Matthew 6:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

You do not then pray in order to teach God your wants, but to move Him, that you may become His friend by the importunity of your applications to Him, that you may be humbled, that you may be reminded of your sins.

We do not approach prayer to instruct Him, but rather to gain from our conversation with Him as a means to divert our minds from worldly concerns.

For we use many words then when we have to instruct one who is in ignorance, what need of them to Him who is Creator of all things; Your heavenly Father knoweth what ye have need of before you ask Him.

On this there starts up a heresy of certain Philosophers who taught the mistaken dogma, that If God knows for what we shall pray, and, before we ask, knows what we need, our prayer is needlessly made to one who has such knowledge. (Epicureans.) To such we shortly reply, That in our prayers we do not instruct, but entreat; it is one thing to inform the ignorant, another to beg of the understanding: the first were to teach; the latter is to perform a service of duty.

He is aware of what is beneficial for you even before you make any requests. Thus, you should refrain from asking for what is unnecessary or unhelpful, as this constitutes the error of frivolous speech. Just as a father may become displeased with his children when they seek what is inappropriate, so too can we consider our requests. But if He understands our true needs, what purpose does our asking serve? Certainly, it is not to inform Him, but to affirm our recognition of Him as our Teacher and Sovereign, demonstrating our commitment to Him so that we may humbly submit to Him, who embodies our hope for guidance and salvation. As our Father, He is both aware of our needs and prepared to provide what is truly beneficial; however, He desires us to ask for the reasons mentioned. Having imparted this teaching, He also presents us with a model of prayer, not that we should limit ourselves to this specific prayer, but so that we might derive a broader understanding of how to pray.

We should indeed pray often, but in short form, lest if we be long in our prayers, the enemy that lies in wait for us, might suggest something for our thoughts.

True prayer consists rather in the bitter groans of repentance, than in the repetition of set forms of words.

For your Father is aware of your needs even before you ask Him. This indicates that since He anticipates our desires, our prayers are not intended to inform God of our wants but rather to align our desires with His will. If God seeks atonement rather than clarification, it is not lengthy stories He desires but a sincere heart.

AVOID mimicking their trivial pursuits, which merely undermine the majesty of God, FOR YOUR FATHER UNDERSTANDS YOUR NEEDS, recognizing what is truly beneficial for you. He possesses perfect knowledge that surpasses your own awareness, EVEN BEFORE YOU REQUEST IT. St. Chrysostom inquires, ‘If He is aware, what purpose does prayer serve?’ He responds, ‘Not to inform Him, but rather to position yourself humbly before Him, to draw nearer through persistent prayer, and to remind yourself of your shortcomings.’ It is inappropriate to assume that our need for prayer is negated by God's omniscience. While God is always prepared to bestow His blessings upon humanity, humanity is not always disposed to receive those gifts.

Some individuals question, "If He is aware of our needs before we even ask, why should we make requests at all? What purpose does it serve to articulate our desires to the One who already knows everything? Is there really a reason to pray?" The words of Jesus, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him,” serve as a reminder to refrain from excessive verbosity in our prayers, rather than discouraging prayer altogether. If prayer were unnecessary, Christ would not have instructed us to ask, and it will be given to you (Matt. 7:7); pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you (Matt. 5:44); truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name, He will give you (John 16:23), among others.

Your Heavenly Father will inform you of your desires even before you voice them. This does not imply that prayer is unnecessary. Rather, prayer is an essential aspect of the human spirit, just like any other fundamental requirement. When engaging in prayer, one should not assume that God requires it; God is already aware of our needs. Prayer serves primarily to align our will and thoughts with God's own will. Even when a person feels powerless, their absence from prayer does not oppose the purpose of God.

He loves us and understands our genuine needs, and our prayers serve as a way to make ourselves deserving of His grace, to cleanse our hearts, to align our desires, and to fortify our spirits in fellowship with Him.

Your Heavenly Father is aware of your needs and encompasses other truths. God possesses complete knowledge and understands all our requirements even before we voice them, as He is aware of all that is hidden and all that is unveiled. Nonetheless, this does not imply that we should refrain from bringing our needs to Him in prayer. The Lord states: Ask, and it will be given to you (Matthew 7:7); if you request anything in prayer with faith, you will receive it (Matthew 21:22), and so forth. Prayer is intended not to inform Him, but to submit to Him, enabling us to be continually connected with Him, to humble ourselves in His presence, and to recollect our transgressions (Chrysostom; cf. Theophylact).