Notes on How to Pray

In Matthew 6:5 - 6 do not pray for others to hear. Prayer should not be for men's ears. Instead pray to God inconspicuously.

In Matthew 6:7 - 8 do not pray using memorized prayers repeated thoughtlessly over and over again. Don't try to overwhelm God with sheer volume of prayer. Also God knows what we need and we do not need to beseech God with a long shopping list.

Jesus gives us a prayer to use and on which to model our other prayers.

6:9 Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.

6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

6:13 And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil [one.] Matthew 6:9 - 13

Mathew Chapter 7 (Full Text)

References in Scripture

Matthew 6:5 - 13

6:5 And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.

6:6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.

6:7 And in praying use not vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

6:8 Be not therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.

6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.

6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

6:13 And bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil [one.]

"vain repetitions" from Battologeo

1.to stammer or 2.to repeat the same things over and over, to use many idle words, to babble, prate. Some suppose the word derived from Battus, a king of Cyrene, who is said to have stuttered; others from Battus, an author of tedious and wordy poems. Battologeo - Greek Lexicon

Alphabetical Index to the Bible Notes	A Study Bible - Main Index
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

To Understand my faith better I have decided to construct these pages. They are strictly educational, non-commercial and to foster scholarly discussion. All Bible quotes are from the American Standard Version unless otherwise stated. I use the ASV because while not a perfect translation it is literal and out of Copyright. All mistakes are my own and if you differ from my thoughts I welcome your comments. J. Barry O'Connell Jr.