How Did Jesus Tell Us to Pray? What the Bible Says

How did Jesus tell us to pray? Jesus taught His followers to approach God with sincerity, honor His name, seek His will, ask for daily provision, and depend on Him for forgiveness and protection from evil. He also warned against praying to gain attention or using empty words as though many words could make God listen.

Two important passages explain His teaching: Matthew 6:5–13 and Luke 11:1–13. In Matthew, Jesus teaches about prayer during the Sermon on the Mount. In Luke, a disciple asks Him, “Lord, teach us to pray” after seeing Him pray. Together, these passages show not only what believers can pray for but also the attitude of trust and humility they should bring to prayer.

Where Did Jesus Teach His Disciples to Pray?

Matthew 6 and Luke 11 are two central passages about how Jesus taught His disciples to pray. They contain related forms of the Lord’s Prayer, but the settings and some details differ.

Jesus’ Teaching About Prayer in Matthew 6

In Matthew 6, Jesus speaks about giving, prayer, and fasting during the Sermon on the Mount. He warns His listeners against turning acts of worship into performances designed to earn praise from other people.

When Jesus addresses prayer, He first describes the wrong motives His followers should avoid. Some people prayed in public places because they wanted others to notice their religious devotion. Jesus challenges this desire for recognition and directs His disciples toward sincere prayer before God (Matthew 6:5–8).

He then gives them a model prayer in Matthew 6:9–13, commonly called the Lord’s Prayer. The teaching moves from the heart behind prayer to the words and priorities that should shape it. Jesus wants His followers to approach God honestly, not to impress an audience or rely on impressive speeches.

Why a Disciple Asked, “Lord, Teach Us to Pray”

Luke records another occasion when Jesus taught His followers about prayer. After Jesus had finished praying, one of His disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1, KJV).

Luke does not identify the disciple who made this request. What he does tell us is that the disciple saw Jesus praying and asked for instruction afterward. Jesus’ example had clearly made an impression on His followers.

Jesus responded with a model prayer and continued by teaching about asking, seeking, knocking, and trusting the goodness of the Father (Luke 11:2–13).

This passage is one of the clearest answers to the question, “How did Jesus teach His disciples how to pray?” He gave them words to guide their prayers and then explained why they could approach God with confidence.

How Are Matthew 6 and Luke 11 Different?

Matthew and Luke record related teachings, but they do not present every detail in exactly the same way.

Matthew 6:5–13	Luke 11:1–13
Appears during the Sermon on the Mount	Follows a disciple’s request after Jesus finishes praying
Includes warnings about praying for public attention and using empty words	Begins with the model prayer and continues with the friend at midnight
Uses “debts” and “debtors” in the forgiveness petition	Uses “sins” and refers to forgiving those indebted to us
The KJV includes the familiar closing doxology	The KJV does not include the closing doxology
Continues with Jesus’ teaching about forgiveness	Continues with asking, seeking, knocking, and the Father’s generosity

One textual detail is worth knowing: the KJV version of Luke 11:2 includes “Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” Some modern translations follow a shorter Greek reading of Luke’s prayer and do not include that phrase in the main text. The wording of the Lord’s Prayer can therefore differ depending on the Bible translation.

The two accounts should be read in their own settings. Matthew emphasizes the sincerity and priorities of prayer, while Luke highlights the disciples’ request and Jesus’ encouragement to keep asking God with confidence.

How Did Jesus Tell Us to Pray?

In Matthew 6:5–8, Jesus explains that prayer should come from a sincere heart. He warns against seeking attention through religious activity, speaking empty words, and treating prayer as a way to persuade God to notice our needs.

His instructions focus on the attitude behind prayer rather than a complicated set of rules.

Pray Sincerely, Not to Impress Other People

Jesus warns against hypocrites who pray while standing in public places so that others will notice them (Matthew 6:5).

The problem was not simply that they prayed where people could see them. Their desire for human praise was the problem. They wanted to appear deeply religious rather than approach God with an honest heart.

Prayer is not a performance. The number of words we use, the volume of our voice, or the attention we receive does not determine whether our prayer is sincere.

Jesus’ words invite us to examine our motives. Are we speaking honestly to God, or are we more concerned about how other people view us?

Make Room for Private Prayer Without Rejecting Public Prayer

In Matthew 6:6, Jesus tells His disciples to enter their room, close the door, and pray to their Father in secret. He encourages them to build a personal life of prayer that does not depend on an audience.

Private prayer gives us space to speak openly. We can confess our sins, express gratitude, bring our worries to God, and ask for help without worrying about what anyone else thinks.

