- Intercession means praying for other people.
The English word “intercede” comes from two words meaning to “go between”. The Greek word means to speak to someone on behalf of another. Intercession is one of the four central kinds of prayer, remembered by the acronym ACTS. In adoration, we praise God in our prayers (Ps. 34:1-3). In thanksgiving, we express gratitude to him (Ps. 9:1-2). In confession, we acknowledge our sins (Ps. 41:4). In supplication, we make requests, either for ourselves or for others—which is intercession.
Scripture is filled with intercessory prayers. Abraham prayed that God would spare the righteous in Sodom and Gomorrah (Gn. 18). Moses prayed for the people of Israel, that God would turn his burning anger away from them (Ex. 32:11; Ps. 106:23). While the angel was striking Israel, David prayed for them (2Sm. 24:17). Paul prayed for others “constantly”, “night and day” (2Tm. 1:3). Jesus often prayed for others, including little children (Mt. 19:13).
Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer is the greatest example of intercessory prayer. In this prayer, Jesus interceded for those who believed in him (v. 20), with requests such as: (1) Knowledge of Christ (v. 3). (2) Eternal security (v. 11). (3) Unity (v. 11). (4) Joy (v. 13). (5) Protection from Satan (v. 15). (6) Sanctification (v. 17). (7) Seeing God’s glory (v. 24).
2. Scripture commands us to intercede for others.
Second Timothy 2:1 says: “I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people.” It is a mark of humility, not pride, to ask for prayer. The writer of Hebrews said: “Pray for us” (Hb. 13:18). Paul said: “Brothers, pray for us” (2Th. 3:1; Eph. 6:19; Col. 4:3). He desired that many would “give thanks” on his behalf (2Cor. 1:11), asking them to “strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf” (Rm. 15:30). He said he did not cease giving thanks for and remembering the Ephesians in his prayer (Eph. 1:16).
3. Many false religions hold erroneous views on intercession.
Roman Catholics pray with and to Mary and other dead saints. The Catholic Catechism encourages prayers to Mary. In the Catholic view, prayers from great saints like Agnes, or Jude, or Mary carry great power. Hence, the prayer Ave Maria, “Hail Mary”: “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.”
Prayers to Mary and other saints are wrong because they carry with them a wrong view of Mary. Though she was highly favored (Lk. 1:28), her conception was not immaculate. She was born in sin (Rm. 5:12) and needed a Savior (Lk. 1:47). She was not the “mother of God” because the Son is eternal and uncreated. Moreover, prayers to anyone other than the living God are forbidden. Ulrich Zwingli, the great Swiss Reformer, understood this. As he sat bleeding on the battlefield, Catholic soldiers demanded he confess his sins to a priest and pray to the Virgin Mary. He refused.
Scripture never commands believers to do this. Scripture condemns both praying to the dead (called necromancy; Lv. 20:27; Dt. 18:10-13; Isa. 8:19) and praying to false gods (1Kng 18). Deuteronomy 18:11 calls consultation with the dead “detestable to the Lord.” The rich man in hell prayed to Abraham—and his prayers were not answered (Lk. 16).
Praying to the dead is a central part of ancestor worship, a practice common in African Traditional Religion. In doing this, one summons his father, mother, or other relatives and asks for wisdom and blessing. These ancestors are supposedly jealous and will avenge themselves if forgotten. This is false because only the living God is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient to hear and answer prayer. Unbelieving ancestors are separated from God in judgment and torment (Hb. 9:27; Lk. 16:19-31). Believing ancestors are in God’s presence but are resting “from their labor” (Rv. 14:13). Moreover, Scripture does not tell us that the dead in Heaven are aware of circumstances on earth. We are surrounded by the testimony of this “great cloud of witnesses,” not their oversight (Hb. 12:1).
Only through Jesus can we pray through our only mediator (1Tm. 2:5). Why would we yield our privilege and refuse His invitation to pray to Him and rather offer futile prayers to another (Mt. 11:28; Rv. 22:17).
4. Intercession in the Old Testament looks differently than that in the New.
In the Old Testament, God’s people were represented by priests. As Israel’s representative, Moses spoke to God on their behalf, as they feared Yahweh greatly (Dt. 5:5). But in the New Testament, after Jesus died on the cross, the curtain was torn in two (Mk. 15:38), showing that the way into God’s presence had been opened. Jesus is our Great High Priest, through whom we pray to God with boldness (Hb. 4:14). Now believers are all priests (Rv. 1:6). We can pray directly to the Father, saying: “Our Father in heaven” (Mt. 6:9).
5. Christians should intercede for all kinds of people.
We ought not intercede for only a select group of people. Scripture gives a list of people we ought to pray for. (1) Enemies that persecute us (Mt. 5:44). (2) Those battling sin (Jms. 5:16). (3) Those who are suffering (Ac. 12:5). (4) Authorities (1Tm. 2:2). (5) Missionaries (2Th. 3:1). (6) Friends (Job 42:8). (7) All men (1Tm. 2:1). (8) The lost (Rm. 10:1). (9) Sick (Jms. 5:14).
