Can We Pray to Yeshua?

Introduction

Whilst the Bible has never attributed the word “pray” or “prayer” to Yeshua (Jesus), some Christians consider it appropriate to pray to Yeshua alongside the Father.

Others, however, find that this is not acceptable. Both sides of the argument have scriptures asserted to support these notions.

The Gospel Basis

Many make the case of it being permissible to pray to Yeshua on the basis of scriptures such as John 14:12-14, in which Yeshua says:

• “….I’m going to the Father now.… and thereafter, I’ll do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son can glorify the Father…. If you ask me for anything in my name, I will do it”.

Strangely enough however, if we read further along in scripture, he seemed to say the exact opposite when explained to his Disciples, that after he ascended, they would no longer ask Yeshua for anything, but instead were to ask the Father “directly” for all things in prayer in his name:

• ” Yeshua went on to say, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.’ At this, some of his disciples said to one another, ‘What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?’… In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete…. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf. No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father’.” – John 16:16-18, 23-24, 26-28

So what’s going on ?

It should be noted, that not all John 14 manuscripts contain the phrase “ask me”. This makes the statement in itself questionable in its authenticity.

Though many of the oldest Greek, Aramaic and Latin manuscripts we have contain the phrase “ask me”, it is possible that it was a very early corruption from a mistranslation.

For example, we do have other Greek manuscript variants where the phrase “ask me” is missing, though these texts are in a minority. And it is also missing from 15th century Hebrew manuscripts of John.

• “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it” – Hebrew Sepharad Manuscript

Though these specific Hebrew manuscripts are not as old as the manuscripts that do contain the phrase, the Van Rensburgs scholars of the Hebrew Gospels research team, have noted that these manuscripts cannot be copies of the Greek, Aramaic or Latin pedigrees of the Gopels, based on internal linguistic evidence, but on the other hand, there is evidence that the latter were mistranslations of the former.

“The Vat. Ebr. 100 manuscript…. Although it seems to be a translation from Catalan back into Hebrew, the manuscript is full of linguistic proofs showing that there is no way it could possibly be a derivative of the Greek, nor of Jerome’s Latin version, as some have claimed.

Thus the Catalan version it probably derived from, had to come from an authentic Hebrew manuscript. There are many instances in which the Greek gospels (which were later translated into Latin) could easily be a translation from a Hebrew manuscript similar to Vat. Ebr. 100, but impossible that this manuscript could originate from the Greek or Latin“. – Hebrew Gospels

Looking at the overall context of Yeshua’s commands to pray, and the passages in the Gospel of John overall in his instructions to his Disciples in regard to requests and the relationship between him and the Father, we also note that the main focus does indeed appear to focus on “asking God” and “glorifying God”, in Yeshua’s name, as opposed to asking Yeshua himself, but that he merely “acts” on God’s behalf and carries out his will, after we pray and petition to God. Yeshua’s main role being agent and mediator.

• “…no man comes to the Father, but by me. And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask [me] (spurious?) for anything in my name, I will do it. If you love me, keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, he will send another advocate… – John 14:6, 12-16
• “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done to you. Herein is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit …go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you”. – John 15:7-8, 16
• “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete…. In that day you will ask in my name. I am not saying that I will ask the Father on your behalf“. – John 16: 23-24, 26-28
• “Be anxious for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through [the] Anointed Yeshua… And my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by [the] Anointed Yeshua“. – Philippians 4:6-7, 19

We see here, a pattern that Yeshua keeps saying “ask the Father”, and then “in turn” he will act on behalf of the Father.

Meanwhile, asking Yeshua himself, “in his own name”, would appear to be somewhat nonsensical. Sincing asking in someone’s name means to “ask in the authority” or “representation of” that person. So in this sense, Yeshua would have been saying “ask me, in the name of myself representing me”, which is not a statement that makes any kind of sense, neither in context, nor language.

Thus, it seems apparent, along with the evidence that Yeshua saying “ask me” may not be authentic, that we are only ever told to pray to God the Father.

Accounts of Christians Praying to Yeshua in the New Testament?

