Luke 11:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

You have a significant means of repentance through acts of charity, which can liberate you from the chains of sin. Additionally, there exists a second method of repentance that is equally effective for your salvation: fervent prayer. Pray consistently, and let not weariness overcome you; earnestly implore the compassion of God, for He will not disregard the one who prays persistently. He will forgive your transgressions and answer your requests. If you find that your prayers are heard, continue to pray, so that your offerings of gratitude may reach Him; but if you feel unheard, remain steadfast in prayer, that you might eventually be acknowledged. Do not lament, saying, "I have prayed extensively and have not been answered," for often this is for your own benefit.

God is that friend, who loveth all men, and wills that all should he saved.

The Saviour had before taught, in answer to the request of His apostles, how men ought to pray. But it might happen that those who had received this wholesome teaching, poured forth their prayers indeed according to the form given to them, but carelessly and languidly, and then when they were not heard in the first or second prayer, left off praying. That this then might not be our case, He shews by means of a parable, that cowardice in our prayers is hurtful, but it is of great advantage to have patience in them. Hence it is said, And he says unto them, Which of you shall have a friend.

The time then referred to is that of the famine of the word, when the understanding is shut up, (Amos 8:11.) and they who dealing out the wisdom of the Gospel as it were bread, preached throughout the world, are now in their secret rest with the Lord. And this it is which is added, And my children are with me in bed.

For perhaps He delays purposely, to redouble your earnestness and coming to him, and that you may know what the gift of God is, and may anxiously guard what is given. For whatever a man acquires with much pains he strives to keep safe, lest with the loss of that he should lose his labour likewise.

Well does he call those children who by the arms of righteousness have claimed to themselves freedom from passion, shewing that the good which by practice we have acquired, had been from the beginning laid up in our nature. For when any one renouncing the flesh, by living in the exercise of a virtuous life, has overcome passion, then he becomes as a child, and is insensible to the passions. But by the bed we understand the rest of Christ.

Who is a greater friend to us, than He who delivered up His body for us? Now we have here another kind of command given us, that at all times, not only in the day, but at night, prayers should be offered up. For it follows, And shall go into him at midnight. (Ps. 119:62.) As David did when he said, At midnight I will rise and give thanks unto thee. For he had no fear of awakening them from sleep, whom he knew to be ever watching. For if David who was occupied also in the necessary affairs of a kingdom was so holy, that seven times in the day he gave praise to God, (Ps. 119:164.) what ought we to do, who ought so much the more to pray, as we more frequently sin, through the weakness of our mind and body? But if thou lovest the Lord thy God, thou wilt be able to gain favour, not only for thyself, but others. For it follows, And say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves, &c.

then due to his boldness, he rose and provided him with what he requested. This is the purpose of the parable. By boldness, however, He meant the persistent nature of the request.

Luke does not specify the location where Christ prayed and subsequently taught His disciples about prayer at their request. However, from earlier accounts by this evangelist, we know that Jesus journeyed from Galilee through Samaria on His way to the Feast of Tabernacles, passing near Jerusalem and arriving at Bethany, where He likely spent the first days of the feast until His rest (John 7:14). The incident Luke describes likely occurred shortly after Jesus visited Martha and Mary. This leads to the assumption that the “certain place” where Jesus prayed was the Mount of Olives, located on the eastern hillside of Bethany, where He typically retreated for solitary prayer during His time in Jerusalem (see John 8:1; Luke 21:37).

The Gospel writer Luke shares that Jesus introduced the importance of steadfast prayer through the parable of a man who approached his friend at midnight, requesting three loaves of bread. Though the request was made at an inconvenient hour, it was granted, not out of friendship, but due to the man's unwavering persistence. Jesus related this parable to those who seek God's presence in prayer, teaching: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7). In the phrases ask, seek, knock, one can discern how prayer, initially unanswered, gains strength through continued fervency, boldly and confidently pressing at the door of divine grace.

To illuminate this truth for His disciples, Christ shared a brief parable, saying, “Imagine that one of you has a friend who comes to him at midnight and asks, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for my friend has arrived from his journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ The man inside may respond, ‘Do not bother me; the door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and provide you with anything.’ However, I tell you, even if he does not get up due to their friendship, because of the other’s persistence, he will rise and give him what he needs. Therefore, I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

He spoke to them, indicating that the conversation of a friend seeking bread serves to illustrate the importance of perseverance in prayer to receive what is requested from God. There are times when God may not provide an immediate response to our petitions, even when they align with His will and are presented with faith and hope by those whom He cherishes. This is part of His mysterious plans, yet our requests should remain unwavering and persistent. We must engage in continual prayer if we desire to receive what we seek. While every parable holds meaning, not every detail carries equal significance pertaining to God; some elements are merely intended for clarity and to enhance the vividness of the portrayal, thereby rendering the parable more relatable and memorable.

To demonstrate the significance and effectiveness of earnest, heartfelt prayer to our heavenly Father, the Lord referenced a familiar scenario from daily life. Suppose you have a friend and you go to him at midnight, saying, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.” From inside, the friend replies, “Do not trouble me; the door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up to give you anything.” Yet I tell you, even if he will not rise and help because he is a friend, he will get up and provide whatever is needed due to the persistence of the request. The Lord previously spoke about perseverance and patience in prayer in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:7-11) and later illustrated it in the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8).