Congregation Bible Study (30 mins.) lfb lessons 82, 83.
Analysis of Lesson 82: Jesus teaches his disciples to pray
What did Jesus say to teach his disciples how to pray?
Jesus taught his disciples that they should not pray like the Pharisees, who prayed to impress others by using many words and repeating prayers. He explained that prayer is a personal communication between Jehovah and each of us, and that we should express to him what we truly feel.
He also gave them a model prayer, saying, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” He further taught that one can pray for daily needs, forgiveness of sins, and other things in life.
Finally, he told them that they should pray with constancy and confidence, certain that Jehovah, like a loving father who wants to give good things to his children, will give us his holy spirit if we ask him.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jesus taught that prayer should be sincere, humble, and without seeking the approval of others. He explained that it is not about repeating words, but about speaking to Jehovah from the heart. He also gave a model showing what to include in prayer, such as honoring God, asking for his will, and speaking about our needs. Furthermore, he encouraged us to be persistent and to trust that Jehovah hears and answers.
Matthew 6:5, 6 shows that Jesus rejected the custom of praying to be seen by others and taught that prayer should be done in private. This helps us to reflect on our intentions when we pray. It reminds us that we are not trying to impress anyone, but rather to strengthen our personal relationship with Jehovah by speaking to him with sincerity and confidence.
Matthew 6:7, 8 teaches that it is not necessary to use many words or repeat phrases mindlessly. Jesus made it clear that Jehovah already knows what we need, but he still wants us to express it to him. This encourages us to pray more naturally, truly communicating our feelings, rather than saying things out of habit.
Matthew 6:9-13 presents a balanced model of prayer. It focuses first on Jehovah, his name, and his will, and then on our needs. This teaches us not to focus solely on ourselves, but to prioritize spiritual matters without neglecting our daily concerns.
Matthew 7:7-11 highlights the importance of perseverance and trust in prayer. Jesus compares Jehovah to a loving father who wants to give good things to his children. This helps us to trust that our prayers are not ignored, but that Jehovah answers in the best way and at the right time.
When you pray, do you talk to Jehovah about things that are important to you?
When I pray, I talk to Jehovah about the things that are important to me, sincerely expressing how I feel. Just as Jesus taught, it's not about repeating words, but about offering a personal prayer in which I can ask him for my needs, forgiveness for my sins, and his help in my life.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Yes. When we pray, we should talk to Jehovah about what really matters to us, sincerely expressing our concerns, needs, and feelings. He wants us to open our hearts to him because he cares about us and wants to help us in every aspect of our lives.
Matthew 6:6 teaches that prayer is private and personal. This gives us confidence to speak to Jehovah with complete sincerity, without needing to pretend. We can tell him how we feel, even our deepest concerns, knowing that he listens to us with interest and understanding.
Matthew 6:11, 12 shows that Jesus included requests concerning daily needs and forgiveness. This teaches us that Jehovah wants us to talk to him about everything, both material and spiritual. No matter is too small or too big to include in our prayers.
Matthew 7:7 highlights the importance of being persistent in praying. It is not about repeating ourselves for the sake of repeating ourselves, but about demonstrating that we trust in Jehovah and depend on him. This encourages us to keep praying even when we do not see an immediate answer.
Luke 11:13 highlights that Jehovah gives holy spirit to those who ask him. This shows that he not only hears our prayers but also answers them generously and wisely. It motivates us to ask for his help in faith, confident that he will give us what we truly need to do what is right.
What does this account teach us about Jehovah?
This account teaches us that Jehovah is a loving, close, and generous Father who wants to give us good things, listens to our sincere prayers, and gives us his holy spirit if we ask for it. He is not impressed by repeated words or appearances, but values when we tell him how we truly feel.
What practical lessons can we learn?
We learn that we should pray with humility and sincerity, not trying to impress others, but expressing what we truly feel. We should also pray consistently, asking for our needs, forgiveness of our sins, and Jehovah's guidance, trusting that he hears us and, like a loving father, will give us what we need if we ask him.
Analysis of Lesson 83: Jesus Feeds Thousands of People
How did Jesus show that he cared about people?
Jesus showed his concern for people by treating them with kindness, healing the sick, and teaching them many things, speaking to them about the Kingdom of God. In addition to focusing on meeting their spiritual needs, he also cared for their physical needs, such as food, and performed the miracle of multiplying the loaves and fishes so that everyone could eat their fill. This demonstrates his compassion, love, and desire to help people.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jesus showed concern for people by being compassionate, spending time with them—even when he was tired—teaching them, healing the sick, and caring for their needs, even miraculously feeding them. He also organized everything so that they were comfortable and nothing was wasted.
Matthew 14 shows that, although Jesus wanted to rest, upon seeing the crowd he felt compassion and began to heal the sick. This demonstrates that he was not only thinking of his own tiredness, but that he put the needs of others first, reflecting a genuine love for people.
Luke 9:11 indicates that Jesus not only attended to their physical needs but also taught them about the Kingdom of God. This reveals that his concern was comprehensive. He wanted to help them both spiritually and physically, prioritizing what would truly benefit them in the long run.
John 6:5-13 shows how Jesus cared about feeding the multitude, even when it seemed impossible. By multiplying the food, he demonstrated that he was attentive to people’s basic needs and that he trusted in Jehovah’s power to provide for them.
Luke 9:14-16 teaches that Jesus organized the people into groups and distributed the food in an orderly fashion. This reflects that his interest was not superficial, but rather that he cared for the well-being of everyone, ensuring that they received adequate and sufficient attention.
What does that teach us about Jehovah?
This teaches us that, since Jesus perfectly reflects his Father's personality, it shows us that Jehovah is a loving, compassionate, and generous God who cares about people's needs. He is concerned not only with spiritual needs but also with physical ones, and he can provide what is needed at the right time.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It teaches us that Jehovah is loving, compassionate, and deeply interested in people's needs. He not only provides what is necessary, but he also cares about our spiritual well-being and listens to our needs.
John 6:11 shows that Jesus gave thanks before distributing the food, acknowledging that everything came from Jehovah. This teaches us that Jehovah provides what we need and that we can trust in his loving care.
John 6:12 highlights that what was left over was gathered up so that nothing would be wasted. This reflects that Jehovah not only provides but also values the good use of what he gives, teaching us to be grateful and responsible with his blessings.
John 6:27 teaches that there is something more important than physical food: spiritual food that leads to everlasting life. This helps us to understand that Jehovah is even more interested in our spiritual well-being than in our material well-being.
Matthew 14:23 shows that Jesus sought time to pray alone, even after a very busy day. This reflects his close relationship with Jehovah and teaches us that he is always available to listen to us, no matter how busy we are.
What does this account teach us about Jehovah?
This account teaches us that Jehovah is a loving, compassionate, and generous God who cares deeply about people and their needs. Through Jesus, we see that he cares not only for our spiritual needs but also for our physical ones, and that he can provide abundantly at the right time. Moreover, he does everything with order, wisdom, and a clear purpose.
What practical lessons can we learn?
We learn that we should show genuine interest in others, lovingly help them, and care for both their spiritual and physical needs. We also learn to trust that Jehovah can provide what is necessary, to be organized, and not to waste what we have. Finally, we follow Jesus’ example by setting aside time for prayer, even when we are busy.
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