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I. WHAT IT IS TO PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. Negatively, it is not a bare mentioning His name in prayer, and concluding our prayers therewith (Matthew 7:21). We must begin, carry on, and conclude our prayers in the name of Christ (Colossians 3:17). The saints use the words, "through Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:57); but the virtue is not in the words, but in the faith wherewith they are used. But, alas these are often produced as an empty scabbard, while the sword is away. Positively: we may take it up in these four things.

1. We must go to God at Christ's command, and by order from Him (Matthew 18:20). If a poor body can get a recommendation from a friend to one that is able to help him, he comes with confidence and tells such a one has sent me to you. Christ is such a friend (ver. 24). This implies —

(1) The soul's being come to Christ in the first place (chap. John 15:7).

(2) That, however, believers in Christ are relieved of the burden of total indigence (John 4:14), yet while they are in the world they are still compassed with wants. In heaven they shall be set down at the fountain; but now the law of the house is, "Ask, and ye shall receive" (Matthew 7:7).

(3) That Christ sends His people to God by prayer for the supply of their wants. This He does by His word, commanding them to go, and by His Spirit inclining them to go (Ephesians 2:18).

(4) That acceptable prayer is performed under the sense of the command of a God in Christ (Isaiah 33:22), where majesty and mercy are mixed in it; and that is son-like service.

(5) That the acceptable petitioner's encouragement to pray is from Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:14-16).

2. We must pray for Christ's sake, as our motive to the duty (Mark 9:41). This implies —

(1) A high esteem of Christ (1 Peter 2:7), for God is honoured in His Son (John 5:23).

(2) Complying with the duty out of love to Christ (Hebrews 6:10).

(3) Complying with the duty out of respect to His honour and glory.

(4) Doing it with heart and good-will (Isaiah 64:5).

3. We must in prayer act in the strength of Christ.

(1) What this pre-supposes.

(a)  That praying acceptably is a work quite beyond any power in us (2 Corinthians 3:5).

(b)  That there is a stock of grace and strength in Jesus Christ for our help as to other duties, so for this duty of prayer (2 Corinthians 12:9; Colossians 1:19).

(c)  Sinners are welcome to partake of this stock of grace and strength in Christ (2 Timothy 2:1).

(d)  We must be united to Christ as members to the head and branches to the vine, if we would act in prayer or any other duty in the strength of Christ (John 15:5). We cannot partake of the stock of grace and strength for duty in Christ without partaking of Himself (Romans 8:32). As the soul in a separate state cloth not quicken the body, so the soul not united to Christ cannot be fitted for duty by strength derived from Him. The graft must knit with the stock ere it can partake of the sap.

(2) Wherein acting in prayer in the strength of Christ lies.

(a)  The soul's going out of itself for strength to the duty; that is, renouncing all confidence in itself for the right management of it (2 Corinthians 3:5).

(b)  The soul's going to Christ for strength to duty by trusting on Him for it (Isaiah 26:4; Psalm 71:16).

4. We must pray for Christ's sake, as the only procuring cause of the success of our prayers.

(1) What is pre-supposed in this.

(a)  That sinners in themselves are quite unacceptable in heaven, even in their religious duties (Proverbs 15:8; Isaiah 64:6).

(b)  Christ is most acceptable there (Matthew 3.; Ephesians 5:2).

(c)  Sinners are warranted to come to the throne of grace in His name (Hebrews 4:15, 16; 1 John 2:1). The petitions put into His hand cannot miscarry.

(2) Wherein this praying to God for Christ's sake consists.

(a)  In general, in our relying on the Lord Jesus only for the success of our prayers in heaven. Consider that we are in this matter to rely on Him only for access to God in our prayers (Ephesians 3:12; John 14:6). For acceptance of our prayers (Ephesians 1:6). For the gracious answer of prayer, and consider how we are to eye Christ as the object of this reliance — viz., as our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:15, 16). And here we find the infinite merit of His sacrifice (Romans 3:25), and His never-failing intercession to rely on (Hebrews 7:25).

(b)  More particularly, praying in the name of Christ, and for His sake consists in renouncing all merit and worth in ourselves, in point of access, acceptance, and gracious answer (Genesis 32:10); believing that however great the mercies are, and however unworthy we are, yet we may obtain them from God through Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:15, 16). In seeking in prayer the mercies we need of God for Christ's sake accordingly (John 16:24). In pleading His merit and intercession (Psalm 84:9); in trusting that we shall obtain a gracious answer for His sake (Mark 11:24).

III. WHY ACCEPTABLE PRAYER MUST BE IN THE NAME OF CHRIST. Because —

1. Sinners can have no access to God without a Mediator, and there is no other Mediator but He (Isaiah 59:2; 1 Timothy 2:5).

2. The promises of the covenant were all made to Jesus Christ, as the party who fulfilled the condition of the covenant (Galatians 3:16).

3. Our praying in the name of Christ is a part of the reward of Christ's voluntary humiliation for God's glory and the salvation of sinners (Philippians 2:9, 10).

4. It is not consistent with the honour of God to give Sinners a favourable hearing otherwise (John 9:31, with 2 Corinthians 5:19, 21). They dishonour God, His Son, and His mercies, that ask anything but in the name of Christ.

5. Nothing can savour with God that comes from a sinner, but what is perfumed with the merit and intercession of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15; Ephesians 1:6).

6. The stated way of all gracious communication between heaven and earth is through Jesus Christ, who opened a communication between them by His blood, when it was blocked up by the breach of the first covenant (John 14:6).

IV. PRACTICAL IMPROVEMENT.

1. From this doctrine we learn —

(1) What a holy God we have to do with in prayer (Leviticus 10:3). His very throne of grace, from which He breathes love and good-will to sinners, is founded on justice and judgment (Psalm 89:14).

(2) Let us prize the love of Christ in making an entrance for us into the holy place, through the veil of His flesh (Hebrews 10:20). The flaming sword of justice, which guarded the way to the tree of life, was bathed in His blood, to procure us access to God.

(3) There can be no acceptable praying to God but by believers united to Christ having on the garment of His righteousness (John 9:31).

(4) Even believers cannot pray in the name of Christ, and so not acceptably, without faith in exercise (Galatians 2:20).

(5) We have great need not to be rash in our approaches to God in prayer, but that we prepare our hearts and compose them aforehand for such a solemn duty (Ecclesiastes 5:1).

2. Let those stand reproved who —

(1) Make approach unto God in prayer, as an absolute God, without consideration of the Mediator (John 5:23; Ephesians 2:18).

(2) Put other things in the room of the Mediator, or join other things with Him.

(a)  Their own worth in respect of their qualifications and good things done by them (Luke 18:11, 12).

(b)  The mercy of God considered without a view to the satisfaction of His justice by the Mediator.

(c)  The manner of their performing the duty itself (Isaiah 58:3).

(d)  Their own necessity (Hosea 7:14).

3. Wherefore rely on Christ, and on Him only, for access to God in, and acceptance of, your prayers; that is, pray in the name of Christ.

(1) In this way of praying ye may obtain anything ye really need.

(2) There is no access to God, nor acceptance of prayer another way (chap. John 14:6).

(T. Boston, D. D.)

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KJV: And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

WEB: "In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.