Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 6].
words \en t•i phaner•i\ (openly) here and in 6:6, but they are
not genuine. Jesus does not promise a _public_ reward for private
piety.
6:5 {In the synagogues and in the corners of the streets} (\en
tais sunag•gais kai en tais g•niais t•n platei•n\). These were
the usual places of prayer (synagogues) and the street corners
where crowds stopped for business or talk. If the hour of prayer
overtook a Pharisee here, he would strike his attitude of prayer
like a modern Moslem that men might see that he was pious.
6:6 {Into thy closet} (\eis to tameion\). The word is a late
syncopated form of \tamieion\ from \tamias\ (steward) and the
root \tam-\ from \temn•\, to cut. So it is a store-house, a
separate apartment, one's private chamber, closet, or "den" where
he can withdraw from the world and shut the world out and commune
with God.
6:7 {Use not vain repetitions} (\m• battalog•s•te\). Used of
stammerers who repeat the words, then mere babbling or
chattering, empty repetition. The etymology is uncertain, but it
is probably onomatopoetic like "babble." The worshippers of Baal
on Mount Carmel (1Ki 8:26) and of Diana in the amphitheatre at
Ephesus who yelled for two hours (Ac 19:34) are examples. The
Mohammedans may also be cited who seem to think that they "will
be heard for their much speaking" (\en t•i polulogi•i\). Vincent
adds "and the Romanists with their _paternosters_ and _avast_."
The Syriac Sinaitic has it: "Do not be saying idle things."
Certainly Jesus does not mean to condemn all repetition in prayer
since he himself prayed three times in Gethsemane "saying the
same words again" (Mt 26:44). "As the Gentiles do," says Jesus.
"The Pagans thought that by endless repetitions and many words
they would inform their gods as to their needs and weary them
('_fatigare deos_') into granting their requests" (Bruce).
6:9 {After this manner therefore pray ye} (\hout•s oun
proseuchesthe humeis\). "You" expressed in contrast with "the
Gentiles." It should be called "The Model Prayer" rather than
"The Lord's Prayer." "Thus" pray as he gives them a model. He
himself did not use it as a liturgy (cf. Joh 17). There is no
evidence that Jesus meant it for liturgical use by others. In Lu
11:2-4 practically the same prayer though briefer is given at a
later time by Jesus to the apostles in response to a request that
he teach them how to pray. McNeile argues that the form in Luke
http://www.ccel.org/r/robertson_at/wordpictures/htm/MT6.RWP.html (2 of 9) [28/08/2004 09:03:00 a.m.]