When we are praying, do we pray directly to God or through Jesus? [Spirituality & Religion]
When Christ died on the cross and the curtain was torn that separated the people from the Most Holy Place in the temple, this indicated that man no longer needed to approach God through priests and through repetitive sacrifices. It is in Christ that we have a perfect sacrifice, and it was paid once, and in full! Just as it says in Hebrews 10:12-14:
“12 But when Christ had offered for all time, a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, for by a single offering he has perfected for all time, those who are being sanctified.”
Jesus became our high priest before God, always making intercession for us. It is because of this, Jesus’ sacrifice, that the New Covenant was ushered in (Luke 22:20) and we now no longer depend on earthly priests to come before God [u]for[/u] us, but through Christ, we may directly and boldly approach God’s throne with our prayers. Again in Hebrews 7:24-27 it says:
24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost, those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
So as to the original question, “When we are praying, do we pray directly to God or through Jesus?” Again, the answer is yes, we pray directly to God the Father because that is what Jesus taught us to do, as born-again believers. If we have yet to commit to Jesus, we pray to Jesus to forgive us of our sins, because He is our High Priest who has given us direct access to God the Father by His sacrifice, and He is now interceding on our behalf before the Father. So when it comes to praying, Hebrews 4:14-15 says it best:
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
As Christians, we pray to God our Father because He is the provider of all good things (James 1:17; Matthew 7:7-11), and we pray in Jesus’ name because He is the one who makes it possible to approach God, because His blood has covered our sins.
“12 But when Christ had offered for all time, a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, for by a single offering he has perfected for all time, those who are being sanctified.”
Jesus became our high priest before God, always making intercession for us. It is because of this, Jesus’ sacrifice, that the New Covenant was ushered in (Luke 22:20) and we now no longer depend on earthly priests to come before God [u]for[/u] us, but through Christ, we may directly and boldly approach God’s throne with our prayers. Again in Hebrews 7:24-27 it says:
24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost, those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
So as to the original question, “When we are praying, do we pray directly to God or through Jesus?” Again, the answer is yes, we pray directly to God the Father because that is what Jesus taught us to do, as born-again believers. If we have yet to commit to Jesus, we pray to Jesus to forgive us of our sins, because He is our High Priest who has given us direct access to God the Father by His sacrifice, and He is now interceding on our behalf before the Father. So when it comes to praying, Hebrews 4:14-15 says it best:
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
As Christians, we pray to God our Father because He is the provider of all good things (James 1:17; Matthew 7:7-11), and we pray in Jesus’ name because He is the one who makes it possible to approach God, because His blood has covered our sins.
