Can we pray directly to God, or must all prayer go through Jesus?
The short answer
Both, in different senses. Jesus taught us to pray directly to the Father in the Our Father. But our prayers have access to the Father only through Jesus, who said, "No one comes to the Father except through me."
Addressed to the Father
Distinguish prayer addressed to the Father from prayer having access to him. Jesus taught us to pray directly to the Father when he gave us the Our Father (Matthew 6:9).
Access through Jesus
Our prayers reach the Father only through Jesus, who said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6).
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