Jesus and Prayer

A significant amount of Jesus ministry related to prayer – teaching it and demonstrating it.  Our prayer life should be shaped by His example.  Spend time reviewing his words and works on this topic and then put the ideas into action on your knees before Him.

What did Jesus teach about prayer?

  • Forgive others before going to God in prayer for forgiveness (Mark 11:25)
  • Do not be arrogance and self-righteousness like the Pharisee, but humble and contrite like the tax collector (Luke 18:10-14)
  • Pray in secret and you’ll be rewarded in secret (Matthew 6:6) rather than to be seen (Matthew 6:5)
  • Persist in prayer (parable of woman and judge in Luke 18:1-8), but do not belabor prayer with empty repetition (Matthew 6:7, Mark 12:40, Luke 20:47)
  • Have faith that prayers will be answered (Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:23-24)
  • Pray for those who persecute/abuse you (Matthew 5:44, Luke 6:28)
  • Pray for more laborers for the harvest (Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
  • Pray to avoid temptation (Disciples in Gethsemane – Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:38, Luke 21:36, Luke 22:40, Luke 22:46)
  • In some circumstances, prayer has power over demons (Mark 9:29)
  • Considered the temple a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46)
  • Provided a model prayer…Our Father…

What did He demonstrate about prayer?

  • Private prayer
    • Prayed by himself (Matthew 14:23, Matthew 26:36, Mark 1:35, Mark 6:46, Luke 5:16, Luke 9:18)
    • Prayed in the morning (Mark 1:35) in the afternoon/evening (Matthew 14:23) and all night (Luke 6:12)
    • Prayed for a long period before the important decision of selecting the 12 disciples (Luke 6:12)
    • Prayed intensely before trial (e.g., betrayal) (Luke 22:44) and struggled with God in prayer by petitioning three times to avoid the crucifixion, yet submitted to His will (Matthew 26:39, 42, 44, Mark 14:35, 39) > asked for something that He knew couldn’t change; persisted through multiple prayers
    • Prayed that disciples faith wouldn’t fail during testing of trial and crucifixion (Luke 22:32)
    • Longest prayer (John 17)
  • Public prayer
    • Prayed at His own baptism and heavens opened (Luke 3:21)
    • Blessed food at Passover (Matthew 26:26, Mark 14:22, Luke 24:30), before meal (Mark 10:16), before feeding 5,000 (Matthew 14:19, Mark 6:41, Luke 9:16)
    • Thanked the Father publicly for hearing prayer at Lazarus resurrection (John 11:41-42) to confirm His authority (John 11:42)
    • Transfigured while in prayer (Luke 9:28-29)
    • On the cross
    • Glorify Me that I may glorify You (John 17:1)
    • Father forgive them…
    • Blessed disciples as He ascended (Luke 24:51)