Part Twelve. Jesus’s teaching continues. Prayer
Jesus was asked by his disciples how should we pray? Here is two of his replies,
Luke chapter 11 verses 1 to 4
Instructions on Prayer
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” So he said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, may your name be honoured; may your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins,
As we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And do not lead us into temptation.”
He did not say to prostrate your self on the ground. Indeed he his often-portrayed standing with arms outstretched looking up.
Matthew chapter 6 verse 5 to 15
“Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. When you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. So pray this way:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honoured,
May your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
“For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.
Again he says to pray simply, with no formal way to stand or to bow down. Just to pray with an honest and open heart, saying God knows what you want even before you ask him. He condemns people who babble away with long-winded prayers as if to impress on-lookers more then God.
Also he says do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward.
This brings me to examples of praying. When I was in the Lake District, we had just got of the Windermere ferry. I noticed three young Muslim girls took themselves off to one side, placed their prayer mats down and performed their prayer. Discreetly carried without neither show nor pomp, but with all sincerity and humbleness before God.
Next example, you sometimes see a mass of male Muslims who for their own reasons block the road [so no one can get by] and then en-masse perform their ritual pray in perfect time and co-ordination. I know it is sometimes said it is because there is no room in the Mosque for all the worshippers, but sometimes it is not in the vicinity of any Mosque.
It reminds me of soldiers performing a drill, “It is as if to say, look at us, we are the conquerors and are in charge,” rather then simply praying. It can be very intimidating to passers by, or is that its purpose?
Lastly in Mark 12
Mark chapter 12 verse 38 to 40
Warnings About Experts in the Law
In his teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the experts in the law. They like walking around in long robes and elaborate greetings in the marketplaces, and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets. They devour widows’ property, and as a show make long prayers. These men will receive a more severe punishment.”
Simply beware experts, they may quote this or that, give rulings on this or that. But does their actions match their words.
Bringing me back to prayer; Jesus gave a simple prayer commonly called, The Lord’s Prayer. As less then 60 words and express’s most of Jesus’s teachings.
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honoured,
May your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Our Father in heaven, may your name be honoured,
Simply honour and obey God, who is the spiritual father of all mankind.
May your kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Heaven, or God’s kingdom is seen as a perfect place. With justice, peace and fairness for all. Whilst none of us are perfect, we should try to create God’s kingdom here on earth.
Give us today our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves have forgiven our debtors.
Give us sufficient for our needs, no more, no less, most of the problems today is with man’s greed to have, either more then his neighbours. Or if his neighbours have more then he as, then he his envious of what his neighbour as.
Forgive others debts [does not mean money as some say] but it is asking God to forgive us for offending God. As we forgive those who have offended us. Simply put we are asking God to treat us as we treat others.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
We are asking God not to place temptation in our path, but if temptation does cross our path. At least give us the strength to overcome it.