- What words or phrases emphasize privacy in Matthew 14:13,23?
- Discuss the significance of the words “custom” and “withdrew” in Luke 22:39-41. Do you have similar customs?
- Can you think of situations today that might resemble Matthew 6’s example of praying done for human eyes?
- What is the “reward” to which Matthew 6:5 refers? What is the better “reward” of Matthew 6:6?
- Why take the extra step to “close the door”?
- What are the benefits of privacy in prayer?
- What decisive action will you take now, as a result of this lesson?
EXTRA REFERENCES AND NOTES
In this course we learn to pray by watching Jesus, listening to His teachings, and following His example. This focus on Jesus means that most Scripture quotations and references come from the New Testament, especially the Gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The Bible, of course, has much more to say about prayer. To show this wider range of Scriptures, we offer Extra References and Notes for some of this course’s subjects. The extra notes are placed at the end, after the last lesson, and are not part of the course itself. No “Thought Questions” depend on extra notes. Instead, we offer these extra notes for the benefit of students who wish to go deeper into God’s word. These extra notes also help leaders who are preparing for classes and presentations.
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 the topic Private. Also see Shared Praying, which shows that a Christ-like emphasis on privacy does not rule out group prayer.
Private Private prayer is exactly that, private and unknown to others, accounting for few examples in the Bible, apart from the Gospel accounts. OT Godly people walked with God Micah 6:8 and meditated Genesis 24:63; Psalm 1:2; 19:14; Joshua 1:8, which included prayer Psalm 4:3-4; 16:7; 27:4; 48:9-10; 63:6-8; 77:6-12; 104:34; 119:27, 148-149; 143:5-6; 145:5. Moses spent time alone with God Exodus 3:4-6; 33:11; 34:29-35; Deuteronomy 9:9,18 cf. 1 Kings 19:1-18. See also 2 Samuel 7:18; 12:16; 2 Kings 4:32-33. Secrecy can be within the mind 1 Samuel 1:10-13; Psalm 62:5; Nehemiah 2:4. Most NT reports are about groups: apostles, churches, mission teams. Yet their frequent prayers, and instructions to pray, surely included private prayers. Peter’s likely habit: “Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray” Acts 10:9. Paul spent personal time with the Lord Galatians 1:17; 2 Corinthians 12:1-5, as did John Revelation 1:9-20.
Shared Praying OT The patriarchs’ use of altars implies family worship and prayer Genesis 8:20; 12:7-8; 13:4; 26:25; 33:20; 35:1-7; Exodus 17:15 cf. Exodus 20:24-26; 24:4-6; 27:1-7; 29:42-46. Examples of prayer with others present: Abraham’s servant Genesis 24:26,48; Jacob Genesis 49:18; Each household kept the Passover feast “to the Lord” Exodus 12:3-14 cf. Deuteronomy 16:8-11; Moses’ prayers about the ark Numbers 10:35-36; Moses’ blessing Deuteronomy 33:1-29; Elders about manslaughter Deuteronomy 21:6-8; Joshua after Ai Joshua 7:6-7; Solomon in the temple dedication 1 Kings 8:22-54; Elijah in contest 1 Kings 18:36-38; Israelites in battle 1 Chronicles 5:20; Ezra’s confession drew a responsive crowd Ezra 10:1-11 cf. Leviticus 26:40-42; Nehemiah’s group for protection Nehemiah 4:8-9; Israelites who confessed Nehemiah 9:2-3; Daniel and friends Daniel 2:17-18; Group fasting implies prayer Esther 4:3,16; 9:31. Assembled worship and prayer were central for OT believers Exodus 4:31; 12:27; 15:1-18; 24:1; 33:10; Deuteronomy 26:10; 1 Samuel 1:3-9; 1 Chronicles 13:2-8; 15:3-16:36; 29:10,20; 2 Chronicles 5:2-7:3; 20:4-13,26; 29:28-30; 30:13-27; 32:12; Ezra 6:21; 10:1-11; Nehemiah 5:13; 8:2-6; 9:1-3; Job 30:28; Psalm 26:12; 35:18; 89:5; 96:8; 99:5,9; 100:4; 102:22; 107:32; 108:3; 109:30; 111:1; 116:17-19; 118:25-29; 132:7; 149:1 cf. Leviticus 16:21; 23:1-3; Isaiah 19:21-23; 27:13; 66:23; Jeremiah 33:11; Zechariah 14:16. Examples: “David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly…. All the assembly blessed the LORD” 1 Chronicles 29:10,20. “In the great assembly I will bless the LORD Psalm 26:12. “All the assembly said ‘Amen’ and praised the LORD” Nehemiah 5:13 cf. Psalm 106:48. See Amen. NT Jewish public prayer continued Luke 1:10; 2:37; Acts 3:1; 16:13; 22:17; Romans 9:4 cf. Matthew 6:5; 21:13; Mark 11:17; 12:40; Luke 5:33; 18:10; 19:46; 20:47; Acts 27:29,35; Hebrews 9:6. Jesus prayed with others present Matthew 11:25; 14:19; 15:36; 19:13; 26:27; Mark 7:32-34; 8:6; 14:23; Luke 3:21; 9:28-29; 10:21; 22:17,19; John 6:11,23; 11:41-42 cf. Luke 9:18; 11:1. Disciples prayed together. “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer” Acts 1:14. “They devoted themselves to… the prayers” Acts 2:42. “They lifted their voices together to God” Acts 4:24. For Peter, “earnest prayer was made to God by the church…. Many were gathered together and were praying” Acts 12:5,12. See also Matthew 18:19-20; Acts 13:1-3; 14:23; 16:16,25; 20:36; 21:5; Romans 15:30-33; 1 Corinthians 14:16; 2 Corinthians 1:11; 9:14; 13:7,9; Colossians 1:3; 4:12; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 3:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:11 cf. Romans 15:6,30-33; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 2 Corinthians 1:11; 1 Timothy 2:1,8; 1 Thessalonians 5:25; 2 Thessalonians 3:1, 4-5; Hebrews 10:24-25; James 5:14-16; Revelation 11:17.