The Bible doesn't instruct to pray to Jesus

[JimKnox]

What is an instruction? An instruction may be defined as a direction or an explanation to enable one to know what to do, or to do something. An instruction can be a command, a piece of advice, training, an explanation, or a procedure.

What is the only Biblical instruction on how to pray in the Bible?

Jesus instructed his disciples how to pray:

Matthew 6​

6But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.​

7And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.​

9So then, this is how you should pray:​

‘Our Father in heaven,​

hallowed be Your name.​

Aside from what is in Matthew 6:6,9 there are no other instructions on who to pray to in the Bible. The only instruction on prayer in the Bible is to the Father.

Can it be argued that Jesus was prayed to in the Bible? It's possible to argue that, but does it ever teach, instruct, or command Christians to pray to anyone other than the Father? No.

Your post and query assume that Jesus is NOT also The Father.
Isaiah

What is an instruction? An instruction may be defined as a direction or an explanation to enable one to know what to do, or to do something. An instruction can be a command, a piece of advice, training, an explanation, or a procedure.

What is the only Biblical instruction on how to pray in the Bible?

Jesus instructed his disciples how to pray:

Matthew 6​

6But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.​

7And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.​

9So then, this is how you should pray:​

‘Our Father in heaven,​

hallowed be Your name.​

Aside from what is in Matthew 6:6,9 there are no other instructions on who to pray to in the Bible. The only instruction on prayer in the Bible is to the Father.

Can it be argued that Jesus was prayed to in the Bible? It's possible to argue that, but does it ever teach, instruct, or command Christians to pray to anyone other than the Father? No.

You are making an assumption based upon a faulty understanding of the Godhead.

Isaiah 9:6-7 clearly teaches that Jesus IS the Everlasting Father and therefore it is right and proper to pray to either He or Our Father.

This argument causes an ungodly and unnecessary argument within the body of Christ.

Be at peace.

 

[LoveYeshua]

Hogwash.

just go to any religious study library and research it and see, you dont have to believe me, but YESHUA is his name. But call him how you usually call him that's all. He knows many call him by different names since many speak different languages.

 

[rockytopva]

Your post and query assume that Jesus is NOT also The Father.
Isaiah

You are making an assumption based upon a faulty understanding of the Godhead.

Isaiah 9:6-7 clearly teaches that Jesus IS the Everlasting Father and therefore it is right and proper to pray to either He or Our Father.

This argument causes an ungodly and unnecessary argument within the body of Christ.

Be at peace.

Hey!
Attention!
Heads up!

We are not required to understand the Godhead. The Apostle Paul said...

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. - 1 Corinthians 2:2

29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. - Acts 16

An attempt at understanding the Godhead is not forbidden here. But to imply that others are terrible people for not going along with such understanding is prohibited.

 

[PS95]

This has to be the winner here. Of all excuses I have ever heard-and I've heard them all-- this one by RunningMan takes the cake. I think we all need to be aware that when a heart is hard we can't undo it. We plant, and someone waters, but leave it there and expect nothing. To continue arguing just gives a ridiculous thread credibility.
Angels are directed by God the Father to Worship His Son - and Runningman's comment is......

Hebrews 1:6 KJV
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.

Not addressed to Christians.

 

[David in NJ]

Hogwash.

i enjoy the challenge

Ready to eat your "hogwash"..............

Yeshua is the Hebrew Name given by the Angel Gabriel who visited Mary

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

29But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. 30Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. 32He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

 

[Rockerduck]

Nobody can get saved without praying to Jesus.

 

[Justified]

Which (greek) text?
That comment (the Greek text) is disingenuous.
Why?
I'm glad you asked.
Everybody knows (or should know by now, since the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947) that there is no such thing as "the Greek text".

How do you mean? Acts was written in Greek.

Your post and query assume that Jesus is NOT also The Father.

Well, Jesus isn’t also the Father, that’s why he’s the Son.

Isaiah

You are making an assumption based upon a faulty understanding of the Godhead.

