Jesus & Prayer in the Gospel of Luke

By Gregory Vigliotta. A brief review of Daniel Harrington, SJ book Jesus and Prayer.

Jesus and Prayer in the Gospel of Luke

In his life and ministry, Jesus offered and modeled a practice of prayer as a means of maintaining his intimate relationship with God.  New Testament scholar Daniel J. Harrington, SJ describes in his book Jesus and Prayer how Jesus’ practice of prayer was deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition and the context of first century A.D. 

Fr. Harrington writes: “His direct address to God, his praise of God’s work in creation and salvation history, and his emphasis on the prayer of petition were-and-are major elements in the Jewish prayer tradition.” * Harrington explains that observant male Jews around Jesus time would have been familiar with the routine of praying the Eighteen Benedictions daily that were recited only by observant male Jews.  

Fr. Harrington also notes in his book how the theme of prayer is woven throughout Luke’s Gospel.  Luke presents Jesus praying at crucial points in his life and highlights for us, with Jesus as our model, the importance of prayer as part of the rhythm of our lives and the necessity of setting aside time and space for prayer. 

Jesus's Praying as reported in the Gospel of Luke

Baptism of Jesus: Jesus is first seen praying at his baptism, which was an event that marked the beginning of his ministry. (3:21) 

Jesus Departs: Jesus departed to a mountain and spent an entire night in prayer before choosing his apostles (6:12). 

Peter's Messianic Confession: Before Peter’s messianic confession, Jesus was in solitude praying (9:18). 

Jesus in Deserted Places: Luke directly states that it was a norm for Jesus to go away to deserted places to pray (5:16). 

Transfiguration: Jesus took Peter, James, and John to be with him; and they witnessed a transfiguration of him while he was praying on a mountain (9:29). 

Teachings on Prayer:

Our Father: Jesus gives us a model of prayer (11:1-4)

Persistence: Instructions on persistence in prayer (11:5-13)

Humility: Instructions on humility in prayer (18:9-14). 

Before Jesus' Arrest : Then before Jesus was arrested, “he went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives” to pray (22:39-46). 

During Jesus' Crucifixion: Even at Jesus’ death, he prayed for those who were responsible for killing him (23:34). 

Since Jesus is the way to God and since Jesus lived a life in which prayer was central to every aspect of his missionary journey, so too Christians are to find within life spaces for contemplation, to move apart from the crowd and be alone with God.

"When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins

for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us,

and do not subject us to the final test" (Luke 11:2-4)

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*Daniel J. Harrington, SJ. Jesus and Prayer: What the New Testament Teaches Us (Maryland: The Word Among Us, 2009), 31