JESUS TEACHES US HOW TO PRAY, Ron Ward
JESUS TEACHES US HOW TO PRAY
Passage: Luke 11:1~13  
Key verse: 2
Jesus’ Teaching on Prayer(A)(B)
11 One day Jesus was praying(C) in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord,(D) teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:
“‘Father,[a]
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom(E) come.[b]
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.[c](F)
And lead us not into temptation.[d]’”(G)
5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity[e] he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.(H)
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you;(I) seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Footnotes
- Luke 11:2 Some manuscripts Our Father in heaven
- Luke 11:2 Some manuscripts come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- Luke 11:4 Greek everyone who is indebted to us
- Luke 11:4 Some manuscripts temptation, but deliver us from the evil one
- Luke 11:8 Or yet to preserve his good name
- Luke 11:11 Some manuscripts for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for
Cross references
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source:  BibleGateway
1. How to pray (1-4)
The disciples came to Jesus with a noble request, asking him to teach them how to pray. Jesus responded by providing a model of prayer for us to follow. In Jesus, we have a new identity as God's precious children and when we come to God in prayer, we call him 'Father' and offer him our sincerest worship, praise, and thanksgiving. Next, we pray for his will to be done and for his kingdom to come. In complete dependence, we ask him for what we need. We seek his mercy and forgiveness as we forgive others. We depend on his strength and power to overcome temptation of evil. It is good for us to reflect on the nature of our prayers. Do they follow the Lord's example?
2. Our attitude in prayer (5-13)
Unlike the man who was already in bed with his children at midnight and didn't want to get up to unlock the door, our Lord is ready and willing to hear and answer our prayers. Jesus invites us to ask, seek, and knock. As a loving Father, God responds to the prayers of his children with perfect love. Even evil, earthly fathers give good gifts to their children. How much more is this true of our holy and infinite God! When we ask him for the very best gift of all, the gift of the Holy Spirit, he is eagerly grants our request.
Prayer: Lord, help us to grow in Spirit and prayer.
One Word: Come to our Father in prayer