When pagans pray, they typically make use of lots of words that are meant to manipulate the deity into giving them what they want.1 The prophets of Baal are a good example of this (1 Kings 18:26–29).2 It appears as if the scribes had a practice of making particularly lengthy prayers in keeping with pagan practice (Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47).3
7 “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.