Luke 11:5-9

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 11:1-13

Prayer is one of the great laws of natural religion. That man is a brute, is a monster, that never prays, that never gives glory to his Maker, nor feels his favour, nor owns his dependence upon him. One great design therefore of Christianity is to assist us in prayer, to enforce the duty upon us, to instruct us in it, and encourage us to expect advantage by it. Now here, I. We find Christ himself praying in a certain place, probably where he used to pray, Luke 11:1. As God, he was prayed to;... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 11:5-13

11:5-13 Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him towards midnight and says to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves because a friend of mine has arrived at my house from a journey and I have nothing to set before him'; and suppose his friend answers from within, 'Don't bother me; the door has already been shut and my children are in bed with me; I can't get up and supply you'--I tell you, if he will not rise and supply him because he is his friend, he will rise and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 11:5

And he said unto them, which of you shall have a friend ,.... A neighbour, or acquaintance: and shall go unto him at midnight ; which may seem a very unseasonable time, and which nothing but real distress, not knowing what otherwise to do, would put a man upon: and say unto him, friend, lend me three loaves : it was usual of the Jews to borrow bread of one another, and certain rules are laid down, when, and on what condition, this is to be done; as for instance, on a sabbath day ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 11:6

For a friend of mine in his journey ,.... Or "out of the way"; having lost his way, being benighted; and has rambled about for some time, and at length, is come to me ; for lodging and entertainment: and I have nothing to set before him ; to refresh him with, after such a fatigue, before he goes to bed, which was very requisite and proper. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 11:7

And he from within shall answer and say ,.... The friend within doors, shall reply to him that is without at his door, in the street: trouble me not ; by knocking at the door, and importuning to rise and lend loaves; whereby his rest would be disturbed, and trouble given him; the door is now shut ; being very late at night, and which could not be opened without noise and inconvenience: and my children are with me in bed : sleeping, as the Persic version adds; there were none,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 11:8

I say unto you ,.... This is the accommodation of the parable; to these words are premised, in the Vulgate Latin version, the following, "if he continue knocking": though he will not rise and give him, because he is a friend ; though mere friendship will not influence and engage him to rise from his bed, at such an unseasonable time, and fulfil the request of his friend; yet because of his importunity, he will rise and give him as many as he needeth : as he asks for, or more, if... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 11:9

And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given you ,.... This is said by Christ, to encourage to prayer, and importunity in it; that if any one asks of God, in the name of Christ, and in faith, whether it be bread for the body, or food for the soul; or any blessing whatever, whether temporal or spiritual, it shall be given; not according to their deserts, but according to the riches of the grace of God; who is rich unto all that call upon him, in sincerity and truth: seek, and ye shall... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 11:1-5

Teach us to pray - See the nature of prayer, with an ample explanation of the different parts of the Lord's Prayer, treated of in Matthew 6:5-16 ; (note). The prayer related here by Luke is not precisely the same as that mentioned by Matthew; and indeed it is not likely that it was given at the same time. That in Matthew seems to have been given after the second passover; and this in Luke was given probably after the third passover, between the feasts of tabernacles, and the dedication. It... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 11:6

In his journey is come - Or, perhaps more literally, A friend of mine is come to me out of his way, εξ ὁδου , which renders the case more urgent - a friend of mine, benighted, belated, and who has lost his way, is come unto me. This was a strong reason why he should have prompt relief. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 11:7

My children are with me in bed - Or, I and my children are in bed; this is Bishop Pearce's translation, and seems to some preferable to the common one. See a like form of speech in 1 Corinthians 16:11 , and in Ephesians 3:18 . However, we may conceive that he had his little children, τα παιδια , in bed with him; and this heightened the difficulty of yielding to his neighbor's request. But if he persevere knocking. ( At si ille perseveraverit pulsans ). This sentence is added to the... read more

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