Prayer and Jesus

Jesus prayed and he instructed his disciples to pray (Matt. 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4). For Jesus, the priority of praying is being in the right relationship with God: seek first the kingdom and then righteousness. Jesus demonstrated this kind of relationship with God as a "life of living prayer." Scripture passages that describe Jesus' prayer life are printed in the table below.

Jesus' Prayer Life
Matthew 11:25	Luke 6:12-16
Matthew 14:22-23	Luke 9:18
Mark 1:35	Luke 9:28-29
Mark 6:46	John 11:41b-42
Mark 14:36	John 12:27-28
Luke 5:15-16	John 17:1-5; 6-19; 20-26

Matthew 5:44

But I tell you: Love your enemies [5:44 some late manuscripts add: bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you] and pray for those who persecute you,
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 5 In context: Matthew 5:43-45)

Matthew 6:5

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 6 In context: Matthew 6:4-6)

Matthew 6:6

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 6 In context: Matthew 6:5-7)

Matthew 6:7

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 6 In context: Matthew 6:6-8)

Matthew 6:9

"This, then, is how you should pray: " 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 6 In context: Matthew 6:8-10)

Matthew 14:23

After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 14 In context: Matthew 14:22-24)

Matthew 17:20

He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."[ 17:20 Some manuscripts you. 21 But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.]
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 17 In context: Matthew 17:19-21)

Matthew 19:13

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 19 In context: Matthew 19:12-14)

Matthew 21:13

"It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,'[ 21:13 Isaiah 56:7] but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'[ 21:13 Jer. 7:11] "
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 21 In context: Matthew 21:12-14)

Matthew 21:22

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 21 In context: Matthew 21:21-23)

Matthew 23:13

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.[ 23:13 Some manuscripts to. 14 Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Therefore you will be punished more severely.]
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 23 In context: Matthew 23:12-14)

Matthew 24:20

Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 24 In context: Matthew 24:19-21)

Matthew 26:36

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 26 In context: Matthew 26:35-37)

Matthew 26:39

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 26 In context: Matthew 26:38-40)

Matthew 26:41

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 26 In context: Matthew 26:40-42)

Matthew 26:42

He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 26 In context: Matthew 26:41-43)

Matthew 26:44

So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
(Whole Chapter: Matthew 26 In context: Matthew 26:43-45)

Mark 1:35

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
(Whole Chapter: Mark 1 In context: Mark 1:34-36)

Mark 6:46

After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
(Whole Chapter: Mark 6 In context: Mark 6:45-47)

Mark 9:29

He replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer.[ 9:29 Some manuscripts prayer and fasting] "
(Whole Chapter: Mark 9 In context: Mark 9:28-30)

Mark 11:17

And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'[ 11:17 Isaiah 56:7] ? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'[ 11:17 Jer. 7:11] "
(Whole Chapter: Mark 11 In context: Mark 11:16-18)

Mark 11:24

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
(Whole Chapter: Mark 11 In context: Mark 11:23-25)

Mark 11:25

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins."[ 11:25 Some manuscripts sins. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your sins.]
(Whole Chapter: Mark 11 In context: Mark 11:24-26)

Mark 12:40

They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
(Whole Chapter: Mark 12 In context: Mark 12:39-41)

Mark 13:18

Pray that this will not take place in winter,
(Whole Chapter: Mark 13 In context: Mark 13:17-19)

Mark 13:33

Be on guard! Be alert[ 13:33 Some manuscripts alert and pray] ! You do not know when that time will come.
(Whole Chapter: Mark 13 In context: Mark 13:32-34)

Mark 14:32

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."
(Whole Chapter: Mark 14 In context: Mark 14:31-33)

Mark 14:35

Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
(Whole Chapter: Mark 14 In context: Mark 14:34-36)

Mark 14:38

Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
(Whole Chapter: Mark 14 In context: Mark 14:37-39)

Mark 14:39

Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.
(Whole Chapter: Mark 14 In context: Mark 14:38-40)

Luke 1:10

And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.
(Whole Chapter: Luke 1 In context: Luke 1:9-11)

Luke 1:13

But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.
(Whole Chapter: Luke 1 In context: Luke 1:12-14)

Luke 2:37

and then was a widow until she was eightyfour.[ 2:37 Or widow for eightyfour years] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.
(Whole Chapter: Luke 2 In context: Luke 2:36-38)

Luke 3:21

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
(Whole Chapter: Luke 3 In context: Luke 3:20-22)

Luke 5:16

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
(Whole Chapter: Luke 5 In context: Luke 5:15-17)

Luke 5:33

They said to him, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking."
(Whole Chapter: Luke 5 In context: Luke 5:32-34)

Luke 6:12

One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
(Whole Chapter: Luke 6 In context: Luke 6:11-13)

Luke 6:28

Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.
(Whole Chapter: Luke 6 In context: Luke 6:27-29)

Luke 9:18

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"
(Whole Chapter: Luke 9 In context: Luke 9:17-19)

Luke 9:28

About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
(Whole Chapter: Luke 9 In context: Luke 9:27-29)

Luke 9:29

As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.
(Whole Chapter: Luke 9 In context: Luke 9:28-30)

Luke 11:1

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
(Whole Chapter: Luke 11 In context: Luke 11:1-2)

Luke 11:2

He said to them, "When you pray, say: " 'Father,[ 11:2 Some manuscripts Our Father in heaven] hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.[ 11:2 Some manuscripts come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.]
(Whole Chapter: Luke 11 In context: Luke 11:1-3)

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