Question
What does Jesus mean when, in Luke’s account of the Lord’s Prayer, we read, “And he said to them, ‘When you pray…’”?
Jesus assures the hypocrites that God hears and answers prayer.
Jesus directs the disciples to ask the hypocrites to pray for them.
Jesus relieves the disciples of the need to pray.
Jesus teaches the disciples God only answers the Lord’s Prayer.
Jesus assumes his disciples pray.
Jesus assures the hypocrites that God hears and answers prayer.
Jesus directs the disciples to ask the hypocrites to pray for them.
Jesus relieves the disciples of the need to pray.
Jesus teaches the disciples God only answers the Lord’s Prayer.
Jesus assumes his disciples pray.
Answers
GPT-5 mini
Jesus assumes his disciples pray.
Context (Luke 11:1–4): the disciples ask, “Lord, teach us to pray,” and Jesus replies, “When you pray…” The Greek (Ὅταν προσεύχησθε) is best rendered “whenever you pray,” showing he takes their praying for granted and is giving instruction and an example, not excusing them from prayer or limiting answers to this formula.
Context (Luke 11:1–4): the disciples ask, “Lord, teach us to pray,” and Jesus replies, “When you pray…” The Greek (Ὅταν προσεύχησθε) is best rendered “whenever you pray,” showing he takes their praying for granted and is giving instruction and an example, not excusing them from prayer or limiting answers to this formula.