Can We Pray to Jesus? Learning from the Psalms

Keep the Father's place clear

When Jesus teaches prayer in Matthew 6:9–13, He begins with our Father in heaven. He directs attention to the Father's name, kingdom, and will. We also hear Jesus praying to the Father in John 17 and submitting to Him in the garden. Those passages give us a clear reason to pray to the Father. We are following the Lord's own teaching and example. Anyone who prays that way can do so with confidence that Scripture has given us a good and faithful pattern.

In John 16:23–24, Jesus speaks of asking the Father in His name. His name means more than a phrase we attach at the end. We approach the Father through the Son and depend on what He has done for us. Keep that truth in view as we study. The question is whether Scripture also records faithful appeals made directly to Jesus. We can appreciate the pattern He taught while giving a careful hearing to the other passages God has placed in the New Testament.

Hear Stephen's appeal to the risen Lord

Acts 7:59 gives us Stephen's dying appeal to the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit. We do not have to guess whom he is addressing. Jesus is named. In the next verse, Stephen asks the Lord not to hold the sin against those killing him. The context strongly connects the two requests, though Jesus' name is not repeated in the second. The first appeal alone deserves our attention. Here is a faithful servant entrusting himself to the risen Savior as his life on earth ends.

Stephen had seen the heavenly vision described earlier in the chapter. That was an extraordinary circumstance, and it is fair to acknowledge it. Still, the request he makes helps us understand his trust in Jesus. We should be slow to dismiss his words simply because his circumstances differ from ours. At the very least, this passage keeps us from calling every direct appeal to the Son inherently disrespectful to the Father. Stephen's appeal honors the authority of Jesus and expresses his dependence on Him.

Read the other passages too

Revelation 22:20 closes with an appeal for the Lord Jesus to come. Again, the person addressed is clear. This is the church's hope expressed directly to the Savior. First Corinthians 1:2 also describes Christians as those who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. We should take those words seriously without asking them to answer every possible question about prayer. Together with Stephen's words, they give us good reason to study what it means to call upon and honor the risen Son.

Second Corinthians 12:8–9 is another passage worth considering. Paul asks the Lord three times about his thorn, and the answer leads him to speak about Christ's power resting on him. That makes an appeal to Christ a strong reading of the context. The request uses the title Lord rather than explicitly naming Jesus, so we should be clear about that difference. Careful study does not need to make every passage equally direct. We can let each one contribute what it actually says.

Let Hebrews guide your reading of Psalm 45

Now turn to Psalm 45. It is a royal wedding song, with a king, a reign, and a bride. That setting helps us understand what we are reading. Then Hebrews 1:8–9 quotes Psalm 45:6–7 and applies it to the Son. We are given a clear New Testament reason to see Christ in the words about the throne, the righteous scepter, and the anointing. We can follow that connection with confidence because the writer of Hebrews makes it for us.

The psalm's words address the royal figure and also speak of God who anoints him. Hebrews uses them to show the Son's greatness. As we read with Christ in view, we can pause over His righteousness and His enduring reign. Those truths ought to deepen our reverence. We should also let the passage do the work it was given to do. Hebrews establishes a connection to the Son; it does not turn every detail of the wedding song into a separate instruction about how Christians must pray.

Let your study deepen your praise

Finding Jesus in Scripture ought to help us honor Him more. When we see His righteous rule, we have reason to thank the Father and praise the Son. Many of the songs Christians sing speak directly to Jesus. That makes it worthwhile to examine how we think about spoken praise as well. Have we reached our conclusion by reading Scripture carefully, or have we mostly followed what feels familiar? That is a question we can ask with humility and with a Bible open.

It also helps to listen to the concern someone is actually expressing. A person may gladly praise Jesus while still having questions about directing particular requests to Him. Another may see Stephen's appeal and Revelation's closing words as sufficient examples. We can study those differences without questioning one another's love for the Lord. The point is to submit our words to what God has revealed. Patient discussion should lead us toward greater reverence and understanding, with room for honest questions along the way.

Be considerate as you practice what you believe

When we lead public prayer, other worshipers are participating too. We should care whether they understand the words and can honestly join them. That gives us reason to teach and discuss a significant question with patience. We can continue following clear biblical patterns while studying other examples carefully. Respect for conscience need not close the discussion, and a desire to teach need not become pressure. We want the congregation to grow in understanding and honor God together.

If this question is new to you, begin by reading the passages rather than deciding which side you need to defend. Put Matthew 6, Acts 7, and Revelation 22 beside one another. Write down whom each passage addresses and what is said. Then read the surrounding context. If you discuss the question with someone, ask which text they find clearest and why. Listening carefully to their answer may help both of you see what still needs study. A patient method can keep a sincere question from becoming an unnecessary quarrel.

We can read these passages carefully and still reach different conclusions about the wording of our prayers. We should be honest about that and gentle with one another. Read the examples in context, keep following the pattern Jesus taught, and give serious attention to the New Testament's words about the Son. Let your study lead to greater reverence for Jesus and love for the Father. Careful conviction should make our conversations more patient, not more combative.