One day Jesus was praying. After he finished, one of his disciples asked him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1, New International Version). In answer to this question, Jesus taught his disciples the Model Prayer (sometimes called the Lord’s Prayer—John 17 is more correctly called the Lord’s Prayer). Jesus then told this parable.
The Parable of the Friend at Midnight is found only in Luke 11:5-8. It is the first parable of a trilogy on prayer. All three of the parables on prayer are found only in Luke.
The Story
Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, `Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’
"Then the one inside answers, `Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. (Luke 11:5-8, New International Version).
Ralph Earle explains local customs in Jesus’ day:
"Lend" (v. 5) means "grant me the use of, as a friendly act." The "loaves" of Jesus’ day were something quite different from our modern, sliced, baker’s loaves of bread. They were like flat breakfast biscuits or small pancakes. The man wanted three loaves so that he could offer one to his guest, eat one with him for fellowship, and have an added one to offer his host for "seconds."
"In his journey" may be translated "out of his way." But in the hot season in Palestine people commonly traveled at night. So it was not necessarily unusual that a traveler should arrive at midnight. But it was inconvenient for the host. In those days it was the custom for the women to grind the barley or wheat each morning with little handmills, and make fresh "loaves" of bread for the day. Normally these would be eaten before night. The Greek word for "importunity" (v. 8) [boldness, NIV] is found only here in the New Testament. It literally means "shamelessness." When one knows his cause is just he has to be shameless in asking. (Turnbull, Gen. ed., PROCLAIMING THE NEW TESTAMENT, THE GOSPEL OF LUKE, by Ralph Earle, pp. 51-52).
The Interpretation
Jesus makes his point here based on contrast, not likeness. If a neighbor who is not a friend and who doesn’t want to get up and disturb his family will get up just because someone is shamelessly persistent, how much more will our loving Heavenly Father give us the things we need, if we persist in prayer! (Barclay, DAILY STUDY BIBLE SERIES, LUKE, pp. 147 ff.).
God wants us to: (1) learn his will on a specific matter; (2) ask him for the thing needed; and (3) persist in faith until the answer to prayer comes. (See my electronic book on prayer).
Central Truth
GOD WANTS US TO PERSIST IN FAITH UNTIL HE ANSWERS PRAYER.
Conclusion
Carr comments:
Although idle repetitions in prayer are forbidden, persistency and importunity in prayer—wrestling with God, and not letting him go until he has blessed us—are here distinctly taught.... (Carr, CAMBRIDGE GREEK TESTAMENT FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, LUKE, by F. W. Farrar, p. 261). We give up too easily. God wants us to realize that from the first time we prayed according to his will, he began to work toward answering prayer. Our part is to keep believing until his work is through, that is, until our prayer has been answered!
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