Luke 11:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

As you will recall, during our last gathering, we discussed the importance of persistent prayer and the need to continually seek God's assistance. It is essential that we do not succumb to mental fatigue or lose heart, even if His gifts seem delayed, for He understands what is truly beneficial for us and never forgets the opportune moment for His generosity.

In today’s Gospel passage, the Savior addresses yet another vital lesson for our spiritual growth. What is this lesson? Let us share it with one another. Often, we approach our generous God with various petitions aligned with our desires, yet we may do so without careful consideration of what is genuinely advantageous for us. If granted, some requests could lead to blessing, while others may bring harm. In our careless yearning, we sometimes pursue harmful desires that ensnare our souls in the depths of despair and the traps of destruction.

So, when we seek such requests, we are unlikely to receive them; rather, we present a request that might be deemed foolish. Why, then, do we not receive? Does the Lord of all creation tire of granting us gifts? Certainly not. Some may ask why He does not provide if He is abundantly generous. Let us listen to His teaching, as He stated, “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?” He uses an example rooted in human experience to clarify His message; you are parents who naturally desire to care for your children. You wish to do good for them and, when they request bread, you readily and joyfully fulfill that need, understanding that they seek sustenance.

Yet, if a child, lacking discernment and knowledge of the various things around them, asks for stones to eat, do you give them? Or do you guide them away from such harmful wishes? The same truth applies when it comes to the serpent and the fish, the egg and the scorpion. If the child asks for a fish, you eagerly provide it; however, if they see a snake and try to grab it, you restrain them, recognizing the peril. Likewise, when they seek an egg, you readily offer it, nurturing their healthy inclinations. Conversely, if they chase after a scorpion, imagining it to be beautiful and unaware of the danger it poses, surely you would intervene to protect them from harm.

‘The Lord’s Prayer’ (2-4) and the teaching on perseverance in prayer (5-13) were passed down through Matthew, who recounted it as part of the Sermon on the Mount (6:9-13; 7:7-11). It seems unlikely that, apart from the instance mentioned by Luke, Jesus was the only one who had the opportunity to pray. Moreover, it is hard to believe that, excluding the reference by Luke, Christ had not previously taught His disciples this essential format of prayer during the Sermon on the Mount; it is improbable that the disciples forgot this teaching and were now asking Him for guidance on how to pray. Additionally, their request does not indicate any prior instruction on the topic, nor does Christ respond without recalling His earlier teachings on prayer. Thus, it is likely that Matthew presents ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ in the context of the Sermon on the Mount as a unified concept.

However, in this steadfast endeavor for the Kingdom of Heaven, remember that you cannot accomplish it by your own power alone; therefore, pray, ask, and it will be given to you. Just as anyone who diligently searches will surely find, and the one who continually knocks will have the door opened, so too will the one who asks without ceasing receive. Is there anyone among you who, when his son requests bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, would give him a serpent? If you, despite your flaws, know how to grant good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father provide good things to those who ask Him? Many complain to God when their requests are not granted immediately, and from their discontent, they slide into despair or, worse, unbelief. ‘If you do not receive right away,’ Chrysostom advises, ‘do not lose hope. Christ meant for you to knock, implying that if the door does not open quickly, patience is necessary. If you consistently seek God, you will receive what you ask, even if it takes time, but you will indeed receive it. This is why the door is closed, to encourage your persistence; this is why it does not immediately respond to your requests. Therefore, ask continually, and you shall certainly receive. But if you wonder, What if I ask and do not receive? - to address this concern, the Savior offers a parable, teaching you not only what to ask for but also how to ask. Is there anyone among you who would give his son a stone when he asks for bread? Thus, if you do not obtain what you seek, it may be that you are asking for a stone. Being a son is not enough — it may even hinder you if you request that which is unhelpful. Instead, ask for what is spiritual, and you will surely receive. If you claim to not receive even when asking for spiritual things, it is likely because you are not knocking persistently, or you have rendered yourself unworthy to receive, or perhaps you have given up too soon. But you may question, ‘Why didn’t the Savior specify what to ask for?’ He has already provided that guidance (St. John Chrysostom. Conversations on the Gospel of Matthew. 23). He stated: ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (referring to earthly needs) will be added to you’ (Matthew 6:33). Yet, must we truly consider all earthly things as stones for which we should not petition the Heavenly Father? Did not Christ Himself instruct us to pray for our daily bread? And is not this daily bread essential for sustaining human life? After all, Jesus prayed for healing from physical ailments and sickness, indicating that it is indeed appropriate to pray for health and relief from disease. Since good health is necessary for life, it is as temporal a gift as food, clothing, and shelter. Thus, we can conclude that Christ did not prohibit requests for earthly goods when they are needed, as His instruction to pray for daily bread suggests. However, when He said, ‘Ask, and it will be given to you,’ He was primarily referring to the blessings that lead to eternal life. This invitation assures His disciples and listeners of divine support in fulfilling His commandments and in shouldering the yoke He places upon them. In essence, this burden is not as daunting as it may first appear. All of Christ’s commandments and His yoke culminate in His concluding phrase: ‘In all things, therefore, as you wish that others would do to you, so do to them also.’

For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks, it will be opened.” This highlights the potency of a believer’s prayer when filled with the grace and spirit of Jesus Christ in their heart. God approaches us as a friend to whom we can appeal with tenacity, pressing on in prayer to receive the answer we seek. The more He appears unresponsive to our cries, the bolder we ought to be in our requests until He responds. In such moments, a Christian must have faith that their prayers will be answered, as promised by the benevolence of God. However, we should remain within the boundaries of what we bring to Him in prayer, as indicated by Jesus Christ Himself. If an individual, in their selflessness, petitions for what is not genuinely beneficial or even harmful, God will not heed such a plea. He only answers prayers that are truly aimed at our genuine welfare, those which not only support our earthly existence but ultimately guide us toward everlasting life.