1912 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

of others would be perfectly proper, or praying in thepresence of others would be entirely right, and wherefasting might come to the knowledge of others withoutreproach.The point which the Great Teacher makes is themotive actuating us. If we are actuated by a selfishmotive, if we are seeking show and applause or earthlygain, the procedure cannot bring Divine approval or blessing--"Blessed are the pure in heart." We may be seento do good or to pray or to fast, but we are not to do ourcharities, our praying and our fasting to be seen. Ofsuch the Lord says, "They have received their reward"--nothing more is coming to them; they get the publicitysought.THE PRIVILEGE OF PRAYERPrayer is a privilege. Jesus did not command His disciplesto pray, nor did He even give them a form ofprayer until they requested it. "Prayer is the soul'ssincere desire, uttered or unexpressed." The Lord's peoplemust feel their need of Divine grace and help in order toappreciate the privilege of approaching the throne ofheavenly grace. The trials and difficulties, the sorrows andtemptations of life frequently impel God's children toprayer. It marks a better, a higher Christian developmentwhen they love to come to the Throne of grace, not onlyin their sorrows, but also in their joys, to give thanks, topraise, to worship, to adore.It will be noticed that our Lord did not tell about howthe world should pray, but merely taught His disciples:"when ye pray." As a matter of fact, the Gentiles, theworld of mankind in general, have no access to the Throneof grace. Only those in covenant relationship with God(Jews and Christians) ever had any Divine assurancethat their petitions would be accepted by Him. This maycause surprise to some, so general is the custom of encouragingand exhorting everybody to pray. A briefglance at the situation, however, shows us the fixed principleunderlying the matter. Let us note it. The worldin general, the race of Adam, was alienated from Godthrough wicked works. Adam was under a covenantwith God by which he enjoyed the privileges of a son ofGod. This included fellowship, communion, prayer andDivine supervision and care even to the extent of everlastinglife. But Adam's disobedience broke that covenant,abolished that covenant-relationship and all itsprivileges. (Hos. 6:7, R.V.) The only ones who nowenjoy the privilege of prayer are those who have beenaccepted of God back into covenant-relationship. Thenatural Israelite was so accepted under the Law Covenant;hence the Temple at Jerusalem was called the Houseof Prayer. It was specifically for the Jewish nation, butall nationalities had the privilege of becoming JewishProselytes and thus of being received into all the privilegesof Jews, which included the privilege of prayer.