Isaiah 9:6-7 clearly teaches that Jesus IS the Everlasting Father and therefore it is right and proper to pray to either He or Our Father.

This argument causes an ungodly and unnecessary argument within the body of Christ.

Be at peace.

Your understanding of the Godhead is just as faulty. The Son is absolutely not the Father and never has been, despite what you think Isa. 9:6-7 says.

 

[Justified]

We are not required to understand the Godhead. The Apostle Paul said...

For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. - 1 Corinthians 2:2

29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. - Acts 16

While a person doesn’t have to understand the Trinity or deity of Jesus, a truly saved person cannot deny or argue against the Trinity nor the deity of Jesus.

Edited to add what I meant to say:

“While a person doesn’t have to understand the Trinity or deity of Jesus in order to be saved, . . .”.

 

[Lambano]

The Bible doesn't instruct to pray to Jesus​

So, I guess we'll have to do it without an instruction manual.

 

[JimKnox]

Silly me.
Pretty sure Isaiah 9:6-7 says;
" "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." — Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
"Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." — Isaiah 9:7 (KJV)

I don't care what you say: GOD says that Jesus IS CALLED the everlasting Father.
You can dance, You can twist other scriptures. You can deny deny deny. But the fact remains that this silly thread is a heresy.

 

[JimKnox]

just go to any religious study library and research it and see, you dont have to believe me, but YESHUA is his name. But call him how you usually call him that's all. He knows many call him by different names since many speak different languages.

"Religious study library"????
You are not serious are you?
I have literally HUNDREDS of books in my personal library.
I have access to THOUSANDS of books, dating as far back as the earliest Church Fathers, right here in my hand.
Stop it with your arrogance in pretending you are the Grand Poobah who is the only one who knows anything.
Since you have ignored other people who have clearly told you what the New Testament writers called Him, I think you deserve the same.

 

[Justified]

Silly me.
Pretty sure Isaiah 9:6-7 says;
" "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." — Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
"Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." — Isaiah 9:7 (KJV)

I don't care what you say: GOD says that Jesus IS CALLED the everlasting Father.
You can dance, You can twist other scriptures. You can deny deny deny.

Yes, that is what Isa. 9:6-7 state. However, given the significant amount of NT evidence that the Son is not the Father and never has been, that means the son of Isa. 9:6 being called “Everlasting Father” means something other than how Father is used in the NT, which is exclusively of the first person of the Trinity.

But the fact remains that this silly thread is a heresy.

And so is saying the Son is the Father.

 

[Wrangler]

Such IDOLATRY is rarely seen. The devotion to act contrary to Biblical instruction is amazing.

Of all excuses I have ever heard-and I've heard them all-- this one by RunningMan takes the cake.

AS IF a Christ follower needs an excuse to follow the instructions of Christ!

Nobody can get saved without praying to Jesus.

What verse teaches that nobody can get saved without praying to Jesus?

The Bible doesn't instruct to pray to Jesus​

So, I guess we'll have to do it without an instruction manual.

Why does a Christ follower “have to” do something contrary to what Christ taught; he taught us NOT to pray to him but to the Father in heaven - while he was on Earth. That’s good enough for me. Why is that not good enough for you?

 

[Lambano]

Why does a Christ follower “have to” do something contrary to what Christ taught; he taught us NOT to pray to him but to the Father in heaven - while he was on Earth. That’s good enough for me. Why is that not good enough for you?

You're missing the point. Jesus taught, "WHEN you pray, do this". Where did He say, "Don't talk to me"?

And the question, "When and if we talk to Jesus now, does it fall into the category of 'prayer'?" is still open.

As is the question, "When we ask the Father for something in Jesus's name (as we WERE instructed to), does Jesus hear that prayer?" If so, are we praying to Jesus at the same time we are praying to the Father?

And I also object to the mindset of, "If you're not explicitly told to do something, don't do it". Don't take any initiative. Wasn't that the attitude of the "wicked and lazy servant" in the Parable of the Talents?

 

[LoveYeshua]

The worship of JESUS is in Hebrews = from beginning to end.

