What Can We Learn About Prayer from Jesus?

These New Testament passages in the Bible show us what Jesus said about prayer and his actions concerning prayer. Ponder these in your heart. Note that even though the four gospels repeat some verses, there may be a special emphasis in one book compared to the other gospel. Read John 17 and know that Jesus is praying for you!

Matthew 6: 5-14: ‘And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

‘When you are praying, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

‘Pray then in this way:

Our Father in heaven,

   hallowed be your name. 

Your kingdom come, Your will be done,

     on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 14:23: And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray…..Matthew 26:36: Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’

 Matthew 26:39: And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.’

 Matthew 26:42: Again he went away for the second time and prayed, ‘My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.’

Matthew 26:44: So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 

Mark 1:35:  In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.

 Mark 6:46: After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

 Mark 14:32: They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’

 Mark 14:39: And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words.

 

Luke 3:21: Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,

  Luke:5:16: But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray.

 Luke 6:12 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God.

 Luke 9:18:  Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them, ‘Who do the crowds say that I am? Luke 9:28:  Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray.

 Luke 9:29: And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Luke 11:2-4: He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name.
 Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our sins,
 for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
   And do not bring us to the time of trial.’Luke 22:32: but I have prayed for you that your own faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’

 Luke 22:41: Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed,

 Luke 22:44: In his anguish he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down on the ground.

 Luke 22:45: When he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of grief,

 

John 14:16: And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. John 17 (throughout the whole chapter, Jesus prays for his disciples).                                  

During the Lenten Season, let us all focus on prayer as Jesus showed us: often, earnestly, sometimes alone, sometimes with others, always trusting in God's love for us so God's will may be done on earth as it is in heaven.