Primary Bible Scripture for Study:

Matthew 26:36—46 (ESV)

36 Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” 37 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” 39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” 40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”42 Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44 So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. 45 Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep and take your rest later on. See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

Study and Reflection Questions:

In Keller’s book, Prayer, chapter 9 summarizes and distills the individual principles of the great Christian teachers: Luther, Augustine, and Calvin. The questions and reflections that follow are specifically drawn from the subsection “Where Prayer Takes Us” (pg. 134—140) in chapter 9 of Keller’s book.

Where Prayer Take Us: Self-Knowledge and Honesty

Where in the Matthew 26 passage above do you observe Jesus exposing to God his most intimate and honest feelings? When you pray do you talk to God about the things you really fear most; do you share the temptations and sins that you are still weak against; do you confess the mistakes you have made that you haven’t been able to tell anyone else?

In prayer do you sometimes “hold back” in your intimacy with God? Discuss how praying with total and complete transparency to God would strengthen your relationship with Him. Does absolute honesty with God sound like freedom or does it sound a little scary? Why?

Where Prayer Take Us: Trust and Hope

Where in the Matthew 26 passage above do you observe Jesus expressing his trust in the Father? What does Jesus ask of God?  

In both Matthew’s account and Mark’s account (Mark 14:32-42) Jesus prays the same thing three times during the evening. Why do you think this is significant?

What is your response or reaction when you feel that your prayers are not answered in the way you had hoped? Have you ever avoided prayer because you were afraid of the answer you might get?

Where Prayer Take Us: Surrender

What parts of the Matthew 26 passage above are evidence of Jesus surrendering to God? What do you think the difference is between trusting in God verses surrendering your life to God? During seasons of increased prayer have you found yourself in places and situations that you never would have imagined or dreamed? Share.

If you are comfortable, share a time when prayer has proven to be the most powerful resource in your life. Perhaps it got you though a terribly difficult experience? Perhaps it led to a life-changing event? Maybe it changed the life of someone very close to you?