What do we do when we face injustice or oppression? In the New Testament, there are instances where imprecatory prayers—requests for God’s judgment or curses upon enemies—are offered. These prayers may seem harsh, but they reflect a longing for justice and divine retribution.
The New Testament contains several examples of individuals, including Jesus and Paul, invoking God’s judgment on those who oppose His will. These prayers reveal a complex relationship between God’s justice and human suffering. Let’s examine some key passages that highlight this form of prayer.
Imprecatory Prayers in the New Testament
#1. Matthew 23:13-36 – Woes to the Pharisees
In this passage, Jesus pronounces a series of woes against the Pharisees and teachers of the law. These woes can be seen as a form of imprecation, where Jesus calls down judgment upon them for their hypocrisy, pride, and misguidance of the people. Jesus condemns their outward righteousness while exposing their inner corruption, highlighting their role in blocking others from entering the kingdom of God.
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.”
#2. Luke 19:41-44 – Jesus Weeps Over Jerusalem
In this passage, Jesus weeps over Jerusalem, acknowledging its coming destruction. As He grieves, He also speaks a prophecy of judgment, declaring that the city will be surrounded, its people will be crushed, and not one stone will be left upon another. This is an imprecatory statement, as it calls down God’s judgment upon Jerusalem for rejecting the Messiah, despite having been given numerous opportunities to repent.
“If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes… they will not leave one stone on another…”
#3. Acts 13:9-11 – The Blinding of Elymas
In Acts, the apostle Paul confronts Elymas, a sorcerer who is trying to turn the proconsul away from the faith. Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounces a curse on Elymas, declaring that he will be blind for a time. This curse serves as both judgment on Elymas’ opposition to the truth and a sign to others of God’s power and authority.
“Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.”
#4. Revelation 6:9-10 – The Souls Under the Altar
In the book of Revelation, the souls of those martyred for their faith cry out to God from under the altar, asking how long it will be before God judges the earth and avenges their blood. This is a classic imprecatory plea for divine justice, as the martyrs desire to see the wicked punished for their persecution of the faithful.
“How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?”
#5. Revelation 19:1-3 – Praise for God’s Righteous Judgment
In Revelation, after the fall of Babylon, a great multitude in heaven praises God for His righteous judgment. This passage contains a declaration of God’s justice and a cry of “Hallelujah!” in response to the destruction of the wicked. This form of imprecation celebrates God’s righteous wrath against sin and the final defeat of evil.
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments.”
#6. Matthew 27:25 – The Crowd’s Declaration
In this chilling moment, when Pilate asks the crowd whether he should release Jesus or Barabbas, the crowd demands Jesus’ crucifixion. They take responsibility for His death, pronouncing a curse upon themselves and their children. This declaration can be viewed as an imprecation, as the people call down judgment upon their own heads for rejecting the Messiah.
“All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and on our children!'”
#7. Mark 11:12-14 – The Withering of the Fig Tree
Jesus curses a barren fig tree for not bearing fruit when He is hungry, and it withers immediately. While this act may seem symbolic, it serves as a judgment on Israel for its spiritual barrenness. The fig tree represents the nation’s failure to produce the fruit of righteousness, and Jesus’ curse illustrates the consequences of spiritual unfruitfulness.
“May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”
#8. Luke 11:37-54 – Woes to the Pharisees and Experts in the Law
This passage repeats the woes found in Matthew, where Jesus again condemns the Pharisees and the experts in the law for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness. He criticizes their external piety while exposing their internal corruption, calling them blind guides and accusing them of burdening the people with rules they themselves do not follow. This is another form of imprecation, as Jesus warns of the consequences of their actions.
“Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it.”
#9. Acts 23:1-5 – Paul’s Rebuke of Ananias
In this passage, Paul, speaking before the Sanhedrin, rebukes the high priest Ananias for ordering him to be struck. Paul calls Ananias a “whitewashed wall,” an imprecation that condemns the hypocrisy and corruption of the high priest. His sharp words serve as a declaration of judgment on Ananias for his unjust behavior.
“God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!”
#10. Revelation 22:18-19 – Warning Against Adding or Taking Away from the Book
At the conclusion of Revelation, a strong warning is given against altering the prophecy of the book. This passage contains an imprecation, declaring that anyone who adds to or takes away from the words of the prophecy will incur severe consequences, including the plagues described in the scroll. This serves to preserve the integrity of God’s word and His righteous judgment.
“I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City.”
Closing Thoughts
Imprecatory prayers in the New Testament show that God’s justice is not passive but active. These prayers call for divine judgment upon those who oppose God’s will, often in response to hypocrisy, injustice, or persecution.
While they may seem harsh, they reflect the deep desire for God’s righteousness to prevail. The examples presented remind us that God is a righteous judge who will ultimately bring justice. As believers, these prayers also challenge us to reflect on the nature of justice, mercy, and how we respond to those who oppose or mistreat us.