Prayer to saints
A brief insight to a biblical basis for the intercession of saints
I've been requested by a friend to share some of the biblical evidence for asking saints for their intercession, among other topics. Since the prompt is only asking for scriptural evidence, that is what we will limit ourselves to in this instance; not implying that what is presented is the only evidence for this doctrine nor the only scriptural evidence.
Christ himself tells us what we will be like in the afterlife "For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven." (Matthew 22:30)
If when we die (those who go to heaven at least) we will be like angels, not just that we won't be married, but pure spirits; we can then ask scripture the capabilities of angels
Jesus says “See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 18:10) These angels, as stated by Christ, are tied to these children, but also see the face of the Father, showing they are able to observe heaven and earth.
More explicitly, Jesus says "Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)
The Angels of heaven are undoubtedly aware of what is happening on earth. Our next question is whether or not this ability is transferred to the saints on earth who pass away and go to heaven.
John tells us in his vision of heaven "I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; they cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” (Revelation 6:9-10) so specifically the human martyrs are aware that their blood has not been avenged.
In regards specifically to prayer, John says "and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God." (Revelation 8:4) In this passage, the term "saints" speaks of those on earth. So we see the image of the prayers of those on earth being brought to God by angels, who we will be like in the afterlife.
Next is to address why ask them in the first place even if everything else I've said is true. "nothing unclean shall enter it (heaven), nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life." (Revelation 21:27) So all those in heaven are perfectly clean and undoubtedly more righteous than anyone on earth whom you could ask to pray for you.
Since this is the case, and "The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects." (James 5:16). It stands to reason that the intercessory prayers of those who have been made perfectly righteous should be the ones you are asking to intercede on your behalf.
My friend has also asked specifically about Mary's intercession. Luke actually gives us a clear example of what this intercession looks like. "When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “O woman, what have you to do with me?[a] My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Luke 2:3-5)
Pay attention to Mary's words, she merely brings the issue to Jesus, and afterwards turns to the servants (an image of us), and say do what He tells you. Essentially she is saying, "I've presented your issue now submit to His will". Jesus could have told them whatever He wanted, and nothing in Mary's words hint that she assumed he would perform the miracle. Simply "do whatever he tells you"
We can't say there is no evidence this concept is at the very least sometimes required. In the old testament God tells Jobs friends, "Now therefore take seven bulls 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 I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly" (Job 42:8)
Therefore, Scripture gives us several important premises. The saints in heaven are alive before God rather than unconscious or nonexistent (Rev. 6:9–10). Heavenly beings can be aware of events taking place on earth (Matt. 18:10; Luke 15:10), and Scripture depicts the inhabitants of heaven participating in the presentation of prayers before God (Rev. 8:3–4). Scripture also teaches that the prayers of the righteous are powerful (James 5:16), while those who enter the heavenly Jerusalem have been completely purified (Rev. 21:27). Finally, Scripture repeatedly demonstrates that God chooses to accomplish His purposes through the intercession of particular righteous persons, most clearly in Job 42:8 and in Mary's intercession at Cana (John 2:3–5).
None of these passages, taken in isolation, says, “Ask the saints in heaven to pray for you.” The biblical case is instead cumulative. Scripture gives us no reason to believe that death renders the righteous incapable of knowing earthly affairs or of praying before God. On the contrary, Scripture depicts the saints in heaven as alive, conscious, concerned with earthly events, and standing before God. Scripture also establishes the efficacy of righteous intercession and repeatedly shows God choosing to work through it. Thus, while the practice of asking the saints for their intercession is not stated in one explicit command, it is entirely consistent with the biblical picture of heaven and has substantial scriptural foundations.