However, Jesus did not forbid all public prayer. In John 11:41–42, He prays aloud before the people gathered at Lazarus’ tomb. His example makes clear that praying in front of others is not automatically wrong.

The important distinction is the motive. Jesus challenges prayer used to gain human approval, not sincere prayer shared with other believers or offered in a public setting.

Avoid Empty Words, Not Every Repeated Prayer

Jesus also warns against using “vain repetitions” (Matthew 6:7, KJV). He is correcting empty, mechanical speech and the belief that saying more words will make God listen.

This warning does not mean that repeating a prayer is always wrong. In Gethsemane, Jesus prayed again, saying the same words (Matthew 26:44). He was facing deep sorrow and suffering, and His repeated prayer expressed genuine dependence on the Father.

The difference is sincerity. A believer may bring the same concern to God many times without praying wrongly. What Jesus warns against is treating repeated words as a way to control God or earn His attention.

Trust That Your Heavenly Father Knows What You Need

Jesus says that the Father knows what His children need before they ask Him (Matthew 6:8).

Prayer is not about giving God information He does not have. It is an expression of our dependence on Him. We bring our needs before Him because we trust Him and recognize that we need His care and guidance.

This also means we do not need impressive language or a carefully prepared speech. We can speak honestly and simply. Our heavenly Father already understands what is on our hearts.

What Did Jesus Tell Us to Pray For? The Lord’s Prayer Explained

In Matthew 6:9–13, Jesus gives His disciples a model for prayer. The Lord’s Prayer begins with God’s name, kingdom, and will before turning to daily provision, forgiveness, and protection from temptation and evil.

Each petition gives believers an important subject to bring before God. The prayer also shows the priorities that should shape a life of faith.

Begin by Honoring God as Father

Jesus begins:

“Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” – Matthew 6:9, KJV

The words “Our Father” show that believers can approach God with trust and closeness. The word “our” also points to the shared relationship of those who belong to Him. Jesus teaches His disciples to pray as people who come before the same heavenly Father.

“Hallowed be thy name” means that God’s name is holy and deserves reverence. We are not asking God to become holy; He already is holy. We are expressing our desire that His name be honored in our lives and throughout the world.

Jesus begins with the character of God rather than with a list of personal requests. Prayer starts by recognizing the One to whom we are speaking.

Pray for God’s Kingdom and His Will

Jesus continues:

“Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:10, KJV

God’s kingdom refers to His rule and authority. When we pray for His kingdom to come, we are asking that His rule be recognized, that people turn to Him, and that His purposes be carried out.

This prayer also looks forward to the day when God’s reign will be fully revealed. Christians live in the hope that His kingdom will ultimately be seen in its fullness.

The words “Thy will be done” express a willingness to place God’s purposes above our own preferences. We can bring Him our hopes and plans while asking Him to guide our decisions and shape our desires.

Ask God for Daily Provision

Jesus teaches His disciples to pray:

“Give us this day our daily bread.” – Matthew 6:11, KJV

Bread was a basic necessity in everyday life. By including it in the prayer, Jesus shows that ordinary needs belong in our conversations with God.

We can ask for food, work, shelter, strength, and help with family responsibilities. We do not have to wait for a crisis before bringing our needs before Him.

The request for daily bread also encourages a day-by-day dependence on God. We can plan responsibly for the future while remembering that our lives and provision remain in His hands.

Ask for Forgiveness and Be Ready to Forgive Others

The next petition says:

“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” – Matthew 6:12, KJV

Luke’s account uses the word “sins” in this part of the prayer (Luke 11:4). Both versions point to our need for forgiveness and our responsibility to forgive others.

Jesus teaches His followers to acknowledge their sins instead of excusing their wrongdoing. Honest prayer includes admitting where we have failed and asking God for mercy.

He also connects receiving forgiveness with our willingness to forgive others. After giving the prayer, Jesus returns to this subject in Matthew 6:14–15. Forgiveness is an important part of how His followers live out their relationship with God.

Forgiving someone does not mean pretending that harm never happened, ignoring injustice, or restoring trust before it is wise or safe. It means refusing to let revenge and bitterness rule our hearts. Jesus calls His followers to show others the mercy they themselves seek from God.

Ask God for Help Against Temptation and Evil

Jesus teaches His disciples to pray:

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” – Matthew 6:13, KJV

This petition recognizes our need for God’s help when we face temptation. We should not assume that we can resist every wrong desire through our own strength. We need His guidance and protection.

The KJV translates the final expression as “evil.” Some modern translations render it as “the evil one,” understanding it as a reference to Satan. Either way, the prayer expresses our need for God’s help against the power and influence of evil.

