“But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet ... and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Matthew 6:6
Read this saying in the chronological reader →Words of Jesus by topic
What did Jesus say about prayer?
Jesus spoke about prayer as a private act of trust, a pattern for worship and petition, a practice of persistence, and a discipline joined to forgiveness and submission to God’s will. This guide highlights representative sayings rather than replacing the surrounding Gospel passages.
At a glance
- Prayer is not performance: Jesus directs attention toward the Father who sees in secret.
- The Lord’s Prayer puts God’s name, kingdom and will before daily needs, forgiveness and protection.
- Jesus encourages asking, seeking and knocking while portraying God as a Father who gives good gifts.
- Prayer is joined to faith and forgiveness, not treated as a technique for controlling outcomes.
- In Gethsemane, Jesus models honest desire together with submission: “not my will, but thine.”
Pray to the Father, not to an audience
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus contrasts prayer offered to be noticed with prayer directed to God. He also warns against empty repetition and says the Father knows what is needed before the request is made.
The Lord’s Prayer orders desire
The prayer Jesus teaches begins with the Father, the holiness of God’s name, the coming kingdom and God’s will. It then moves through daily bread, forgiveness, temptation and deliverance.
“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9–10
Read this saying in the chronological reader →Ask, seek, knock
Jesus repeatedly invites persistent petition. Matthew 7 and Luke 11 pair asking with the image of a parent giving what is good. The emphasis is confidence in the Father’s character, not a formula for controlling every circumstance.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Matthew 7:7
Read this saying in the chronological reader →Prayer, faith and forgiveness belong together
Near Jerusalem, Jesus joins believing prayer with forgiving others. Faith is therefore placed inside a life being reconciled to God and neighbor.
“What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them ... And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any.”
Mark 11:24–25
Read this saying in the chronological reader →Gethsemane: request under God’s will
Jesus asks that the cup be removed, yet yields the outcome to the Father. The narrated prayer holds honest request and obedience together.
“Father, if it be possible, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.”
Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42
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Search sayings about prayer →Gospel chronology and red-letter boundaries are editorial aids. Follow the linked references to read each saying in its full biblical setting.