to simply says not to be like that, but when you pray, pray as if you are talking to someone you love and who loves you and keep it simple and to the point. You're not impressing anyone, least of all God.

Answer 7

There is a verse in the Bible that says pray with out ceaseing that means pray all the time so and theres another one that says the fervent prayer of a rightous man availeth much so my answer to you is to pray until you get and answer or until you fill in your heart to stop as long as you fill to pray about a situation pray.

Answer 8

That is a very edited verse. I don't think that the original meaning was kept in this contrived translation. I can't even figure out which verse it is supposed to be, could you reference it? Oh wait, I found it now:

Matthew 6:7 - But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

It means that you should pray from your heart not repeating the same things over and over with each prayer. Pray for what you need, give thanks for what you have been given. Heavenly Father knows the desires of your heart, but you still have to be willing to humble yourself and ask. Don't be disuaded from praying, ever, just pray the best way you know how and it will be acceptable to God

Answer 9

What this means is don't be a hypocrite. Then you pray do it to lift up others and yourself. Don't just talk to make others think you are holy. Instead bring what is in your heart. Many times I pray while I am walking around town going to and from work. Or Standing waiting for a train. No one knows about it. It's my personal pray time and no one else's business. Jim

Answer 10

Well, yes. Think about it! It is perfectly ok to talk to God about all kinds of things, just make sure your heart is in the praying, and that you are not just mouthing words to "cover all your bases".

Especially if you are petitioning God for something, you don't have to ask Him 50 times a day.

Take another look at the Lord's Prayer. That is a nice guide. Try it as a style, and not just something to mouth word-for-word.