One of the most heated debates between Catholics and Protestants is the issue of prayer and who it is that we should pray to.
Let me say with respect that it is not the opinions of men or of a particular church, be it Catholic or Protestant, that we should use as our authority. The final word and only authority in spiritual matters and debates is the Word of God as found in the Bible.
There are many church traditions that are not Biblical and we cannot look to how long a particular act has been carried out in the church as being the authority for it’s use.
Errors come into the church when men allow their traditions to overrule what the Bible says. When Jesus spoke to the Pharisees He often scolded them for “Their traditions that had made void the Word of God.”
Matthew 15:6 ” … Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.”
Mark 7:13 “making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.”
We should be able to agree as believers in Jesus Christ no matter what church we attend, that the Bible is the authority in all matters, not the words of men. Jesus is the head of the church. He shed His blood to birth the church into existence and only He is has the right to call it “His Church.”
Matthew 16:18 “…I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it”.
Concerning Prayer, Jesus said this:
Matthew 6:5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.”
Simply stated, Jesus said that when we pray, we should not do so to be seen by others. Prayer is private communication between you and God. There is nothing wrong with praying amongst other believers at dinner or at a prayer meeting, but the idea here is that Jesus understands that sometimes people pray so that others will think them holy or spiritual.
Matthew 6:6 “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
Go someplace that you can be alone with the Lord and when you do the Lord will meet you there, hear you and answer you.
Matthew 6:7 “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.”
Jesus said not to pray the same words or prayers over an over again. This is the practice of pagans. Those who do not know God say the same prayers or chants over and over again.
Jesus said that when we come to God in prayer that we should speak to the Father as you would with any other person. Tell Him what is on your mind and your heart. God is a person and He enjoys a good conversation just as we do.
Can you imagine what it would be like to listen to someone repeating the same phrase to you over and over again for several minutes? You would stop the person and say: “Why are you repeating yourself , I heard you the first time. Just tell me what is on your heart and I will answer you.”
Matthew 6:8 “Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”
Remember that even before you start to pray, you are coming to your Father who is in Heaven. He already knows what your needs are. He delights in hearing from you and He wants to give you everything that you need in your life that is of benefit to you.
Your Father always answers your prayers in one of three ways: Yes, no, and wait.
Yes, if it is of benefit to you right now. No, if what you are asking for is not good for you or would harm you in any way. Wait, if it is His will for you but best given to you at a time in the future.
Matthew 6:9 “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.“
Notice that Jesus did not say to pray this prayer. He said, “pray in this manner”. In other words, “Use this as a format for your prayers”
Who do we address all prayer to? “Our Father who is in heaven…”
We should not pray to another human being, or a deceased member of the church. We take all of our prayers directly to the Father.
Jesus said this about our prayers and who we should pray to:
John 14:13-14 “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
Building on what Jesus said in Matthew 6, To address our prayers to the Father, we add what Jesus said here in John 14:
Pray to the Father, in the Name of the Son…. “Father I ask you in Jesus Name…”
No place in the Bible will you find instruction to pray to any other human being, whether they are living or have passed on from this life. We should not pray to Mary a saint or any of the Apostles or Prophets of God.
In the Old Testament, in order to have access to God a person had to come to the priest with their sacrifice. After Jesus died on the Cross and Rose again, He became the sacrifice for our sins and the need to come to a priest changed. Jesus has now become our great high priest and whatever our request or need, we should bring everything to Him only.
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.“
Notice that when you come to your Great High Priest, that Jesus throne is one of “Grace” not “Judgement”. When we do come to His throne, we have the confidence that we will always find mercy and help in our times of need.
The Bible records that immediately after Jesus was crucified and He died, the veil in the temple that separated the inner court from the Holy of Hollies, was torn from top to bottom.
Matthew 27:51 “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split…”
This Holy place was reserved for God alone. No man could come into the presence of God himself. Only the high priest could enter into the presence of God, and only on one occasion per year. During the day of atonement the high priest could enter the Holy of Hollies and bring with him the blood of a sacrifice to place on the altar for his own sins and the sins of the people.
Hebrews 9:2-7 “For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which was the lampstand, the table, and the showbread, which is called the sanctuary; and behind the second veil, the part of the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of All, which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant; and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowingthe mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. Butinto the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance…”
After Jesus completed His sacrifice for us on the Cross, the need for an earthly high priest was eliminated. The veil of them temple between the inner court and the Holy of Hollies was torn in two from top to bottom by the Lord Himself.
This veil was said to be the about 4 inches thick and was over 45 feet high. Just so that everyone understood that it was God who tore the veil, it was torn from 45 feet high, top to bottom.
What was God saying by tearing the veil? No longer did you have to come to Him through a priest. You now have direct access to God yourself and you can come to Him any time, for any reason. This direct access for you was made possible by Jesus death as all of your sins have been removed.
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.“
This is why we do not pray to any other person other than to the Father, in the name of the Son.
We do not call any other person “Father” except our Father in heaven.
Matthew 23:9 “Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.“
Jesus said this in response to the Pharisees who were called “Rabbi” which meant “Teacher. Jesus said that we should not give any special titles to someone who serves as a spiritual leader in the church.
The title of “Reverend”, or “Father”, or any other title that designates a position or place of prominence should not be used. All of us are equal before the Lord and no human being should have a title except “Servant of the Lord”. Even Mary in her Magnificant, referred to herself as “The handmaid of the Lord”.
Luke 1:46-49 “And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.“
Mary is regarded as the greatest of all women servants of the Lord, but even Mary needed a Savior. Notice that she refers to God as “My Savior”. Mary recognized that she was a sinner and she understood that Jesus was going to die for her sins as well as those of the whole world.
The church as taught by long tradition that Mary was without sin. The Bible records the fact that all human beings are sinners, and in need of a Savior. Jesus died for Mary’s sins just as He died for every other person born after Adam.
There are many other errors in the church that have crept in due to tradition. It is very hard to convince someone that something done in the church for a long period of time is wrong, when it is something they have grown accustomed to.
We are creatures of habit and once a habit is formed, it is sometimes difficult and painful to stop it.
It all comes down to whether a person truly wants to do what God said or is more interested in pleasing men. Jesus died and rose again so that we could be set free from all of the restrictions that man loves to place on other men. Jesus just wants you to come to the Father unhindered by traditions and ritual so that you can have an enjoyable and wonderful experience with God.
When you pray, just come to the Father and have a conversation. Tell Him everything that is on your heart today and then sit quietly and listen to His response throughout your day. The best way to communicate with God is to speak to Him in prayer and then open your Bible and begin to read. As you do the Holy Spirit will bring you to the places in the scriptures where the words you are reading will speak to you and the needs that you have brought to the Father, in Jesus name.
Rob Robinson
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