Prayer: a guided Bible study

1. 1.What did He say about how we pray?

   Context: From Jesus’ teaching about prayer in the Sermon on the Mount.

   Matthew 6:5–8 · WEB

   ⁵ “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

   ⁶ But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

   ⁷ In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.

   ⁸ Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.

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   What does Jesus say about the purpose and manner of prayer?

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2. 2.What words did He give His disciples?

   Context: Jesus continues by giving the prayer commonly called the Lord’s Prayer.

   Matthew 6:9–13 · WEB

   ⁹ Pray like this: “‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.

   ¹⁰ Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

   ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.

   ¹² Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

   ¹³ Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen.’

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   Which requests concern God, and which concern our daily life together?

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3. 3.What did He say about asking the Father?

   Context: Earlier in this chapter, a disciple has asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

   Luke 11:9–13 · WEB

   ⁹ “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you.

   ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.

   ¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?

   ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he?

   ¹³ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

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   What picture of the Father does Jesus use to encourage asking?

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4. 4.How did Jesus Himself pray in Gethsemane?

   Context: Jesus prays before His arrest. This is His own prayer, in a different setting.

   Mark 14:36 · WEB

   ³⁶ “Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”

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   What do you notice about the request Jesus makes and the way He submits to the Father?

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