Luke 11:5

Luke 11:5, in plain English

Jesus tells a story: Imagine knocking on your friend's door at midnight because you have an unexpected guest and nothing to feed them. It sounds awkward, but that's exactly the point.

Why it's here

In that culture, not being able to feed a guest was deeply embarrassing. Jesus is setting up a scenario where you have no choice but to ask for help, even when it's inconvenient.

Who's speaking

Jesus launches into a parable to show His disciples that prayer should be bold, persistent, and unashamed.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus follows the Lord's Prayer with a real-life scenario about desperation and friendship. He's about to make a powerful point about how God responds when you come to Him with your needs.

The scholarly reading

Jesus transitions from the model prayer to a parable about persistence in prayer. The midnight scenario reflects the social dynamics of a village where hospitality was a communal obligation, not merely individual.

Language and setting

In ancient Palestinian culture, failing to provide hospitality brought shame on the entire village, not just the individual host. The friend's request was therefore socially urgent.

Voice

Jesus introduces a parable to illustrate how His disciples should approach God in prayer -- with boldness and persistence.

Significance

After teaching what to pray, Jesus now teaches how to pray. This parable about a friend at midnight encourages shameless boldness before God.

3Give us each day our daily bread.

4And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

5Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

6because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’

7And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’

Read all of Luke 11 — The disciples ask for a prayer, and Jesus gives them words that have echoed for two thousand years. Then he warns against empty religion.