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MATTHEW 6:8 — KING JAMES VERSION 0
Matt 6:7Matt 6:9
“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”
Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. The theological grounding of the Lord's Prayer: the Father already knows what you need. Prayer is not the transmission of information to an ignorant deity or the application of pressure to a reluctant one — it is the response of the child to the already-knowing, already-caring Father. Psalm 139:4 says before a word is on my tongue, you know it altogether. If the Father already knows, why pray? Because prayer is relationship — the act of asking is not primarily about obtaining what is needed but about engaging the Father who already knows the need. The Lord's Prayer that follows is therefore not a shopping list but a relational address.

Church Fathers on Matthew 6:8

As the hypocrites use to set themselves so as to be seen in their prayers, whose reward is to be acceptable to men; so the Ethnici (that is, the Gentiles) use to think that they shall be heard for their much speaking; therefore He adds, 'When ye pray, do not ye use many words.'

Augustine · 4th century

Hereby He dissuades from empty speaking in prayer; as, for example, when we ask of God things improper, as dominions, fame, overcoming of our enemies, or abundance of wealth. He commands then that our prayers should not be long; long, that is, not in time, but in multitude of words. For it is right that those who ask should persevere in their asking; 'being instant in prayer,' as the Apostle instructs; but does not thereby enjoin us to compose a prayer of ten thousand verses,…

Chrysostom · 4th century

What He condemns is many words in praying that come of want of faith; 'as the Gentiles do.' For a multitude of words were needful for the Gentiles, seeing the daemons could not know for what they petitioned, until instructed by them; they think they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Gloss (Glossa Ordinaria) · medieval compilation · ord.
Read all 12 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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Matthew 6:8 — Community Reflections | HolyStudy