In the parable, Jesus begins by describing a man who goes to a friend’s house at midnight to borrow three loaves of bread. The man’s request is prompted by the arrival of unexpected guests at his own home, and he has nothing to offer them. He approaches his friend’s house and knocks on the door, asking for the bread. The friend inside the house initially refuses to get up and help because he and his family are already in bed. He tells the man outside that he cannot help him at that moment. Despite this refusal, the man outside continues to knock and persistently asks for the bread. Due to the man’s persistence and urgency, the friend inside the house finally gets up and gives him the bread. He does so not out of friendship but because of the man’s persistence. The parable underscores the idea that God desires His followers to be persistent in prayer (Editor’s note: See 1 Thessalonians 5:17), trusting that He will ultimately respond to their true needs. It teaches that persistent prayer is a way for believers to demonstrate their dependence on Him and their faith in His willingness to provide.
Parable of the Friend at Midnight Meaning
The Parable of the Friend at Midnight meaning can be found in Luke 11:5-13:
Luke 11:5-13
“And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
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