Jesus On Prayers

JESUS ON PRAYERS

(From the Gospel of Barnabas)

Prophet Jesus, the son of Mary, told his disciples how to pray to God. Here is an excerpt from the Bible (the Gospel of Barnabas), Chapters 36-37:

‘Then Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, that he who makes not prayer, is more wicked than Satan, and shall suffer greater torments.”

‘Even as of such spoke the prophet David: “The fool has said in his heart, there is no God. Therefore are they corrupt and become abominable, without one of them doing good.”

“Make prayer unceasingly, O my disciples, in order that you may receive. For he who seeks finds, and he who knocks to him it is opened, and he who asks receives. And in your prayer do not look to much speaking, for God looks on the heart; as he said through Solomon: “O my servant, give me your heart.”

‘Truly I say to you, that very few make true prayer, and therefore Satan has power over them, because God wills not those who honour him with their lips; who in the Temple ask (with) their lips for mercy, and their heart cries out for justice. Even as he says to Isaiah the prophet, saying: “Take away this people that is irksome to me, because with their lips they honour me, but their heart is far from me.” Truly I say to you, that he that goes to make prayer without consideration mocks God.’

‘… Yet no less does the man who goes to make prayer and prepares not himself. He turns his back to God and his face to Satan, and speaks well of him. For in his heart is the love of iniquity, whereof he has not repented. If one, having injured you, should with his lips say to you, “Forgive me”, and with his hands should strike you a blow, how would you  forgive  him?  Even so

shall God have mercy on those who with their lips say: “Lord, have mercy on us”, and with their heart love iniquity and think on fresh sins.’

‘The disciples wept at the words of Jesus and besought him, saying: “Lord, teach us to make prayer.” Jesus answered: “Consider what you would do if the Roman governor seized you to put you to death, and that same do you when you go to make prayer. And let your words be these:

“O Lord our God, hallowed be your holy name, your kingdom come in us, your will be done always, and as it is done in heaven so be it done in earth; give us the bread for every day, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive them that sin against us, and suffer us not to fall into temptations, but deliver us from evil, for you are alone our God, to whom pertains glory and honour for ever.”   

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“And it is certain that without faith it is impossible for any one to please God.” --- (Jesus Christ).

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“Woe to that man through whom the offence comes. It were better for the man if he should have millstone about his neck and should be sunk in the depths of the sea than that he should offend his neighbor.” --- (Jesus Christ).

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