Pray for everyone

Today I will attempt to show that God expects us to pray for all people. We should pray not only for ourselves, our families, our congregation, fellow believers, but for all men; kings and enemies alike.

In 1 Timothy 2:1 -4 it says “¹First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,² for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. ³ This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth”

Paul was writing this to Timothy to the church at Ephesus to help combat the false teaching that had arisen there. It is speculated Paul wrote this letter just after his release from Roman imprisonment (Acts 28:16-31) possibly from Macedonia. We see the advice in 1 Timothy 2:1 as an echo of Acts 10:45 “And those believers from the circumcision who had accompanied Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles,”.

 In verse 2 “for kings and all in high positions” would have, at the time, included Roman emperors who would have been violently persecuting Christians. This brings to mind Matthew 5:43-45 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ^{45 k}so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

Also in 1 Tim 2:2 is an echo of Ezra 6:10 “…they may offer sacrifices pleasing to the God of heaven and pray for the well-being of the king and his sons” Further in 1 Tim 2:2“that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.” To pray that we may live free from persecution of the government and be able to openly demonstrate our faith. In America today we take this for granted, not so in most of the world, and certainly not at the time this was written.

Finally 1 Tim 2:4, which is for me the most important verse, “who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” It is probably the most difficult to discern. For it comes down to election, a doctrine which I find ill prepared to address here. Suffice it to say that while “knowledge of truth” refers to the hearing and understanding of the Gospel message, it does not replace faith as a response to the gospel message.

The Gospel message shocks us and challenges us to pray for ALL people, to forgive ALL people. I recently read in Tim Kellers book “The Reason for God” that “forgiveness is the beginning of the end of evil” Forgiveness needs to start somewhere, and it started with Jesus on the cross dying for our sins. Will you pray for forgiveness of your sins? And will you forgive those who sin against you? Jesus tells us to pray about it. So let us pray as He taught us….Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen, and Amen.