Please note that all Biblical quotes, in this and all other lessons posted to Greek Thoughts, are from The Literal English Translation of the Bible produced by BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America.
We are continuing with our study of the word προσεὺχομαι (Strong's #4336, pronounced prō'sūk-ō-mī**), which means "to pray." It is a word compounded from the preposition pro/v (Strong's #4314, pronounced prōs**) meaning "to" or "toward," and the word εὔχομαι (Strong's #2172, pronounced ū' kō-mī**) meaning "to wish, to desire." It would seem that the combination of these two words gives us an understanding of prayer; that it is a simple expression of one's desires to God. However, this general description is not as simple as it appears to be, since it is necessary to define, biblically, the kind of desires that, when expressed to God in prayer, He guarantees to answer. This has been the focus of several parts of this study and we continue in it this week.
In the past eight parts of this study on προσεὺχομαι, we have learned that God's answer to prayer is only guaranteed when the believer's underlying wish and desire in prayer is for the Lord's will to be done. We saw this principle revealed in 1 John 5:14-15. In James 4:1-4, we saw the same principle again, but with the additional understanding that those praying to fulfill their own hedonistic desires will not receive an answer; because they have set their desires on the things of this world and are actually committing spiritual adultery positioning themselves as enemies of God. We also learned, from James 1:5-8, that a double-minded person is one who asks God for wisdom but does not ask in faithtrusting the Lord through trials in order to gain His wisdomwith the focus again being on the wish or desire underlying the person's prayer. Additionally, in these same verses (1:5-8), James added to our understanding by revealing that one must ask in faith, believing that the Lord's will is being done in response to prayer.
Teachings on prayer, whether penned by Paul, James or John, originate from the Lord's teaching on prayer, as recorded in the Gospels. Therefore, we turned our attention from the teachings of His disciples to the Lord's own teaching on προσεὺχομαι. We studied John 14:12-14 and John 15:5-7, as well as in the Lord's prayer to the Father just prior to His crucifixion, as recorded in Matthew 26:36-43. In John 14:13 Jesus said, "And whatever you should ask in My name, this I will do, in order that the Father may be glorified in the Son." From this we understood that we are to pray in His name and that when one functions "in" the name of another, he/she moves in representation of the purposes and plan of that person under whose name he/she is functioning. Therefore, Jesus' promise of response to prayer is reserved for those who pray in His name—desiring that His plan and purposes be done.
We found, in our study from John 15:7 (Jesus states, "If you should abide in Me, and My words should abide in you, whatever you should desire you will ask, and it will happen to you." ) that God only guarantees an answer to prayer when it is expressed under the influence of God's Spirit and His Word; so that the prayer is in accordance with the words of Christ.
We also studied examples of the Lord's teaching on προσεὺχομαι, from Matthew 26:36-43. These prayers, expressed by Jesus just before He went to the cross, are some of the most intense prayers ever recorded. From them we gained great insight into the struggle between the flesh and the spirit. In Matthew 26:39 Jesus stated, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." When Jesus prays He expresses His desire (if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me), but He concludes in acquiescence to the Father ("…nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.") Put into words we can readily understand, Jesus is saying that if He must endure this suffering, then His desire is that the Father's will be done.
This week we begin a three-part study from Matthew 6:5-14 on the Lord's teaching about prayer. We will first consider the place for prayer (verses 5,6), then the purpose for prayer (verses 7,8), and lastly, the principles of prayer (verses 9-13).
Matthew 6:5-6: The Place for Prayer
At the beginning of His discourse on prayer, the Lord emphasizes the place where people are to pray. He points out that His disciples "will not be just as the hypocrites." It is interesting to note that in the Greek text, Jesus did not say that those who follow Him "should not be as the hypocrites," but made the factual statement: "you will not be…" The Greek word translated "hypocrites" is ὑποκριτὴς (Strong's #5273, pronounced hü pō crē tāys**), which is actually a theatrical term meaning, "to answer according to the script." It is the Greek word for someone who is acting in a play and refers to the type of person a believer is not to be (the Bible presents that only non-believers act according to the script). There are, however, seemingly religious people who emphasize the outward appearance and ritual. Jesus states that such ones are hypocrites, fond of standing in the synagogues and on the street corners of the square praying so that people might see them and respond to them with awe because of their appearance of spirituality. Jesus said that these people have their reward in full. There is no reward from God for such people.
After telling His disciples what they would not be, He tells them the proper place for prayer. He tells them to "…enter into your private room, and after having shut the door, pray to your Father in secret." There are three phrases of emphasis here; private room, shut the door, and in secret. Jesus states that prayer should not be for others to see, but is for a private time of communication between a disciple and (in keeping with our text) the Father. Simply put, prayer is not for putting on an outward appearance, but is for private times of intimate relationship with God. The promise for the one who prays in this way is God's answer to his/ her prayer, in full and seen openly.
Next week, we will continue to examine Jesus' teaching on prayer as we study the purpose for prayer from Matthew 6:7-8.
* PROSEUCHOMAI is the English font spelling of the Greek word προσεὺχομαι.
**English pronunciation guide for Greek words: āle; ăm; ēve; ĕnd; īce; ǐll; ōld; ǒdd; ūse; ŭp
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Bill Klein has been a pastor, counselor, and educator for the past 41 years. He has had extensive training and education in biblical languages, and has authored a Biblical Greek course.
He is currently serving as Professor of Biblical Greek at Master's Graduate School of Divinity, and president of BTE Ministries - The Bible Translation and Exegesis Institute of America, a non-profit organization located in California that provides Bible study tapes and Greek study materials through their website BTEMinistries.org.