But when ye pray ( προσευχόμενοι δέ). The Revised Version, and in praying, shows that our Lord is only continuing the subject, and not turning to a new one, as in Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16.
But while he has thus far thought of prayer as an external act, he now speaks of the substance of the prayers offered, the δέ indicating a transition to another aspect of the same subject. Use not vain repetitions; "Babble not much" (Tyndale).
The word used ( μὴβατταλογήσητε) is probably onomatopoeic of stuttering. The Peshito employs here the same root (see Arabic word) as for μογιλάλος, Mark 7:32 (Arabic word). But from the primary sense of stuttering, βατταλογεῖν, naturally passed to that of babbling in senseless repetitions.
As the heathen do ( οἱἐθνεικοί, Gentiles, Revised Version; Matthew 5:47, note). Thinking that the virtue lies in the mere utterance of the words. Even the Jews came perilously near this in their abundant use of synonyms and synonymous expressions in their prayers (cf.
Lightfoot, 'Hor. Hebr.'). Perhaps it was this fact that assisted the introduction of the reading "hypocrites" in B and the Old Syriac. For they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
In the continuance ( ἐν) of their external action lies their hope of being fully heard ( εισακουσθήσονται).