6. We should avoid talking to and praying to dead loved ones.
It is natural to want to speak to our dead loved ones. In our grief and pain, we long to interact with them and even hope that they may see us on earth.
But Christians should avoid this practice. Even “innocent” messages to the dead so common at evangelical funerals should be avoided, like “Thanks for all you’ve done for me, Mom” or “Rest in peace, Dad.” Instead, in our sorrow, we should turn to our Helper (Jn. 14:16) who “hears us” (1Jn. 5:14) and will bind up the brokenhearted (Isa. 61:1). Jeremiah 29:12 says: “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”
7. Jesus intercedes for his people.
Jesus intercedes for his people in two ways. First, he offered himself as a sacrifice for sins. Isaiah 53:12 says, “He bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” Jesus’ work of intercession began on the cross, praying “Father, forgiven them, for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34). He is our mediator who reconciles sinners with a holy God (1Tm. 2:5).
But Jesus’ work of intercession did not stop there. Jesus continues to make intercession for his people. In heaven he prays for us “on our behalf” (Hb. 9:24) and “offers up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears” (Hb. 5:7). He is our defender, our advocate (1Jn. 2:1), pleading our case before the Father and interceding for us against the great accuser, Satan.
The devil highlights our sins, failures, and weaknesses. He mocks and insults us. Satan, who accuses believers “night and day before God” (Rv. 12:10), said that Job would curse his Maker to his face if afflicted (Job 1:11). But Jesus intercedes for us, as he did for Peter, praying that his faith would endure until the end (Lk. 22:32).
8. The Holy Spirit intercedes for us.
The Holy Spirit is our Helper (Jn. 14:26) in many things, including prayer. Romans 8:26-27 says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
The place of the Spirit’s help is in our “weaknesses”, which Paul was never afraid to admit (1Co. 2:3; 2Co. 12:5, 9). The weakness here is ignorance, in that we do not always know how to pray. Should I pray I get the job? Should we pray that our grandmother be healed? Job, for example, didn’t know how to pray. He wondered if he was suffering because of his sin (Job 7:20-21). The Spirit knows perfectly the “will of God”. Should I pray that my son marry a godly wife? Maybe, but the Lord may use him best single. God knows. Luther said: “It is not a bad but a very good sign if the opposite of what we pray for appears to happen.” It brings us great comfort knowing the Spirit intercedes for us in a perfect way.
9. The Bible gives dozens of ways Christians should intercede for others in prayer.
When someone says, “I’m praying for you,” that’s intercession. Perhaps you’ve said the same but you’re not sure what to pray for. Consider the following biblical prayer requests for others:
(1) Gospel opportunities (Col. 4:3). (2) Salvation (Rm. 10:1). (3) Unity (Rm. 15:6). (4) Joy, peace, and hope (Rm. 15:13). (5) A godly life (2Cor. 13:7). (6) Understanding of Scripture (Eph. 1:16-18). (7) Courage (Eph. 6:19-20). (8) Love (Phil. 1:9). (9) Knowledge of God’s will (Col. 1:9). (10) Evangelists (Mt. 9:38). (11) Act like true Christians (Mt. 9:38). (12) Jesus glorified in them (2Th. 1:12).
(13) Protection from evil people (2Th. 3:2). (14) Protection from Satan (2Th. 3:3). (15) Wisdom (Jms. 1:5). (16) Physical healing (Jms. 5:14). (17) Comfort from God (2Th. 2:16-17). (18) Rapid spread of the Word (2Th. 3:1). (19) Blessing upon political leaders (1Tm. 2:1-2). (20) Conversion of enemies (Mt. 5:44). (21) Help in time of need (Hb. 4:16). (22) Daily needs met (Mt. 6:11). (23) Victory over sin (Mt. 6:13). Physical and spiritual health (3Jn. 2).
10. Church history is filled with saints that interceded for others.
In tears Monica prayed daily for her son until finally the great Augustine was converted. A bishop told her: “A son of so many prayers cannot be lost.” While in prison, John Huss asked his countrymen to pray that “The Goose” would be set free. Just before his martyrdom, William Tyndale prayed: “Lord, open the King of England’s heart.” George Wishart, the Swiss Reformer and early martyr for the Protestant cause, interceded for his enemies before being burned at the stake: “I beseech the Father of Heaven to forgive them that have… forged lies upon me. I forgive them with all my heart.”
John Knox often interceded for Queen Mary Stuart: “O Lord, if thy pleasure be, purge the heart of the Queen’s Majesty from the venom of idolatry, and deliver her from the bondage and thralldom of Satan.” Later she said: “I am more afraid of the prayers of John Knox than any army of 10,000.” William Perkins shared Christ with a man on death row, then knelt and prayed for him just before the convict approached the gallows. George Muller prayed confidently for his teachers, students, and orphans. In his prayer journal are the names of those he prayed for daily for one, two, five, ten years—some even up to 60 years!