The Gospel of Barnabas · Chapter 36 “All the prophets are come except the messenger of God who shall come after me… that I may prepare his way.” This expectation beside John 14–16, and the Old Testament passages read the same way:
On Prayer and the Neglect of Prayer
The disciples stood in great amazement at the rebellion of the angels.
Then said Jesus: 'Verily I say unto you, that he who maketh not prayer is more wicked than Satan, and shall suffer greater torments. Because Satan had, before his fall, no example of fearing, nor did God so much as send him any prophet to invite him to repentance: but man—now that all the prophets are come except the messenger of God who shall come after me, because so God willeth, and that I may prepare his way—and man, I say, albeit he have infinite examples of the justice of God, liveth carelessly without any fear, as though there were no God. Even as of such spake the prophet David: "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. Therefore are they corrupt and become abominable, without one of them doing good."'
'Make prayer unceasingly, O my disciples, in order that ye may receive. For he who seeketh findeth, and he who knocketh to him it is opened, and he who asketh receiveth. And in your prayer do not look to much speaking, for God looketh on the heart; as he said through Solomon: "O my servant, give me thine heart." Verily I say unto you, as God liveth, the hypocrites make much prayer in every part of the city in order to be seen and held for saints by the multitude: but their heart is full of wickedness, and therefore they do not mean that which they ask. It is needful that thou mean thy prayer if thou wilt that God receive it. Now tell me: who would go to speak to the Roman governor or to Herod, except he first have made up his mind to whom he is going, and what he is going to do? Assuredly none. And if man doeth so in order to speak with man, what ought man to do in order to speak with God, and ask of him mercy for his sins, while thanking him for all that he hath given him?'
'Verily I say unto you, that very few make true prayer, and therefore Satan hath power over them, because God willeth not those who honour him with their lips: who in the temple ask with their lips for mercy, and their heart crieth out for justice. Even as he saith to Isaiah the prophet, saying: "Take away this people that is irksome to me, because with their lips they honour me, but their heart is far from me." Verily I say unto you, that he that goeth to make prayer without consideration mocketh God.'
'Now who would go to speak to Herod with his back towards him, and before him speak well of Pilate the governor, whom he hateth to the death? Assuredly none. Yet no less doth the man who goeth to make prayer and prepareth not himself. He turneth his back to God and his face to Satan, and speaketh well of him. For in his heart is the love of iniquity, whereof he hath not repented.'
'If one, having injured thee, should with his lips say to thee: "Forgive me," and with his hands should strike thee a blow, how wouldest thou forgive him? Even so shall God have mercy on those who with their lips say: "Lord, have mercy on us," and with their heart love iniquity and think on fresh sins.'
The disciples stood in great amazement at the rebellion of the angels.
Jesus then said: 'Truly, I tell you that the person who does not pray is more wicked than Satan and will suffer greater torment. Before his fall, Satan had no example to teach him fear, nor did God send him any prophet to call him to repentance. But people now have the examples of all the prophets, except the Messenger of God who will come after me—for God wills that I should prepare his way. Yet despite countless examples of God's justice, people live carelessly and without fear, as though there were no God. The prophet David spoke of such people: "The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God.' Therefore, they are corrupt and have become abominable; not one of them does good."'
'Pray unceasingly, O my disciples, so that you may receive. The one who seeks finds; to the one who knocks, the door is opened; and the one who asks receives. Do not rely on speaking at length in your prayers, for God looks upon the heart, as he said through Solomon: "O my servant, give me your heart." Truly, I tell you, as God lives, the hypocrites offer many prayers throughout the city so that the crowds will see them and regard them as holy. But their hearts are full of wickedness, and therefore they do not truly mean what they ask. You must mean your prayer if you want God to receive it. Tell me: who would go to speak to the Roman governor or to Herod without first considering whom he was approaching and what he intended to do? Certainly no one. If a person prepares this carefully to speak with another person, what should he do when speaking with God, asking mercy for his sins, and thanking God for everything he has given him?'
'Truly, I tell you that very few offer true prayer, and therefore Satan has power over them. God does not desire people who honor him only with their lips—people who ask for mercy in the temple while their hearts cry out for justice against others. As he says through the prophet Isaiah: "Take away this people who are burdensome to me, for they honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Truly, I tell you that whoever goes to pray without considering what he is doing mocks God.'
'Who would go to speak to Herod with his back turned toward him and, in Herod's presence, praise the governor Pilate, whom Herod hates to the death? Certainly no one. Yet the person who goes to pray without preparing himself does no less: he turns his back to God and his face toward Satan, and speaks well of Satan. For the love of iniquity remains in his heart, and he has not repented of it.'
'Suppose someone who had injured you said with his lips, "Forgive me," while striking you with his hands. How would you forgive him? In the same way, how will God have mercy on those who say with their lips, "Lord, have mercy on us," while their hearts love iniquity and plan new sins?'
The disciples stood in great amazement at the rebellion of the angels.
Then said Jesus: 'Verily I say unto you, that he who maketh not prayer is more wicked than Satan, and shall suffer greater torments. Because Satan had, before his fall, no example of fearing, nor did God so much as send him any prophet to invite him to repentance: but man—now that all the prophets are come except the messenger of God who shall come after me, because so God willeth, and that I may prepare his way—and man, I say, albeit he have infinite examples of the justice of God, liveth carelessly without any fear, as though there were no God. Even as of such spake the prophet David: "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. Therefore are they corrupt and become abominable, without one of them doing good."'
'Make prayer unceasingly, O my disciples, in order that ye may receive. For he who seeketh findeth, and he who knocketh to him it is opened, and he who asketh receiveth. And in your prayer do not look to much speaking, for God looketh on the heart; as he said through Solomon: "O my servant, give me thine heart." Verily I say unto you, as God liveth, the hypocrites make much prayer in every part of the city in order to be seen and held for saints by the multitude: but their heart is full of wickedness, and therefore they do not mean that which they ask. It is needful that thou mean thy prayer if thou wilt that God receive it. Now tell me: who would go to speak to the Roman governor or to Herod, except he first have made up his mind to whom he is going, and what he is going to do? Assuredly none. And if man doeth so in order to speak with man, what ought man to do in order to speak with God, and ask of him mercy for his sins, while thanking him for all that he hath given him?'
'Verily I say unto you, that very few make true prayer, and therefore Satan hath power over them, because God willeth not those who honour him with their lips: who in the temple ask with their lips for mercy, and their heart crieth out for justice. Even as he saith to Isaiah the prophet, saying: "Take away this people that is irksome to me, because with their lips they honour me, but their heart is far from me." Verily I say unto you, that he that goeth to make prayer without consideration mocketh God.'
'Now who would go to speak to Herod with his back towards him, and before him speak well of Pilate the governor, whom he hateth to the death? Assuredly none. Yet no less doth the man who goeth to make prayer and prepareth not himself. He turneth his back to God and his face to Satan, and speaketh well of him. For in his heart is the love of iniquity, whereof he hath not repented.'
'If one, having injured thee, should with his lips say to thee: "Forgive me," and with his hands should strike thee a blow, how wouldest thou forgive him? Even so shall God have mercy on those who with their lips say: "Lord, have mercy on us," and with their heart love iniquity and think on fresh sins.'