Teach Us to Pray
One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 · Berean Standard Bible
After watching Jesus pray, one of His followers says, 'Teach us to pray too.' Something about the way Jesus prayed made them want what He had.
Prayer wasn't new to these disciples -- they were Jewish men who prayed regularly. But watching Jesus pray showed them there was a depth they hadn't experienced yet.
One of the disciples speaks up after Jesus finishes praying, asking for personal instruction on how to connect with God.
This is one of those beautiful moments where the disciples are honest about what they don't know. Their request leads to one of the most beloved prayers in history.
A disciple's request to be taught prayer mirrors rabbinic custom, where a master would give his students a distinctive prayer formula. The reference to John the Baptist suggests competing prayer traditions among renewal movements.
Jewish teachers often composed prayers for their circles of followers. The disciples' request reflects their desire for a communal identity marker similar to what John's disciples practiced.
An unnamed disciple asks Jesus to teach them to pray after observing His own prayer life.
This request, prompted by watching Jesus pray, leads to Luke's version of the Lord's Prayer -- shorter and more intimate than Matthew's version.
1One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
2So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come.
3Give us each day our daily bread.
Read all of Luke 11 — The disciples ask for a prayer, and Jesus gives them words that have echoed for two thousand years. Then he warns against empty religion.
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