Bible Discussion Thread

in mathew 6 jesus tells us how we should be praying why then elsewhere in one of the gospels does he ask the desiciples to pray with him in the garden of gethsemane? does that not conflict with what he says in Matt. 6?

John, these are two types of prayer that you are considering. In Mt 6 (also in Lk 11) this was a special request by Jesus' disciples to given them a prayer as John the Baptist did for his disciples (disciples = those under training by a teacher). It was common for rabbis/teachers to give their followers a prayer to be recited that encompassed their beliefs & helped these newbies to focus on God. Hence, this request to Jesus by His disciples. And though this prayer is still used by many in many Churches, sadly it often just becomes a recitation or formality. The preference for believers is to pray to the Father from the heart as a result of the yearning of the spirit: Mt 6:6, is 'to pray to the Father privately & earnestly' - this is not just a recitation like the Lord's Prayer.

So too at the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples knew that their Lord's time was at hand, & they should have been alert & watchful rather than asleep while Jesus prayed to the Father. It is just like when someone we love is going through a bad patch in their lives, the only two things that we can immediately resort to on their behalf, is to minister to them & be in serious prayer for them. The Lord's Prayer is not applicable for this, but earnest prayer from our heart. This is the correct response in such a situation. Yet, the disciples succumbed to boredom & tiredness while their Master agonized.

thank you for your reply