1:3 - The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word.

1:5 - For to which of the angels did God ever say:
“You are My Son; today I have become Your Father”?
Or again: “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”?

1:6 - And again, when God brings His firstborn into the world, He says: “Let all God’s angels worship Him.”

But about the Son He says:

“Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever,
and justice is the scepter of Your kingdom.
9You have loved righteousness
and hated wickedness;
therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
above Your companions with the oil of joy.”

Yes. Hebrews 1 is one of the most Old Testament-rich chapters in the New Testament. Nearly every statement is either a direct quotation or an allusion to the Hebrew Scriptures. The author is building his case almost entirely from the Old Testament.

Hebrews 1:3

...who being the effulgence of his glory, and the very image of his substance...

The idea of God's glory shining forth is found in:
And the glory of Jehovah abode upon mount Sinai... (Exodus 24:16-17, ASV)
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:1, ASV)

The expression "the very image of his substance" echoes the truth that the Son perfectly reveals the Father.

Jesus Himself said: He that hath seen me hath seen the Father... (John 14:9, ASV)

This also agrees with God's statement that man was originally created in His image: And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness... (Genesis 1:26, ASV)

The Son is presented as the perfect image of God, whereas man bears God's image imperfectly.

The statement,

...upholding all things by the word of his power...

has many Old Testament parallels showing that God governs creation by His word.

By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made... (Psalm 33:6, ASV)
Who laid the foundations of the earth... (Psalm 104)
The emphasis is that God's word sustains creation.

---

Hebrews 1:5

Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee.

This is a direct quotation from: I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:7, ASV)

Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm describing God's Anointed King who will rule the nations.

The second quotation, I will be to him a Father, And he shall be to me a Son. comes from: I will be his father, and he shall be my son... (2 Samuel 7:14, ASV)

This promise was originally given concerning Solomon but ultimately points beyond him to the Messiah, whose kingdom would endure forever (2 Samuel 7:12-16).

---

Hebrews 1:6

And let all the angels of God worship him. This closely follows the Greek Septuagint version of:

Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people... and let all the angels of God worship him... (Deuteronomy 32:43, LXX)

It is also closely related to: Worship him, all ye gods. (Psalm 97:7, ASV)

The Hebrew word elohim in Psalm 97:7 can refer to heavenly beings, which explains why the Septuagint translated it as "angels."

The point is that the Messiah is worthy of the worship and honor given by all the heavenly host.

---

The chapter continues almost entirely with Old Testament quotations.

Hebrews 1:7

Quotes Psalm 104:4. Who maketh winds his messengers; Flames of fire his ministers.

---

Hebrews 1:8-9

Quotes Psalm 45:6-7. Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever...

---

Hebrews 1:10-12

Quotes Psalm 102:25-27. Of old didst thou lay the foundation of the earth...

Originally these words describe Jehovah as the eternal Creator. Hebrews applies them to the Son.

---

Hebrews 1:13

Quotes Psalm 110:1. Jehovah saith unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, Until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Jesus Himself used this Psalm to show that the Messiah is greater than David (Matthew 22:41-46).

---

One interesting observation is that Hebrews 1 does not introduce new doctrines by itself. Instead, it argues that everything it says about the Son was already anticipated in the Hebrew Scriptures. The author strings together a series of well-known passages to demonstrate that the Messiah is greater than the angels, is God's appointed King, shares in God's glory, and fulfills the promises made throughout the Old Testament.

Even Jesus followed this same method. Rather than asking people to believe Him without evidence, He continually appealed to "Moses and the Prophets." After His resurrection,

And beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27, ASV)

That is exactly what the author of Hebrews is doing in chapter 1: explaining the identity and role of the Messiah by using the Scriptures that Jesus Himself said testify of Him.

 

[Wrangler]

You're missing the point. Jesus taught, "WHEN you pray, do this". Where did He say, "Don't talk to me"?

LOL. You are appealing to Diversion. This thread is about Biblical instruction on who to pray to.

