In discussing the subject of prayer in reference to Christ and the Cios]iels, we maj' consider these topics: (1) the words used to express the idea of prayer ; (2) places and times of prayer ; (3) atti- tude in prayer ; (4) Christ's example ; (5) Christ's tU)ctrine.
1. Tliere are a few words for 'prayer' in the NT wliich are not found in the (iospels : ei'xo/it", fi'x^, evrVfX'ii"^, evTev^is, virfpfVTi'yxo-'''^, liceTijpia. But the majority of such words occur in the Gospels, and their distribution is of interest.
(1) T«ii<r£:,x6c6ai, very frequent in the Synoptics, not in John ; ■ri'.tri-^Xr, S times in the Synoptic's, not in John ; (2) i-cutu, Mt iV'^, S times in Luke, not in John ; S-V«-/?, Lk 1'^ i^~ .'i"' ; (:S) iii/raai, rare in this sense in the Synoptics, frequent in John ; (4) a.r;ii and a.V-eitaj, in all four ; airraz, Lk 23"-^. Of these four sets of words, the first alone is si>eoiaUy apjiroiniatetl t<i tlie iromhip nf God : it implies that the person addressed in prayer is Divine. Thesec-ond implies^rsona/ nfcd and a special petition to God and man for the supply of a want. The third (which frequently means to ask a question), when use<l of niak- in:; reipiesls, irenerallv asks a person to do somethinir (Mk 7-', Lk S'', Jn 4-«'- •»" 141* 1715 20) xhe fourth indicates a simple rt(iuest to gire something: (Mt TTH, Lk llM:', Jn 14i:' !■>), the niiildle voice sometimes adding intensity to the request. All exrept the first may be used of petitions to men, and have no necessary connexion with the worship of God.
2. Places and times of prayer. — The chief place was the Temple: ' Mv house shall be called a house of prayer' (Mt' 2V^, Mk 11'", Lk 19^"). Christ called it ' :My Fathers house' (Lk 2*^, .In •2 "'I, and, as sucli, it is the type of heaven (Jn I4-). St. Luke tells of others worshipping in the Temple : Zacharias (P), Simeon (•2-'), Anna (2^"), the dis- ciples (24^'), and (in a parable) the Pharisee and t!ie Publican (IS'"). Tlie worship in the syna- (I'lCfucs was frequently attended by Christ. es]>eci- aliv in the earlier part of His ministry (Mt 12' V-V"*. Mk 1-' 3' 6-, Lk 4i« 6«, Jn 6^" IS-") ; knd no doul)t His disciples frequently did the same. There is also the inner rhnmber {Tafxelov, Mt 6"^ .tnd the quest- rhfiinbcr (KaraXvaa., Mk H'-*, Lk 22") or tipper room (dvdyaiov, Mk 14'\ Lk 22'-), in A\hich the jirayer of the great High Priest seems to have been otlered (Jn 17, although some would jilace the scene of this in tlie Temple, cf. 14^'). and in which Jesus and the Eleven 'sang a hymn" (Mt26-^, Mk 14-'*) before going to the Mount of Olives. Natlianael's tig-tree (Jn 1*") and Gethsemane (Mt 26=*", Mk 14''"-) lead us to think of ffnrdens as places of retirement
for prayer. And there is also the mountain-top near Bethsaida (Mk 6^), and that other which was the scene of the Transliguration (Mt 17', Mk 9-', Lk 9^), and which St. Luke tells us was ascended for the purpose of prayer.
Not nnich is said in the Gospels about times of prayer; but we read of Christ rising up before (Inijlight and going to a desert sjwt to pray (Mk 1-"|, and of His continuing all night in prayer before the choosing of the twelve Apostles (Lk 6''-). The crcning before His arrest is another recorded instance.
3. The common attitude in prayer among the Hews, yx&s standing ; and this our Lord assumes in His teaching (Mt 6\ Mk 11^, Lk 18"- '»). But He Himself A;)(7Mn the garden (Lk 22^'): and it was perhai)S in consequence of His example on that occa-sion that in the NT the first Christians are alwaj-s represented as kneeling. Outside the Gospels no other posture for prayer is mentioned.
4. Christ's example. — Much more iini>ortant than terminology, or the mention of places, times, and postures for prayer, is the fact that Jesus Christ, by His own example, has taught us the duty of prayer. Not that we need suppose that He prayed merely in order to set us an example: prayer was one of tliose things which became Him, in order that He might 'fulfil all righteousness" (Mt 3'-'^). But example, as set by Him, is of the very strongest. If in such a life as His there was not only room but need for prayer, much more must there be room and need in such lives as ours.
i Nor were His prayers always prayers for others.
! In most cases we are not told why or for wiiat He prayed : this we have to gather from the context. On one great occasion, in the garden, just before His Passion, we know that He prayed fen- Himself (Mt 26®', Mk 14-', Lk 22^'). An hour or two iiefore this, just after the Supper, we know that He i>raj-ed for His disciples (Jn 17*''*) and for the whole Church (Jn n-** "■*) ; and a few hours later He prayed for those who nailed Him to the Cross (Lk 23*^, a verse which is historically true, whether St. Luke wrote it or not). Moreover, He has left us an example of intercession, not merely for groups of persons, large .and sm.all, but also for an individual. He assured St. Peter, ' I made supplication for thee, that thy faith fail not ' (Lk 223-).