We can ask Him to guide our choices, strengthen us when temptation comes, and help us turn away from sin.

The KJV also includes the familiar closing words:

“For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

Many modern translations place this doxology in a footnote, brackets, or omit it from the main text. The reason is that the closing words are absent from several important early Greek manuscripts of Matthew, while other manuscripts contain the doxology in different forms.

An early Christian writing called the Didache also includes a related closing doxology, showing that such words were used in early Christian worship. Its wording, however, is not identical to the familiar KJV form. The manuscript question explains why Bible translations present the ending differently; it does not change the central petitions of the Lord’s Prayer.

Did Jesus Teach Us to Keep Praying?

Yes. Jesus warned against empty words, but He also encouraged His followers to continue praying and not lose heart. Persistent prayer is not about repeating words mechanically. It means continuing to seek God while trusting His goodness, even when an answer takes time.

Ask, Seek, and Knock With Trust in the Father

In Luke 11:9–10, Jesus says to ask, seek, and knock. These connected expressions encourage His followers to keep bringing their needs to God and to approach Him with confidence.

Matthew 7:7–11 records similar teaching. Jesus points to the care of earthly parents. Even imperfect human fathers know how to give good gifts to their children. How much more can people trust their heavenly Father?

Luke 11:13 adds that the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. This is an important part of Jesus’ teaching about the Father’s generosity.

Jesus is not promising that every request will be granted exactly as we imagine or on our preferred timetable. He is teaching His followers to trust the goodness of God, whose gifts are truly good.

Asking, seeking, and knocking are not a strict three-step formula that every prayer must follow. They are expressions of continuing dependence on the Father.

What the Friend at Midnight Teaches About Persistence

In Luke 11:5–8, Jesus describes a man who goes to a friend’s house at midnight because an unexpected guest has arrived and he has no bread to offer. The friend inside is reluctant to get up, but the visitor continues asking for help.

Jesus uses this situation to introduce His teaching about asking, seeking, and knocking. The story illustrates persistence when someone has an urgent need.

However, God should not be compared to the reluctant friend as though He must be disturbed or forced to care. The verses that follow make the contrast clear: the heavenly Father is good and gives good gifts to His children.

The encouragement is that we can bring our needs to God with confidence. We do not have to wonder whether He cares enough to listen.

Pray and Do Not Lose Heart: The Persistent Widow

In Luke 18:1–8, Jesus tells a parable about a widow who repeatedly asks an unjust judge to grant her justice. The judge does not fear God or respect people, but eventually he responds because she keeps coming to him.

Jesus then contrasts the judge with God. If even an unjust judge eventually responds, His followers can trust that God hears the cries of His people.

The widow’s persistence speaks to believers who are waiting for justice. Jesus encourages them to keep praying rather than allowing a long delay to make them lose heart.

The parable is not saying that God is unfair or needs to be pressured into acting. It calls His followers to remain faithful while trusting His character.

Did Jesus Tell Us to Pray a Certain Number of Times Each Day?

Jesus did not give His disciples a fixed number of daily prayer sessions in Matthew 6 or Luke 11. He taught them how to pray and encouraged them to continue praying without losing heart (Luke 18:1).

The Gospels show Jesus praying at different times, including in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36–44). These accounts reveal how important prayer was in His life, but they do not establish a numerical schedule that every believer must follow.

Christians may choose regular times for prayer, whether in the morning, during the day, or before going to bed. The important thing is not reaching a required number. It is developing a sincere and continuing relationship with the Father.

How Can We Apply Jesus’ Teaching About Prayer Today?

Jesus’ teaching becomes practical when we bring its priorities into the situations we face each day.

Imagine that you need to make a difficult decision about work or family. Instead of beginning and ending your prayer with a request for the outcome you want, you could first acknowledge God’s wisdom and ask that His will guide your choice. Then you could explain the situation honestly, ask for the help you need, and seek the strength to act with integrity.

The same pattern applies when you have hurt someone, when another person has hurt you, or when you are struggling with temptation. You can ask God for forgiveness, seek help to forgive without ignoring necessary boundaries, and ask for strength to choose what is right.

When an answer seems delayed, Jesus’ teaching about persistence encourages you to keep praying. You do not need to pretend that waiting is easy. You can bring your disappointment to God while continuing to trust His goodness.

The Lord’s Prayer is a model that helps shape what we bring before God. It is not a performance or a formula that guarantees a particular result. Jesus calls His followers to honor the Father, depend on Him, and bring every part of life before Him.

For more practical guidance on building a consistent prayer life, read our guide on how to pray effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions About How Jesus Taught Us to Pray

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV).