Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. NET
The prohibition against group public prayer. You is plural in this first command, don’t gather in groups to pray in public, whether in places of worship or out in busy public places. You is singular in the positive command that follows, go home and pray alone, in hiding.
The prohibition against babbling. The lexicon defines this “to speak in a way that images the kind of speech pattern of one who stammers, use the same words again and again, speak without thinking.” BADG Do not stammer around with your prayer; do not use the same words and phrases - stop, think, articulate carefully. Don’t ramble on.
Stop and consider who God is.
Listen more than you speak.
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