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Scott's Reference Library
Luke 11:1-13
Sunday Between July 24 and July 30 (Proper 12) C (Gospel) July 26, 1998
Luke 11:1-13
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said
to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
[2] He said to them, "When you pray, say:
" 'Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
[3] Give us each day our daily bread.
[4] Forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.' "
[5] 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, [6] because a friend of mine on
a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.'
[7] "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.' [8] 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.
[9] "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock
and the door will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks
finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
[11] "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake
instead? [12] Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? [13] If you then, though
you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father
in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
(NIV)
Luke 11:1-4 (The disciples taught to pray)
"Lord, teach us to pray," is a good prayer, and a very needful one, for Jesus Christ only can teach us, by his word and Spirit, how to pray. Lord, teach me what it is to pray; Lord, stir up and quicken me to the duty; Lord, direct me what to pray for; teach me what I should say. Christ taught them a prayer, much the same that he had given before in his sermon upon the mount. There are some differences in the words of the Lord’s prayer in Matthew and in Luke, but they are of no moment. Let us in our requests, both for others and for ourselves, come to our heavenly Father, confiding in his power and goodness.
Luke 11:5-13 (Christ encourages being earnest in prayer)
Christ encourages fervency and constancy in prayer. We must come for what we need, as a man does to his neighbour or friend, who is kind to him. We must come for bread; for that which is needful. If God does not answer our prayers speedily, yet he will in due time, if we continue to pray. Observe what to pray for; we must ask for the Holy Spirit, not only as necessary in order to our praying well, but as all spiritual blessings are included in that one. For by the influences of the Holy Spirit we are brought to know God and ourselves, to repent, believe in, and love Christ, and so are made comfortable in this world, and meet for happiness in the next. All these blessings our heavenly Father is more ready to bestow on every one that asks for them, than an indulgent parent is to give food to a hungry child. And this is the advantage of the prayer of faith, that it quiets and establishes the heart in God.
(Matthew Henry Concise Commentary)