The Westminster Larger Catechism
Q. 183. For whom are we to pray?
A. We are to pray for the whole church
of Christ upon earth; for magistrates, and ministers; for ourselves,
our brethren, yea, our enemies; and for all sorts of men living, or
that shall live hereafter; but not for the dead, nor for those that
are known to have sinned the sin unto death.
1. Pray for the whole church. Ephesians
6:18. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the
Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication
for all saints.
2. Pray for Magistrates and Ministers.
1 Timothy 2:1-2. I exhort therefore, that, first of all,
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made
for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we
may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
Colossians 4:3. Meanwhile praying also for us, that God would
open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for
which I am also in chains.
3. Pray for ourselves. We must pray for
ourselves unselfishly.
4. Pray for enemies. Matthew 5:44 But
I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good
to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and
persecute you. Even our worst enemies have been created in God's
image and are sinners such as Christ died to redeem. They are not
beyond God's power to save.
5. Pray for the living. The dead
in Christ no longer need our prayers. Those who have died without
Christ cannot benefit from our prayers because all opportunities for
repentance and conversion are over.
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