The concept of intercession in the Bible refers to the act of intervening or mediating on behalf of another person, particularly in prayer. This practice is deeply rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition and is seen as a vital aspect of the believer's relationship with God. Intercession is portrayed as a powerful and effective means by which individuals can seek God's favor, mercy, and intervention in the lives of others.

Old Testament Foundations

The Old Testament provides numerous examples of intercession. One of the earliest instances is found in Genesis 18, where Abraham intercedes for the city of Sodom. Abraham approaches God with humility and persistence, asking, "Will You indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?" (Genesis 18:23). His intercession highlights the role of a righteous individual standing in the gap for others.

Moses is another prominent intercessor. In Exodus 32, after the Israelites sin by worshiping the golden calf, Moses pleads with God to spare them. He appeals to God's promises and character, saying, "Turn from Your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on Your people" (Exodus 32:12). Moses' intercession is marked by selflessness and a deep concern for God's glory and the well-being of the people.

The prophets also engaged in intercession. In the book of Jeremiah, God instructs the prophet not to pray for the people due to their persistent rebellion (Jeremiah 7:16). This highlights the seriousness of intercession and the conditions under which it may be effective or ineffective.

New Testament Teachings

The New Testament expands on the theme of intercession, emphasizing the role of Jesus Christ as the ultimate intercessor. In Romans 8:34, Paul writes, "Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us" . Jesus' intercession is based on His sacrificial death and resurrection, providing believers with confidence in approaching God.

Believers are also called to intercede for one another. In 1 Timothy 2:1, Paul urges, "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for all people" . This instruction underscores the communal aspect of intercession, where the church is encouraged to pray for leaders, authorities, and all individuals.

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in intercession as well. Romans 8:26 states, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans" . The Spirit's intercession aligns the believer's prayers with God's will, ensuring they are effective and in accordance with His purposes.

Theological Implications

Intercession is a profound expression of love and faith. It reflects a believer's trust in God's power and willingness to act on behalf of others. The act of interceding is both a privilege and a responsibility, as it involves standing before God with the concerns and needs of others.

Theologically, intercession underscores the relational nature of God, who invites His people to participate in His redemptive work through prayer. It also highlights the priestly role of believers, as described in 1 Peter 2:9, where Christians are called "a royal priesthood" , tasked with bringing the needs of the world before God.

Intercession is a dynamic and transformative practice that not only impacts those for whom prayers are offered but also deepens the intercessor's relationship with God. Through intercession, believers align themselves with God's heart, seeking His will and purposes to be fulfilled on earth as it is in heaven.Genesis 20:7
Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for you, and you shall live: and if you restore her not, know you that you shall surely die, you, and all that are yours.
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Exodus 28:12,29,30,38
And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial to the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders for a memorial.
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Exodus 32:9-14
And the LORD said to Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff necked people:
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Numbers 6:23-26
Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, On this wise you shall bless the children of Israel, saying to them,
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Numbers 14:11-21
And the LORD said to Moses, How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which I have showed among them?
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Numbers 16:46-50
And Moses said to Aaron, Take a censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly to the congregation, and make an atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from the LORD; the plague is begun.
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Deuteronomy 5:5
(I stood between the LORD and you at that time, to show you the word of the LORD: for you were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount;) saying,
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Deuteronomy 7:9
Know therefore that the LORD your God, he is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
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Deuteronomy 9:18,20,25-29
And I fell down before the LORD, as at the first, forty days and forty nights: I did neither eat bread, nor drink water, because of all your sins which you sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.
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1 Samuel 7:5-8
And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you to the LORD.
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1 Samuel 12:23
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
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1 Samuel 15:24-26,30
And Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and your words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
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Job 1:5
And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.
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Job 9:32,33
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in judgment.
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Job 16:21
O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleads for his neighbor!
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Job 42:8-10
Therefore take to you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that you have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.
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Psalm 122:6
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love you.
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Isaiah 62:6,7
I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: you that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
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Isaiah 65:8
Thus said the LORD, As the new wine is found in the cluster, and one said, Destroy it not; for a blessing is in it: so will I do for my servants' sakes, that I may not destroy them all.
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Jeremiah 5:1
Run you to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if you can find a man, if there be any that executes judgment, that seeks the truth; and I will pardon it.
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Jeremiah 7:16
Therefore pray not you for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear you.
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Jeremiah 11:14
Therefore pray not you for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me for their trouble.
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Jeremiah 14:11
Then said the LORD to me, Pray not for this people for their good.
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Jeremiah 15:1
Then said the LORD to me, Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my mind could not be toward this people: cast them out of my sight, and let them go forth.
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Jeremiah 29:7
And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray to the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall you have peace.
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Ezekiel 22:30
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
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Matthew 8:5-13
And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came to him a centurion, beseeching him,
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Mark 6:55,56
And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
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Ephesians 6:18
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
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1 Timothy 2:1,2
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
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Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.
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James 5:14-20
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
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1 Peter 2:5,9
You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
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1 John 5:16
If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not to death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not to death. There is a sin to death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.
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Of those who Fancy That, on Account of the Saints' Intercession ...
... 18."Of Those Who Fancy That, on Account of the Saints' Intercession, Man Shall Be ...
life, and who accordingly, in their own interest, attribute to God a still ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/city of god/chapter 18 of those who fancy.htm

As the vine is Supported by the Elm, So is the Rich Man Helped by ...
... necessities, believing that what he does to the poor man will be able to find its
reward with God"because the poor man is rich in intercession and confession ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/similitude second as the vine.htm

On the Justification of Man Before God
... offering, and intercession according to God through his good pleasure and command.
But it may be thus defined, "it is a justification by which a man, who is a ...
/.../the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 19 on the justification.htm

The Holy Spirit's Intercession
... must first be made saints or you cannot feel the Spirit's intercession within you ...
To as man as received ... to them gave he power to become the sons of God"; and to ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 26 1880/the holy spirits intercession.htm

God Seeks Intercessors
... God's image and likeness to be God's representative in ... Faith sees man redeemed and
lifted into union with ... with Him, and clothed with His power in intercession. ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/chapter xiv god seeks intercessors.htm

Making God's Purpose Our Prayer.
... But the Spirit within me will make intercession for this man as ... as He hears His will
for this man being repeated ... of His on the earth in getting God's will done ...
/.../gordon/quiet talks on prayer/making gods purpose our prayer.htm

Three Forms of Prayer.
... They ally a man fully with God: it makes use of that alliance for others. Intercession
is the full-bloomed plant whose roots and strength lie back and down in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gordon/quiet talks on prayer/three forms of prayer.htm

In what Manner Christ Shall Deliver up the Kingdom to God, Even ...
... delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, so as no longer to make intercession
for us, as our Mediator and Priest, Son of God and Son of man; [112] but ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 10 in what manner christ.htm

Helps to Intercession
... who now stand idle because no man hath hired ... and try to practise this grace of
intercession, the more we ... and to answer truthfully: =Our sufficiency is of God=. ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/helps to intercession.htm

A Model of Intercession
... In our intercession we may find that there is difficulty and delay with the answer. ...
Blessed the man who is not staggered by God's delay, or silence, or ...
/.../murray/the ministry of intercession/chapter iii a model of.htm

What is the purpose of Jesus interceding for us in Heaven? | GotQuestions.org

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Intercession: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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