- What is the significance for us in Jesus quoting Isaiah 56:7 as He drove traders from the temple? (Mark 11:15-17)
- What is Jesus’ present role, as described in Hebrews 8:1-2; 9:24? How does this role relate to us?
- What does Jesus mean by “worship… in spirit and truth”? Why is this kind of worship so important to God? (John 4:21-24)
- How does the foremost command, in Luke 10:27, relate to the praying heart?
- List some of the things for which Jesus gave thanks (Matthew 15:36; 26:26-28; Luke 10:21; John 11:41).
- What does the Holy Spirit do for your prayers? (Romans 8:26-27)
- What decisive action will you take now, as a result of this lesson?
EXTRA REFERENCES AND STUDY NOTES
Suppose that, for your own purposes, you want to look up other Scriptures related to this lesson. In that case, you may wish to start with Urgent, Complaint, Thanks and Insincerity along with the topics mentioned in the lesson, Jesus Shows Us That Prayer Should Be Sincere 1.
Urgent While true prayer is always sincere, need and crisis make prayers even more heart-felt. OT Job in suffering Job 1:20-21; 6:8; 7:11,17-21; 10:1; 16:17; Abraham, for an heir Genesis 15:2-3, to save relatives Genesis 18:23-33; Hagar for her child Genesis 16:11 – “the LORD has listened to your affliction”; Jacob for rescue Genesis 32:9-29; Israelites as slaves Exodus 2:23-24 – “God heard their groaning” cf. Acts 7:34; the needy Exodus 22:22-24; Moses in anger Numbers 16:15; Israel for lost tribe Joshua 21:2-3; Joshua, Hannah, Samuel, Jeremiah in distress Joshua 7:6-9; 1 Samuel 1:9-13; 15:11; Jeremiah 12:1-4; 15:15-18; 18:20-23; 20:12-18; Lamentations 1:20-22; 2:18-22; 3:49-66; 5:1-22; David for the future; for his dying child, in repentance 2 Samuel 7:18-29; 12:16; 24:10; Psalm 51; Hezekiah facing death 2 Kings 20:1-3; sailors in storms Psalm 107:23-31; Jonah 1:14; 2:1-7; Elijah for rain 1 Kings 18:42-43; kings against invaders 2 Kings 13:4; 19:15-19; 1 Chronicles 5:20; leaders in repentance Nehemiah 1:4-11; Daniel 9:3. NT Wording or circumstances show how deeply prayers are felt: Luke 1:46-55, 67-75; 2:20, 27-32, 38; 15:18; 17:15; 18:13; 21:36; Acts 1:14; 4:24-31; 9:9-11; 16:25; 27:29; Romans 1:9-11; 10:1; 2 Corinthians 9:14-15; Ephesians 6:18-20; Philippians 1:2-7; Colossians 4:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5; 1 Timothy 5:5; 2 Timothy 1:2-4; James 5:4,13,16; Revelation 6:10. Examples: “Falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them’” Acts 7:59. “He knelt down and prayed with them all. And there was much weeping on the part of all” Acts 20:36-37 cf. 21:5; “My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved” Romans 10:1 cf. 9:1-2. Needy people pleaded with Jesus, a form of prayer though they may not have known it Matthew 8:5-8, 23-27; 9:27-28; 15:21-28; 18:23-27; 20:30-34; Mark 1:40; 5:23; 7:31-37; 8:41-42; Luke 7:4; 10:2; 17:12-13; John 4:15,47. See Earnest (in the lesson – Jesus Shows Us That Prayer Should Be Sincere 1, segment Thought Questions, Extra References and Notes).
Complaint Part of sincerity is being honest with God even about our struggles and negative feelings. There is no point in hiding them Psalm 139:1-6. OT Examples of prayers that question and pour out complaints Abraham Genesis 18:17-33; Moses Numbers 11:10-35; Job Job 6:8-9; 7:17-21; 9:25-35; 10; 14; 23; Psalmists Psalm 10:1-10; 13:1-2; 22:1-21; 44:9-26; 55:2,17; 60:1-3; 79:1-11; 89:38-49; 102:1-11; 142:2-4; Jeremiah Jeremiah 12:1-4; Lamentations 1:20-22; 2:19-22; 5:1-20; Elijah 1 Kings 19:4; Joel Joel 1:19-20; Jonah Jonah 4:1-3; Habakkuk Habakkuk 1:1-4,12-17; cf. Revelation 7:9-12 These were not the questionings and murmurings of the disobedient who impugn God’s character Deuteronomy 1:26-27; Numbers 11:1; 21:5; Psalms 78:17-22; 106:25; Malachi 1:6-7. The NT has little of similar nature. Jesus cried Psalm 22 for us Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34, and reveals much not previously known John 8:32; 1 Corinthians 2:6-12; Ephesians 3:5. That does not lessen the fact that struggles are extreme 2 Corinthians 1:8; 4:8; 7:5 cf. Revelations 6:10.
Thanks OT Levitical worship emphasized thanksgiving Leviticus 22:29; 1 Chronicles 16:4-8,41; 25:3; 29:13; 2 Chronicles 30:22; 31:2; Nehemiah 11:17; 12:24. “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High” Psalm 9:1-2. See also 1 Chronicles 16:34-36; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Ezra 3:11; Psalm 26:6-7; 35:18; 50:23; 57:9; 75:1; 79:13; 86:12; 95:2; 100:4; 106:1; 111:1; 118:19-21,28-29; 136:1-4; 145:10; Isaiah 12:1-6; 38:19; 51:3; Daniel 2:23; 6:10; Jonah 2:9. NT Examples Luke 2:38; 17:16; Acts 27:35; 28:15; Romans 1:8,21; 6:7; 7:25; 14:6; 1 Corinthians 1:4; 10:16; 14:18; 15:57; 2 Corinthians 1:11; 2:14-15; 4:15; 8:16; 9:11-15; Ephesians 1:16; 5:4,20; Philippians 1:3; 4:6,20; Colossians 1:3,12; 2:7; 3:15-17; 4:2; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 2:13; 3:9; 5:18; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 2:13; 1 Timothy 1:12; 2:1; 4:3-5; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 1:4; Hebrews 13:15; Revelation 4:9; 7:12; 11:17. See Praises (in the lesson – Jesus Shows Us That Prayer Should Be Sincere 1, segment Thought Questions, Extra References and Notes), Specifics (in the lesson – Jesus Shows Us That Prayer Should Be Sincere 1, segment Thought Questions, Extra References and Notes).
Insincerity OT God rejects insincerity and inconsistency. “They delight to draw near to God. ‘Why have we fasted, and You see it not? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You take no knowledge of it?’ Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure, and oppress all your workers. Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a wicked fist. Fasting like yours this day will not make your voice to be heard on high” Isaiah 58:2-4. See also Psalm 90:5; 109:7; Proverbs 28:9; Isaiah 1:15; Jeremiah 7:6; 11:14; 14:11-12; 37:3; 42:2-43:7; Lamentations 3:8, 44; Hosea 7:14 cf. Zechariah 7:5. NT “Beware of the scribes who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation” Mark 12:40 cf. Luke 20:47; Acts 5:1-10; James 4:3; 2 Peter 3:7,12.