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 directs the disciples to ask the hypocrites to pray for them.
Jesus teaches the disciples God only answers the Lord’s Prayer.
Jesus assumes his disciples pray.
Jesus relieves the disciples of the need to pray.
Jesus assures the hypocrites that God hears and answers prayer.

1 answer

In the context of Luke’s account of the Lord’s Prayer, when Jesus says, “When you pray...,” it indicates that Jesus assumes his disciples pray. This statement suggests that prayer is an expected practice for his followers. Rather than presenting it as an optional activity or a burden, Jesus provides guidance on how to pray, which implies that prayer is a natural and integral part of their relationship with God.