Of course, Yeshua’s words aside (though we ought to bear in mind, Yeshua’s words trump all, even the words of the Apostles whenever there comes to be a contradiction – Galatians 1:8–10), we might try and point to other examples in scripture where it seems Christians made a practice of praying to Yeshua, and in turn he appears to answer.

Stephen’s Prayer to Yeshua

Some try to justify praying to Yeshua by pointing to Acts 7:59, where Stephen calls out to Yeshua before he dies due to seeing him in a vision (Acts 7:55).

Whilst the passage does show it is appropriate to ask Yeshua for the forgiveness of sins in his presence (Acts 7:60, John 5:22), it should however be noted that this was not an act of prayer, but was Stephen merely calling out to whom he saw at that moment to help him.

Whilst some Bibles will translate this verse to render the word “prayed”, the word for “praying” in Greek is “proseuchomai” (προσεύχομαι). The word used by Stephen was “epikaloumenon” (ἐπικαλούμενον) which is a general word simply meaning to “call out”, and is not ever used in reference to prayer.

In fact, the term “proseuchomai” or “prayer”, has never been used in the entirety of the holy scriptures when it comes to people communing with Yeshua, whether on Earth or in Heaven.

Hence, the account of Stephen calling out to Yeshua, cannot be used as a proof text of prayers to him being acceptable.

Paul’s Prayer to Yeshua

However, it could be strongly argued that one may pray to the Son Yeshua on the basis of Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9:

• “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of [the] Anointed may rest on me”.

The “Lord” here, can be argued to either be the Father, or the Son….

We see Paul pleads with “the Lord”, and in response, that Lord said “my power”… of which Paul then cited to be the “power of the Anointed”, implying that the speaker may have been Yeshua, therefore showing that Paul may have been praying or petitioning Yeshua directly.

Of course, one may also argue, that the Lord here is the Father, and that the “power of the Anointed” is the power of God, which is channelled “through” the anointed one (Christ) to his followers (John 14:10), which would be more consistent with Yeshua’s prior words to his disciples in the Gospels.

One could of course also claim that Paul was mistaken in praying directly to Yeshua, and therefore not to follow his example (Galatians 1:8-10, 2 Corinthians 13:5-7) in the same way that the Apostle John was mistaken in worshipping an angel (Revelation 22:9), but we should note that if this was Yeshua responding to Paul, he did not correct him in his apparent error.

Further, seeing that we do have manuscripts where Yeshua said that after he ascended, his followers could ask “him” of anything (John 14), and that we see Paul directly petition Yeshua, and getting a response from what appears to be Lord Yeshua… It is possible to assert that we’re seeing approved prayers to Yeshua here.

But if such is the case, then how does one explain Yeshua’s statement; “you will no longer ask me anything” at John 16?

We could reason that he may have just referred, not to prayer or petition in general, but to the specific context of the situation, that the Apostles would no longer be “confused” or ask questions on the specific topic about “seeing him no more” in relation to his ascension to the Father.

Or, one could make a claim that there may be a difference between “speaking” and “praying” to someone, even if both individuals are in Heaven, and if so, it is possibly why the term “prayer” is never used of communication with Yeshua in scripture, even though Christians in the New Testament did indeed speak to and petition him. One might argue that the act of “praying” by definition might additionally evoke intent of worship and devotion to one as a deity… in which case the difference between “praying” and “speaking” to both God and Yeshua, becomes one of semantics and intent, as opposed to just the act of talking in of itself.

However… this all presumes that Paul was indeed “praying” or “communing” to Yeshua, again we must make note that no such term is used.

Some believe, that Paul may have been referring to the experiences of visions, in like manner to which he had on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:3-9), for we are not given any details of just what or when these “pleadings” were, or in what context, and with an absence of the term “prayer” here, it becomes very questionable if we can in fact claim that is happening here.

Prayers to Yeshua in Reveation

Another account used to argue for prayers to Yeshua being acceptable, is in the book of Revelation 5:7-10:

• “Then [the lamb] went right up and took [the scroll] from the right hand of the One who was sitting on the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four cherubs and the 24 elders (each of whom held harps and golden bowls that were filled with the incense that symbolizes the prayers of the Holy Ones) fell down in front of him and they sang a new song, which went [like this]; ‘You’re the only one who’s worthy, to receive the scroll and open it’s seals .For, you’re the one who was slaughtered, to buy a people for God with your blood. From every tribe, language, country, and race, That will serve as Kings and Priests of our God, and to rule as Kings on the earth.’”.

