Matthew 06:05-08 Jesus Makes A Poem About Prayer

In Matthew 06:05-08, Jesus makes a poem that uses four different wordplays that contrast the right way and the wrong way to pray. Jesus contrasts praying in the synagogue versus praying in secret. He contrasts the results for the way that hypocrites pray versus the result for praying correctly. He contrasts praying by multiplying words and not praying with a multitude of words. He contrasts what heretics think versus what the Father in Heaven knows.
In the wordplay concerning “Multiply Words,” the two words “Multiply” and “Words” form a pun. Given the similarity of the two words the sound produced is tantric in nature.
“Synagogues” (כנסיות)
“Secret” (בסתר)
“Already” (שכבר)
“Reward” (שכרם)
“Couch” (משכב)
“When” (כאשר)
“Multiply Words” (דברים תרבו)
“Multitude of Words” (דברים שברוב)
“Heretics who Think” (חושבים שהמינים)
“Father in Heaven” (שבשמים שאביכם)
Matthew 5:5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues {“Synagogues” (כנסיות)} and on the street corners, that they may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have {“Already” (שכבר)} received their reward {“Reward” (שכרם)}. 6 But when you pray, go into your room {“Couch” (משכב)}, shut the door and pray to your Father, who is in secret {“Secret” (בסתר)}. And your Father, who sees in secret {“Secret” (בסתר)}, will reward you. 7 And when {“When” (כאשר)} you pray, do not use empty repetitions {“Multiply Words” (דברים תרבו)} as the Gentiles do. For they think {“Heretics who Think” (חושבים שהמינים)} that they will be heard for their many words {“Multitude of Words” (דברים שברוב)}. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father {“Father in Heaven” (שבשמים שאביכם)} knows what you need before you ask him.
J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament
 
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