And when you pray…

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Jesus’ first words in Matthew 6 about prayer warn us to not emulate the hypocrites—the religious leaders who love to receive adulation from “lesser believers” because of their public prayers. Jesus’ next admonition was that we not follow the Gentiles in their prayers for they employed verbosity and fancy language as they petitioned their gods.

A number of Gentile groups are often cited as examples of these people Jesus warned us about. There were the worshippers of Baal in the Old Testament repeating their prayers all day long in the hope that their god would listen to them. There are the Muslims who have set times each day to pray repetitious phrases. And a last group, a group somewhat more touchy to discuss, are those in the Catholic church offering repetitious prayers for penance. While each group seems a likely recipient for Jesus’ warning, I’m not sure they were what Jesus had in mind.

The Greeks—the Gentiles—were well-known for their orations; they spoke silver words poured across golden tongues. A rise in popularity and social standing came to those who could enthrall the crowds with their speeches; but this wasn’t limited only to the Gentiles, it began affecting believers and Jews. Paul warns against alluring preaching in II Timothy 4:3 when he writes, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” While the main focus of this passage is the content of the teaching, Paul also knew that the method of speech held power. This is likely why Paul claimed that his own manner of speaking was unimpressive (II Corinthians 10:10). A polished oratory style defined Gentile speech and had begun to influence the Jews and new believers. This is most likely what Jesus warned against.

If you have been a believer for any length of time, you have probably heard many prayers. While most have doubtless been genuine, some have likely come from those wanting to hear the sound of their own voices. They may have used a tone and vocabulary that an average person would never use in everyday conversation, often invoking the spirit of the King James Version for their prayers. Certainly, it is possible that those prayers were genuine—only God knows the heart—but the prayers said for the purpose of wowing the crowd with tone, language, and content are the ones about which Jesus was warning us. Jesus was essentially saying, “Let your prayers be concise and earthy.”

Staying away from fancy oration and repetition, however, does mean that Jesus doesn’t want us to pray frequently about the same topic. Jesus told a parable in Luke 18:1-7 about an unjust judge who finally gave justice to a persistent widow because of her many prayers. Jesus does not condemn her persistence, rather he uses her persistence to show that even God, long-suffering as he is, will respond to consistent pleas; it is the over-the-top self-indulgent orations that displeases him.

But Jesus’ teaching isn’t just about the format of prayers, it is also about the intention. Those who prayed with a silver tongue thought that by their words they could move God in the same way that they moved people. It is for this reason that Jesus tells us that the Father knows what we need before we even ask him for it. Our many golden words will not sway the Father. At times I have fallen prey to thinking that if I just prayed the right way or used the right words or had the right emotions then maybe God would answer my prayers. But there isn’t a secret prayer decoder-ring that guarantees success. God knows what we want and he will always provide what best suits his plans for us.

For some, I’m sure, this might seem to negate the need for prayer altogether. If God knows our needs, why pray? Isn’t that a waste of time and effort? What good does prayer do? I’m afraid the primary answer to these questions may sound like something a parent might say to their very young child; we pray because Jesus tells us to pray. He doesn’t offer any reasons why we should pray, he only tells us how to pray.

I realize most people don’t like this answer. We are curious people and we want to know the reason why for everything we do; and if we are stubborn enough we often won’t comply until we hear a good enough reason. This sort of thought process works for many things in life, but when it comes to prayer we must become like a child and accept and do those things Jesus asks of us.

An interesting thing happens when we faithfully follow Jesus’ commands; in the very act of obeying Jesus we often discover his reasons for his commands. Faith brings understanding, and when we pray as Jesus asks us to, the reason will often become apparent.

Until we are able to accept this first truth of our faith, we will find moving forward difficult, even impossible. Have you been able to follow Jesus in this simple command with regard to prayer? Or, do you still hold back because you can’t think of a rational reason to pray to the Father who already knows your needs? The first step is always the most difficult.

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