We see here, cherubs in Heaven appear to approach Yeshua, the lamb, with bowls of incense which represent prayers. These prayers appear to be expressed in song, which sound as if they are in direct praise of Yeshua.

This might be a very strong line of evidence to argue that Yeshua also receives prayer..

Of course, on the other hand, we should note the cherubs are first before God at his throne in Revelation 4:9-11:

• “Then, as the creatures were giving glory, honor, and thanks to the One who was sitting on the throne (the One who lives throughout the ages of ages), the 24 elders fell down before Him and bowed to their faces.Then they threw their garlands in front of His throne, and said:‘You, the Lord and our God, deserve all the glory, honor, and power, because You created everything… Yes, everything was created and exists because You willed it to be!“.

This is an interesting detail, because we should also take careful note that it’s the cherubs, not Yeshua, who first have the prayers in bowls, to then “give to the lamb”. Thus, if we were to use this passage of scripture to prove Yeshua directly receives prayer, we also need to ask the question, where did the cherubs gets the prayers from to give to Yeshua?

Since we are not told to pray to angels, it makes little sense to claim they are mediators of prayer who send such messages up to Yeshua on our behalf, and this would contradict Yeshua’s statement in the book of John. Therefore, we might argue it’s possible that the cherubs had received these prayers from God himself at his throne, to then give to Yeshua to act on his behalf, which would fall in line with the things Yeshua said to his followers when on Earth.

If look further in Revelation, we see in 8:3-4, a similar scenario with God:

• “And at that, another messenger arrived that was carrying a gold incense bowl. So he stopped in front of the Altar and he was given a large quantity of incense that was to be offered on the gold Altar that was in front of the throne, along with the prayers of all the Holy Ones. The smoke from the incense that was being offered by the messenger thereafter kept arising before God along with the prayers of the Holy Ones“.

If then prayers to God are being symbolised by cherubs offering God incense, then we might make the same argument for the lamb.

It is also to be noted that these prayers sound very “direct” to the lamb in chapter 5, that much is true. So one might argue on that basis that the cherbus who receive and give the bowls are merely symbols of Yeshua receiving our prayers, just as it is with God, so we may have a direct comparison here.

However, at the same time, we should note the angel in chapter 8 is being “given incense”, and we have to again ask “who” is giving that angel incense to burn before God. If it is God himself giving the incense at the throne which the angels stand before (Revelation 8:2), then it means God is the direct holder of prayer, who gives it to others to then offer on the altar, of which the high priest, Yeshua, stands upon (Hebrews 4:14).

In this respect, we can argue that Yeshua receives prayers of incense, by means of God who pours it into the bowls of the angels, to hand over to Yeshua the high priest to burn as an offering of smoke on the altar, which very much falls in line Yeshua’s words that we have “direct” communication with the Father, through means of Yeshua acting as our mediator and sanctifying our prayers before him.

Conclusion

We see that there are strong arguments both for and against the notion of praying or talking to Yeshua, each Christian should carefully and prayerfully (ironically) consider these all verses and make up their own mind based upon their conscience on whether they feel it is appropriate to pray, or speak to Yeshua along with the Father or not.

We should bear in mind, Yeshua’s direct commands.

• “….So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one”. – Matthew 6:9-13

On the overall evidence, it would appear to me, that prayer is to be directed to God the Father. However, this need not take away our praise and honour of the Son. We recognise and take heed of his kingly position over us, and the things he did for us.

In our prayers to God, not only may we praise our Father, but may we also request to God that our Lord and Saviour, Yeshua the Anointed, know that he has our honour, submission, thanks and respect. But all things in their respective order (1 Corinthians 11:3).

“But I want you to realize that the head of every man is [the] Anointed [One], and the head of the woman is man, and the head of [the] Anointed [One] is God…. everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him… But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Yeshua [the] Anointed. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen”.
1 Corinthians 11:3, John 5:23, 2 Peter 3:18