Jesus’ prayer life is both a model and a challenge to us. He prayed with deep intimacy, unwavering trust, persistent dependence, and kingdom focus—qualities that often contrast with how we tend to pray.

I hate to admit it, but I’ve been around people whose prayers annoy me. Have you ever had that experience? Perhaps their prayers seem flippant, or they have verbal tics, or they don’t leave space for anyone else, or their language turns stilted when they start to pray. Have you ever wondered if your prayers annoy God?  

Believe it or not, Jesus seems to indicate that is the case. Twice in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus warns us how not to pray: “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others” (Matt. 6:5). He continues, “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words” (Matt. 6:7). 

In the Old Testament, God has similar responses to those who pray hypocritical prayers (“When you spread out your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood” (Is. 1:15)). God likewise dismisses those who pray while ignoring or oppressing the poor (Prov. 21:13 and Is. 58:2-4) or those who pray while engaging in idolatry (Ez. 8:17-18). 

Anyone who has a relationship with God longs for a deep and a rich prayer life. No one wants to annoy God or have their prayers unheard. 

Jesus’ prayers

In our last post we considered how Paul would coach us in our prayer life. Today we will consider Jesus’ prayers and how he might coach us. Approximately twenty-three times Jesus prays in the gospels (the number varies on how you group the passages). Here are his prayers:

1.Prayers of Thanksgiving (2)

“At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will (Matt 11:25-26)  (see also Lk 10:21) 

“So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me” (John 11:41-42) 

2.Prayers of Blessing Over Food (5)

“He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds” (Matthew 15:36) (see also Mk. 8:6-7).

“Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing” (Matthew 14:19)  / (see also Mk. 6:41, Lk. 9:16, Jn. 6:11).

“When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them” (Lk. 24:30).

“Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ‘Take, eat; this is my body.’ 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you’” (Matt. 26:26-27) (see also Mk. 14:22-23, Lk. 22:17-19).

3.Prayers for Others (4)

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again”” (Jn. 12:27-28).

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,[d] that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Lk. 22:31-32).

“When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. 6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. 8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me.”

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