Prayer is a vital part of the Christian life, allowing believers to communicate with God and seek His guidance. Many Christians, especially in the Catholic tradition, honor Mary, the mother of Jesus, and ask for her intercession. However, it is important to examine what the Bible says about prayer and whether it supports the idea of praying to Mary. Below are seven subtopics with related Bible verses that help explore this subject.
Also Read: Bible Verses About Intercessory Prayer
God Alone is Worthy of Worship
Throughout Scripture, worship and prayer are directed to God alone. While Mary was blessed among women for bearing Jesus, the Bible emphasizes that only God is to be prayed to. Seeking intercession is different from worship, but prayer should always remain directed to God.
Exodus 20:3
“You must not have any other god but me.”
Isaiah 42:8
“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.”
Matthew 4:10
“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’””
Revelation 19:10
“Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said, ‘No, don’t worship me. I am a servant of God, just like you and your brothers and sisters who testify about their faith in Jesus. Worship only God.'”
Psalm 115:4-6
“Their idols are merely things of silver and gold, shaped by human hands. They have mouths but cannot speak, and eyes but cannot see. They have ears but cannot hear, and noses but cannot smell.”
Jesus is the Only Mediator
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the sole mediator between God and humanity. While Mary played an important role in God’s plan, Scripture affirms that intercession for believers is made through Christ alone.
1 Timothy 2:5
“For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 7:25
“Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”
John 14:6
“Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.'”
Romans 8:34
“Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.”
Hebrews 4:16
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Mary’s Role in the Bible
Mary was chosen by God to bear Jesus, and she is called “blessed among women.” However, Scripture does not indicate that she was meant to receive prayers or intercede in heaven.
Luke 1:28
“Gabriel appeared to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!'”
Luke 1:42
“Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, ‘God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed.'”
Luke 11:27-28
“As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, ‘God bless your mother—the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!’ Jesus replied, ‘But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.'”
John 2:5
“But his mother told the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.'”
Acts 1:14
“They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.”
Prayers Should Be Directed to God
The Bible consistently teaches that prayer is an act of worship directed to God. Nowhere in Scripture do we find examples of people praying to Mary or other saints.
Psalm 50:15
“Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”
Philippians 4:6
“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
Matthew 6:6
“But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Colossians 4:2
“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
Also Read: Bible Verses for Night Prayers
Jesus Taught Us to Pray to the Father
When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He directed them to pray to the Father, not to Mary or any other individual. His instructions provide a clear model for how believers should pray.
Matthew 6:9
“Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.”
John 16:23
“At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.”
Luke 11:2
“Jesus said, ‘This is how you should pray: Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon.'”
Matthew 7:7-8
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
John 14:13-14
“You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!”
The Early Church Prayed to God, Not Mary
The book of Acts and other New Testament writings show that the early Christians directed their prayers to God through Jesus. There is no record of them praying to Mary or any other saint.
Acts 4:24
“When they heard the report, all the believers lifted their voices together in prayer to God: ‘O Sovereign Lord, Creator of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—'”
Acts 12:5
“But while Peter was in prison, the church prayed very earnestly for him.”
Romans 10:13
“For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'”
1 Corinthians 1:2
“I am writing to God’s church in Corinth, to you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did for all people everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.”
Acts 16:25
“Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.”
Idolatry and the Danger of Elevating Mary
The Bible warns against idolatry—giving worship or devotion to anyone other than God. While Mary was a faithful servant of God, Scripture does not support elevating her to a role of intercessor or co-redeemer.
Exodus 34:14
“You must worship no other gods, for the Lord, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.”
Deuteronomy 4:15-16
“But be very careful! You did not see the Lord’s form on the day he spoke to you from the heart of the fire at Mount Sinai. So do not corrupt yourselves by making an idol in any form—whether of a man or a woman.”
1 Corinthians 10:14
“So, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols.”
Isaiah 44:17
“Then he takes what’s left and makes a god. He bows down in front of it, worshiping and praying to it. ‘Rescue me!’ he says. ‘You are my god!'”
Galatians 1:8
“Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.”
Conclusion: Our Focus Should Be on Christ
While Mary was an important part of God’s plan, the Bible consistently teaches that our prayers, worship, and devotion should be directed to God alone. Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man, and all prayers should be made through Him. Instead of seeking Mary’s intercession, believers are encouraged to approach God directly, through Christ, with confidence and faith.