If a thread was about how the Bible doesn't instruct us to brush our teeth, I suspect there wouldn't be much participation and what participation there was wouldn't be changing the subject to "demonstrations" or "talking" to our teeth.

 

[Brakelite]

Yeshua was the name by which Jesus was known during His earthly life.

Even you call Him Jesus.

 

[keithr]

" "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." — Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)
"Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." — Isaiah 9:7 (KJV)

I don't care what you say: GOD says that Jesus IS CALLED the everlasting Father.

Albert Barnes' Notes says:

The everlasting Father - The Chaldee renders this expression, ‘The man abiding forever.’ The Vulgate, ‘The Father of the future age.’ Lowth, ‘The Father of the everlasting age.’ Literally, it is the Father of eternity, עד אבי 'ĕby ‛ad. The word rendered “everlasting,” עד ‛ad, properly denotes “eternity,” and is used to express “forever;” see Psa_9:6, Psa_9:19; Psa_19:10. It is often used in connection with עולם ‛ôlâm, thus, עולם ועד vā‛ed ‛ôlâm, “forever and ever;” Psa_10:16; Psa_21:5; Psa_45:7. The Hebrews used the term father in a great variety of senses - as a literal father, a grandfather, an ancestor, a ruler, an instructor. The phrase may either mean the same as the Eternal Father, and the sense will be, that the Messiah will not, as must be the case with an earthly king, however excellent, leave his people destitute after a short reign, but will rule over them and bless them forever (Hengstenberg); or it may be used in accordance with a custom usual in Hebrew and in Arabic, where he who possesses a thing is called the father of it.​

​

Thus, the father of strength means strong; the father of knowledge, intelligent; the father of glory, glorious; the father of goodness, good; the father of peace, peaceful. According to this, the meaning of the phrase, the Father of eternity, is properly eternal. The application of the word here is derived from this usage. The term Father is not applied to the Messiah here with any reference to the distinction in the divine nature, for that word is uniformly, in the Scriptures, applied to the first, not to the second person of the Trinity. But it is used in reference to durations, as a Hebraism involving high poetic beauty. He is not merely represented as everlasting, but he is introduced, by a strong figure, as even the Father of eternity, as if even everlasting duration owed itself to his paternity. There could not be a more emphatic declaration of strict and proper eternity. It may be added, that this attribute is often applied to the Messiah in the New Testament; Jhn_8:58; Col_1:17; Rev_1:11, Rev_1:17-18; Heb_1:10-11;​

 

[Lambano]

You're missing the point. Jesus taught, "WHEN you pray, do this". Where did He say, "Don't talk to me"?

LOL. You are appealing to Diversion. This thread is about Biblical instruction on who to pray to.

Can it be argued that Jesus was prayed to in the Bible? It's possible to argue that, but does it ever teach, instruct, or command Christians to pray to anyone other than the Father? No.

I quoted the OP for the convenience of others (who have probably forgotten what it actually says). The OP itself falls into the category of "argument from silence". The Bible neither authorizes nor prohibits prayer to Jesus. (Though the John 14:14 arguments come close.) The OP understands the silence as an effective prohibition.

 

[PS95]

Such IDOLATRY is rarely seen. The devotion to act contrary to Biblical instruction is amazing.

What you call idolatry- I call fellowship, devotion and faith in Jesus. It's a pity you don't have that kind of fellowship. So tell me, do you also shun Him like the Jw's do, and just add His name like a blip at the end of a prayer and call that a relationship? ARE ANGELS IDOLATORS?

AS IF a Christ follower needs an excuse to follow the instructions of Christ!

Runningman fully understands that even the angels worship Jesus Christ- and somehow as a human, being lower than angels- Jesus isn't mighty enough for his worship. and You agree with that.?. He said that instruction was not for CHRISTIANS? LOL Tell me WHY ARE ANGELS
INSTRUCTED TO WORSHIP JESUS? ARE ANGELS IDOLATORS?
what is there to say other than- you simply do not want to worship the Lord and that's an excuse.