THE LATER JUDEAN MINISTRY

-Jesus Teaches Regarding Prayer

-Luke 11:1-13

-Side Note:  “Much of the material in this chapter is suggestive of very similar teachings to be

 found in Matthew; but this must not be misunderstood as variable accounts of the same events

 and teachings, colored by the individual viewpoints of the narrators, and therefore being

 inaccurate or deficient in one or another of the sacred evangelists” (Coffman, 1975, pg 235).  It

 seems that there were a number of similarities between Jesus’ efforts in (and around) Galilee

 and His efforts in Judea - both in what He taught and the people’s reaction to Him.  We see

 some of those similarities in this chapter.

-A disciple of Christ, having seen and heard the example of Jesus praying, made the request,

 “Lord, teach us to pray.”  In response to the request, Jesus repeated the model prayer which He

 previously presented as a part of the Sermon on the Mount.

-Within the model prayer we find:  relationship with God (Our Father); reverence toward Him

 (Hallowed be thy name) and the seeking of His will (Thy will be done).  It reflects on our

 dependence upon God physically (daily bread) and spiritually (forgive us our sins).  It reminds

 us of His guidance (lead us not into temptation) and protection (deliver us).

-Jesus then presented the Parable of the Friend at Midnight which teaches us to be persistent in

 prayer.

-In his book entitled Lessons From the Parables, Neil R. Lightfoot considered this parable

 together with the Parable of the Persistent Widow.  Here are a few of his observations:

            -“According to Luke the two parables were given on different occasions, but each obviously

              enforces the lessons of the other” (pg 71).

            -“In the parabolic illustrations of the host and the widow, Jesus gives in capsule form some

             of the basic requirements or conditions of effective prayer.  First, a prayer must be direct and

             definite...Prayer is personal and individual...We can and must be frank when we speak to

             God...Second, a prayer must be sincere...Prayer by its very nature must come from the

             heart...Third, prayer must be persistent.  This is the main point of the parables...It is not that

             God needs to be begged.  The main truth of the parables is, however, that if men can get

             what they want through shameless begging, certainly a loving heavenly Father will grant the

             requests of His children” (pg 73-74).

-This parable makes it very clear that God will answer, and therefore reward, effective, persistent

 prayer.

-We should gain great comfort in knowing that God listens to our prayers and answers them in

              accordance with His perfect will!