Exegetical Summary for Luke 11:5-13

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EXEGETICAL SUMMARY FOR LUKE 11:5-13 – THE FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT

The Gospel of Luke is the longest book of the four Gospel in the New Testament. Prayer is the focus of Luke 11 as it is started with the Lord's prayer and followed by His assurance in Luke 11:9, “Ask and it will be given to you.”

Verse-by-Verse analysis and Commentary of Luke 11:5-13

Verse 5

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, “Friend, lend me three loaves of bread;

Two characters are mentioned inside the story; the first character is “The Host” which is a man who needs the bread and the latter one is “The Friend” who is in bed. “The Host” comes to the house of “The Friend” to ask for three loaves of bread. The time of the incident is midnight when there are no shops and the unexpected visitor has come by surprise (NIGTC, 1998).

Verse 6

a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.”

“The Host” needs to offer food to “The Guest” with hospitality. (NIGTC, 1998).

Verse 7

And suppose the one inside answer, “Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.”

“The Friend” declined to the request of “The Host” because of the annoyance at being awakened. At this time the door has been locked. The house is a cottage style and the whole family members are sleeping together on a mat which is used as a bed (NIGTC, 1998).

Verse 8

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

2

Jesus says that because of the attitude and friendship of “...

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...e chooses to go to his friend instead of trying to solve the problem by himself because he believes that his friend will be able to provide him the bread. Thai Christians are in the same situation as “The Host” during this political crisis. They need to listen to God and calibrate their attitude towards prayer. Prayer should be the first priority in every situation and God has already assured us that all of our requests will be answered. He will answer not because of our persistence in asking, but because of His honor. Moreover, He will give as much as we want according to His riches in the heaven.

Bibliography

Craig Blomberg, Interpreting The Parables (Downers Groove: InterVarsity, 1990), 274-277

Howard I. Marshall, The Gospel of Luke: The New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998), 462-470

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