The first time Jesus told His disciples to “watch and pray” was in Luke 21 when He cautioned His disciples to live as though the end of days was just around the corner. He says many hearts will be weighted down with the things of this world and many people will be surprised that the end has come. He then tells His disciples to be on the lookout for these times and to pray for strength.
The second time Jesus said to “watch and pray” was during the night before His crucifixion. He was in the garden praying and wanted His disciples to join Him. As He prayed, He notices that the disciples had fallen asleep. He told them to watch and pray to avoid temptation (Matthew 26:41).
Today many talk about our need to “watch and pray.” “Watch” is a word meaning to have vigilant awareness, like a sentry at night. A sentry is to be on guard for anything out of order, for the enemy’s advance, for anything that might threaten his watch. At night, this vigilance is even more pronounced.
Watching, in this spiritual sense of watching and praying, is being aware of the snares of the world. Jesus said that His disciples were to watch and pray so as not to enter into temptation. He also said, “… The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). By extension, Jesus is warning us to be on the lookout for anything in our experience on earth that would take away from our relationship with God. We are to abide in Christ (John 15:5) and be wary of the enemy of our soul (2 Corinthians 2:11).
Watch And Pray In The Bible
Watching, in this spiritual sense of watching and praying, is being aware of the snares of the world. Jesus said that His disciples were to watch and pray so as not to enter into temptation. He also said, “… The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Matthew 26:41). By extension, Jesus is warning us to be on the lookout for anything in our experience on earth that would take away from our relationship with God. We are to abide in Christ (John 15:5) and be wary of the enemy of our soul (2 Corinthians 2:11).
First Peter 5:8 warns, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” Ephesians 6:10–18 talks about spiritual warfare and indicates that prayer is a vital part of the armor of God. We are to watch by being aware of the snares of sin and of the Devil’s schemes; we are to pray because it is God who has the power and He has made prayer the means by which we communicate with Him and receive His strength.
We are warned that the moment may come at any time to stand before God (Romans 14:12; 1 Peter 4:5; Matthew 12:36). We watch and pray both because we eagerly await His return and to be prepared when He comes (or when we meet Him through our own death).
We are told to be always praying, and always giving thanks (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). We are to pray for endurance and to be free from distractions (Hebrews 12:1–2; Luke 18:1; Ephesians 6:18). We watch out for sin and for the snares of the enemy. We also watch for the work of God, looking to see what He is doing, attentive to His call in our own lives, and giving Him praise. We pray because to do so is a gift from God and how we remain connected to Him.
Watch And Pray For The Days Are Evil
Luke 21:36 ESV / 20 helpful votes
But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Matthew 26:41 ESV / 20 helpful votes
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 18 helpful votes
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Ephesians 6:18 ESV / 15 helpful votes
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Revelation 16:15 ESV / 12 helpful votes
(“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)
Luke 21:34-36 ESV / 9 helpful votes
“But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Matthew 24:42 ESV / 9 helpful votes
Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.
Revelation 3:3 ESV / 8 helpful votes
Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
Revelation 3:2 ESV / 7 helpful votes
Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.
1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV / 7 helpful votes
Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
1 Corinthians 16:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
Matthew 25:13 ESV / 7 helpful votes
Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Mark 14:38 ESV / 6 helpful votes
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 13:37 ESV / 6 helpful votes
And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
Revelation 3:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes
The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Acts 17:10-11 ESV / 4 helpful votes
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
Luke 21:1-38 ESV / 4 helpful votes
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, …
Luke 12:37 ESV / 4 helpful votes
Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
Mark 13:33 ESV / 4 helpful votes
Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come.
Revelation 3:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes
The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name.
Revelation 2:26 ESV / 3 helpful votes
The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations,
James 1:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
James 1:12 ESV / 3 helpful votes
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
Mark 13:32 ESV / 3 helpful votes
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Matthew 6:13 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Benefits of Watching And Praying
Revelation 12:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes
And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.
Revelation 3:14-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. …
Revelation 3:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes
The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.
Revelation 3:1-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.
Revelation 2:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.’
Revelation 2:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.’
Revelation 2:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.’
Revelation 1:1-20 ESV / 2 helpful votes
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near. John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood …
1 John 5:4-5 ESV / 2 helpful votes
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
1 John 2:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
1 John 2:15-17 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.
2 Peter 3:1-18 ESV / 2 helpful votes
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, …
2 Peter 1:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.
James 4:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
James 1:14-15 ESV / 2 helpful votes
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
Titus 2:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Pray without ceasing,
1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 ESV / 2 helpful votes
So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes
So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Romans 13:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.
Romans 12:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
John 17:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
Luke 21:7-33 ESV / 2 helpful votes
And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. …
Luke 12:1-59 ESV / 2 helpful votes
In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! …
Mark 13:32-37 ESV / 2 helpful votes
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. …
Mark 13:1-37 ESV / 2 helpful votes
And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!” And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” And as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?” And Jesus began to say to them, “See that no one leads you astray. …
Matthew 25:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes
As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept.
Matthew 24:1-51 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Jesus left the temple and was going away, when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple. But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. …
Jeremiah 17:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes
The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
Deuteronomy 12:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes
“Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.
Deuteronomy 11:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes
Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them;
Deuteronomy 4:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful
You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you.
