What did Jesus mean when He said “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions” in Matthew 6:7?
Stated briefly, some religions would have you state some “stock prayer” to solve various problems. For example, a priest in the Catholic Church may tell someone they need to do five “Hail Marys” and two “Our Fathers” to be forgiven of some sin. If you ever heard (or performed) such “repeated prayers,” Jesus’ words should become clear. The point is to not recite something to God—especially over and over—but to tell Him what is in your heart. We discuss prayer in greater detail on our Talking to God page.
Related Questions
- Why do Catholics repeat the same prayer over and over again when they pray the Rosary? Is this not the vain repetition condemned by Christ in Matthew 6:7?
- What did Jesus mean when He said "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions" in Matthew 6:7?
- What Does Jesus Mean by the Parable of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32)?
