Bible
Questions Answered:
“Pastor,
there was a thunderous debate in our Sunday class, on should we say
repetitious prayers...Thank you for your reply.”
Thackeray/
Bristol, England United Kingdom
Bible
Answer:
Bible Texts:
Absolutely Not!
Matthew 6:7,8 KJV
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.
Don't you know the
Bible, Many would respond!
Question: Did
Jesus believe in repetitious prayer?
Answer: Yes
and No, it depends on what kind of prayer it is!
Repetitious Prayer:
Matthew 26: 39,42,44 KJV
39 And He went a little
farther, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O My Father, if it
be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will,
but as thou wilt.
42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O
My Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it,
thy will be done.
44 And He left them, and
went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same
words.
Notice:
Jesus was “not,” praying from a prayer book, He was praying
from His heart to The Father in heaven, and yes He wanted His men
to hear His prayer, and pray with Him.
Repetitious
Prayer (Actually a pattern for our prayers.)
Matthew 6:9-13
KJV
9 After this manner therefore pray
ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be
done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we
forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Vain Repetitions:
(Just what actually did our Savior say?)
Matthew 6:7,8 KJV
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.
*Vain – Greek: Maten (Mat-ane):
Unsuccessful search, folly, to no purpose, vain.
Vain Repetitious
Prayers:
I Kings 18:26-29 KJV (Vain
Repetitious Prayers, from Baal worshipers on Mount Carmel.)
26 And they took the bullock which was given them,
and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even
until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any
that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
27 And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them,
and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is
pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and
must be awaked.
28 And they cried aloud,
and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till
the blood gushed out upon them.
29 And it came to pass, when midday was past, and
they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening
sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any
that regarded.
Luke 18:9-14 KJV
(Vain Prayer.)
9 And He spake this parable unto
certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and
despised others:
10 Two men went up into the temple
to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed
thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I
give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar
off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote
upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to
his house justified rather than the other: for every one that
exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall
be exalted.
The Baal
worshipers, and the publican, had something in common, their prayers
were absolutely vain!
Vain, whether they
prayed them once or a hundred times over.
Now in our Savior's
example, if we should pray for something, which is very important to
us, would it be improper to use the very same words more than once, in
repetition? No!
Vain prayers are
prayed from a sinful heart.
Isaiah 59:2 KJV
But your iniquities have separated
between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you,
that He will not hear.
Psalm 66:18 KJV
If I regard iniquity in my heart,
The Lord will not hear me:
A true child of
God, has his prayers heard.
Psalm 4:3 KJV
But know that
The Lord hath set apart him that is Godly for Himself: The Lord will
hear when I call unto Him.
Psalm 18:6 KJV
In my distress I called upon The
Lord, and cried unto my God: He heard my voice out of His temple, and
my cry came before Him, even into His ears.
Psalm 34:17 KJV
The righteous cry, and The Lord
heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
