This article is part of a series, Pray like Jesus, on ways Jesus teaches us how to pray to our heavenly Father. Keep an eye out for related articles.
During His sojourn on earth, Jesus often prayed with words and verses from the Scriptures that were available to Him during those days.
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Jesus prayed Scripture in the wilderness
When tempted by Satan in the Judean wilderness — after His baptism and before He entered public ministry — Jesus responded by quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16 and 6:13. These verses rebuked Satan and may have served as bold spoken prayers, strengthening Jesus in His physical weakness and hunger.
Jesus prayed Scripture in Gethsemane
In the garden before His arrest and trial, Jesus prayed from the psalms, saying: ‘“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.’ … Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will’” (Matt. 26:38, 39).
These are words similar to those found in Psalm 42:5–6, which was often prayed during a time of deep spiritual despair and intense yearning for God. The psalm was most likely written by the sons of Korah, who were Levites and temple musicians, as referenced in 1 Chronicles 6:31–38. “They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem” (vs. 32).
Jesus prayed Scripture from the cross
As Jesus hung on the cross suffering the extreme pain and shame of Roman crucifixion, He prayed, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” from David’s Psalm 22:1 (Matt. 27:46).
With His final breath, Jesus prayed from Psalm 31:5: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46).
Jesus gave thanks with Scripture
When Jesus fed the 5,000 hungry people, He looked up to heaven, gave thanks to God, broke the loaves and gave them to His disciples to share with the people (Matt. 14:19).
Many believe that when Jesus gave thanks, He likely used the traditional Hebrew blessing prayers based on popular passages from the psalms, such as, “Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth” (Ps. 104:14).
Psalm 104, a creation psalm that honors God’s gift of food, became a popular choice to use for prayers of thanksgiving.
Jesus sang the Hallel Psalms after the Last Supper
Before Jesus and His disciples walked to the Mount of Olives but after celebrating the Last Supper, they prayed by singing Psalms 113–118 — the Hallel Psalms.
— “The Lord is my strength and my defense; He has become my salvation” (Ps. 118:14).
— “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24).
“Hallel” means “praise,” and these prayer songs were a traditional part of Passover and were often sung and recited during Jewish festivals and holy days. We still sing them today, especially on Palm Sunday and Easter.
Jesus prayed and read from Isaiah in the synagogue
When reading in the synagogue in Luke 4:18–19, Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1–2: “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me … to proclaim good news to the poor.” These verses, like a personal prayer, defined and fulfilled His divine calling and mission.
Others throughout history have also prayed the Scriptures
— While hiding from persecution at Wartburg Castle, German reformer and theologian Martin Luther (1483-1546) prayed from Psalm 46 for strength. Psalm 46 inspired his famous hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”
— Imprisoned in the Nazis’s Ravensbrück concentration camp during World War II and enduring starvation and cruelty, Corrie ten Boom (1892–1983) and her sister Betsie prayed a Scripture of hope: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Rom. 8:35).
— While imprisoned by the Nazis in World War II and facing execution, German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945) prayed Psalm 119:105: “Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Another favorite was Psalm 27:1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom shall I fear?”
Suggestions
When you pray personally:
Jesus often prayed using words and quoting verses from the Scriptures. In your personal prayers, follow Jesus’ example, praying the Scriptures in your times of fear and loneliness, sorrow and suffering and joy and thanksgiving.
When the Church prays:
As a church, incorporate Scripture into your community prayers, instructing your members how to pray the Scriptures and teaching them the Scriptures as well.
The power of God’s Word
The writer of Hebrews reminds us, “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Heb. 4:12).
Scripture is not merely ancient writing. It is God-breathed truth that speaks with power and purpose today. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17).
As 21st-century Christians, we are blessed to have the complete Word of God — available and accessible. May we, like Jesus, treasure it, trust it and pray it. May it shape our thoughts, strengthen our faith and guide our lives.
The Scriptures in Jesus’ time
— The first five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. These were referred to as the “Law of Moses.”
— The Former Prophets: Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Samuel and 1 and 2 Kings.
— The Latter Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel.
— The 12 Minor Prophets: Hosea through Malachi. These were referred to as the Nevi’im Prophets.
— The Writings, known as the Ketuvim: Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah and 1 and 2 Chronicles.
Jesus used the same core Scriptures we use in the Old Testament today. The New Testament, of course, didn’t yet exist during Jesus’ lifetime.
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