“I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;” (1 Timothy 2:8 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul’s instructions to his young protégé Timothy continue with the discipline and practice prayer. What counsel did the apostle give to this young pastor?
First, pastors and a congregation should pray for government leaders, regardless of whether they agree with these leaders or not. God has purposefully and providentially placed leaders into these government positions. It is a good thing to pray they will honor the Lord who sovereignly placed them in these positions (Dan. 2:20-23; Rom. 13:1-7).
Second, prayer has the goal and purpose of God’s people leading a peaceful and quiet life characterized by godliness and dignity. Rather than believers in Christ seeking to overthrow a government, God’s people are to submit to this God ordained authority, unless the government’s desires and commands to Christians promote disobedience to the Lord (Acts 4:13-22; I Peter 2:13-25).
Third, prayer pleases God. This should not surprise us. He especially delights in all kinds of people being saved and coming to a knowledge of the truth. This is why God called Paul not only into a covenant relationship with Him, but also into full-time ministry.
Fourthly, in today’s text Paul expressed the sincere desire for prayer to occur anywhere a believer in Christ lived and worked. The word desire (Βούλομαι; boulomai) is a different Greek word from what Paul used in I Timothy 2:4. However, though it is a different word it carries the same meaning as in 2:4. Paul took great joy and pleasure in God’s people praying.
The phrase should pray (προσεύχεσθαι; proseuchesthai) is a present, personal, and infinitive verb. It means to continually and personally intercede on behalf of someone before the Lord.
This discipline of prayer should occur in every place (παντὶ τόπῳ; panti topo). This refers to all types of locations and all sorts of occasions. No matter the geography or time frame, prayers should be invoked on behalf of others and before the One, True God who answers prayers. With the holiday season upon us, what an opportunity we have to pray when gathering with friends and family.
Paul instructed prayer to involve the lifting of holy hands. This refers to a morally pure and consecrated posture in approaching the Lord. Such moral, pure and consecrated prayer must be absent of anger and quarreling between fellow believers.
“Paul is not emphasizing a specific posture necessary for prayer, but a prerequisite for effective prayer (cf. Ps. 66:18). Though this posture is described in the OT (1 Kings 8:22; Ps. 28:2; 63:4; 134:2), so are many others. The Greek word for “holy” means “unpolluted” or “unstained by evil.” “Hands” symbolize the activities of life; thus “holy hands” represent a holy life. This basis of effective prayer is a righteous life (James 5:16),” explains Dr. John MacArthur. “Anger” and righteousness are mutually exclusive (James 1:20; cf. Luke 9:52–56). “Quarreling” refers to a hesitant reluctance to be committed to prayer.”
John Calvin states, “I wish therefore that men may pray This inference depends on the preceding statement; for, as we saw in the Epistle to the Galatians, we must receive “the Spirit of adoption,” in order that we may call on God in a proper manner. Thus, after having exhibited the grace of Christ to all, and after having mentioned that he was given to the Gentiles for the express purpose, that they might enjoy the same benefit of redemption in common with the Jews, he invites all in the same manner to pray; for faith leads to calling on God. The material argument holds good, from faith to prayer, and from prayer to faith, whether we reason from the cause to the effect, or from the effect to the cause. This is worthy of observation, because it reminds us that God reveals himself to us in his word, that we may call upon him; and this is the chief exercise of faith.”
The daily practice of reading, meditating and applying God’s Word in our lives results in the daily practice of prayer. May we each continue to discipline ourselves for this daily consecration. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
His Word Today 