JW's: Jesus as "The Hearer of Prayer" (Psalm 65:2)

[Faber]

1. The Jehovah's Witnesses affirm that Jevovah "has never passed on to anyone" the responsibility of hearing prayer.
The Watchtower: Does the Bible instruct us to pray to Jesus, to Mary, to saints, or to angels? No"only to Jehovah. Consider two reasons why. First, prayer is a form of worship, and the Bible says that worship should go exclusively to Jehovah. (Exodus 20:5) Second, the Bible reveals that he bears the title Hearer of prayer. (Psalm 65:2) Although Jehovah delegates generously, this is a responsibility he has never passed on to anyone. He is the God who promises to hear our prayers personally (To Whom?, October 1, 2010).
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2010722

2. The fact that they elsewhere affirm that Jehovah "has granted the ability to examine the hearts" to the Lord Jesus[*1] demonstrates that He (the Lord Jesus) is fully capable of "hearing" every prayer. That Jehovah "has never passed on to anyone" this ability proves the Lord Jesus is Jehovah.

3. The Jehovah's Witnesses may respond by saying Jehovah alone is the Hearer of prayer in that He alone answers them.
The Watchtower: Jehovah is the Hearer of prayer. (Psalm 65:2) He listens to our prayers, and he answers them. (Contact With the Spirit Realm, December 1, 2010)
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2010883
But this actually presents more problems for them in that elsewhere they affirm that the Lord Jesus also answers prayer.
Insight on the Scriptures: Then his disciples would do even greater works, for the reason that Christ would again be with his Father and would answer requests asked in his own name, all for the purpose of bringing glory to the Father."14:12-14. (John, Good News According to, Volume 2)
http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002490

Despite teaching that Jehovah alone is the Hearer of Prayer by their own criteria the Jehovah's Witnesses make it a point to include the Lord Jesus as the "Hearer of Prayer" for (1) He fully knows the hearts of all from which prayers ascend and (2) He "would answer requests asked in his own name."

[*1] See point #3.
viewtopic.php?t=32458

Why do Jehovah's Witnesses deny the Lord Jesus is the Hearer of Prayer based on the evidence above?

[Faber]

delete

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by Faber]

"examining hearts" does not mean, receiving prayer.

The " "heart" in the bible refers to a persons entire inner self, encompassing his desires, thoughts, disposition, attitudes, and goals." (see March 15th, 2013 p. 9 par 6). Examining the "heart" means getting to know all these aspects of the individual. Prayer, according to the Jehovah's Witness beliefs is respectful address to JEHOVAH.

See my earlier post : Searching "hearts" and "kidneys'
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 221#864221

While Jesus knows us, only Jehovah God receives our prayers.

To illustrate, a woman's gynocologist may examin her sexual organs. He or she may be thorougly familiar with the intimate parts of the womans body. Does that mean she has made love to her gynocologist? Should this examination be confused with the woman giving her body in sexual way to her husband?

In a similar way, when a person wholeheartedly approaches God in prayer that is an intimate action reserved exclusively for the Creator alone.



JW


Further reading: Why Pray in Jesus Name?
https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/q ... esus-name/

Does the Watchtower of March 15, 2007 indicate John prayed to Jesus?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 752#863752

Did Steven pray to Jesus?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 749#863749

[Faber]

[Replying to post 1 by Faber]

"examining hearts" does not mean, receiving prayer.

He can "hear" them which is the subject of this thread.

Furthermore, it does mean receiving prayer because it is the BASIS by which God can both hears and answer prayer (1 Kings 8:38-39). Hearing and answering prayer is what the Lord Jesus can do. By their own criteria the JW's admit to this fact.

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 1 by Faber]

"examining hearts" does not mean, receiving prayer.

He can "hear" them which is the subject of this thread.

So what?! Does hearing something mean you are being addressed? When Jesus offered prayers with others present, other people HEARD the prayer; does that mean Jesus was praying to the crowds? When Eli heard Hannah praying for a baby does that mean she was praying to Eli? When Christians offer public prayer in church other people HEAR the prayer does that mean anyone that hears the prayer is being addressed? Are people praying to everyone in church or to God?

The possibility of others hearing a prayer is essentially irrelevant, what is relevant is that since prayer (at least for Jehovah's Witness) is part of our worship, who is being addressed.

If you heard a woman tell her husband she wants to make love to him, would you start getting undressed because you HEARD what she said?

JW


For further details see my earlier related post(s)

"Ask me anything " or "ask anything" [John 14:14]
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 055#864055

[Faber]

Silent prayers of the heart no one can hear but the Hearer of Prayer can.
That is the difference.