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 En priant, ne multipliez pas de vaines paroles, comme les païens, qui s'imaginent qu'à force de paroles ils seront exaucés.