Luke 11:5-13
Since bread was made every day and consumed that day in that time it makes more sense of asking for “daily bread” and this neighbor in the parable coming and asking for bread for unexpected guests. They would have already eaten all of the bread in their house.
Parables are not allegories where everything and person means something. Parables use everyday situations and items to teach a spiritual truth. They have one obvious meaning. Is this parable teaching persistence in prayer?
Hospitality customs of the day dictated that unannounced stop-bys were to be welcomed and provided for. Travelers could stop unexpectedly and they were to be put up and fed. People traveled at night to stay out of the sun and it was super common to show up unannounced at a person’s house in the middle of the night. It was custom to spit on someone who was inhospitable. A fresh unbroken loaf of bread was required. Inhospitality brought shame to the whole community.
What is impudence and whose impudence is being referenced? Without shame or shamelessness.
In context and the cultural understanding it is better understood as the one being asked responding so they will stay shameless. This tracks since the following questions ask about God responding more perfectly than our human way of responding.
“Who among you…how much more” is meant to evoke shock. It is supposed to sound ridiculous.
This parable is NOT teaching to annoy God into response. The parable is meant to be contrast not comparison. Jesus isn’t saying God is like the neighbor in bed who only responds to persistence and fear of shame. He is saying that unlike that bad friend, God’s response will never be from being worn down by me. James 1:5 God will give freely without finding fault.
Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer supports this because he says “don’t think God will respond because of your many words.”
Vs 9-10 active present tense lends itself to the teaching of persistence. Parallelism is used to emphasize a point. The point is, ask God because he hears and responds.
We don’t have to annoy God into responding, but we do need to ask. This teaching balances our misconceptions about prayer.
Vs 11-13 Jesus teaches with the assumption that we will be asking for the Holy Spirit. At the time the thoughts about the HS were:
The HS was withdrawn from the world and no longer accessible.
The HS was only available to special prophets and religious leaders.
The HS isn’t accessible to the average person.
Jesus teaching that the HS is freely given to anyone who asks would have been shocking. The HS is the active agent walking along side of us to help us live out the Christian life.
God is not fed up with your request and annoyance is not your best chance of being answered. However, do ask and keep asking knowing that wants to meet your need and the best thing you can ask for is the Holy Spirit.