Luke 11:1-13

Luke 11:1-13

[1] And  it came to pass,  that, as  he  praying  in  a certain  place,  when  he ceased,  one  of his  disciples  said  unto  him,  Lord,  teach  to pray,  as  John  also  taught  his  disciples.  [2] And  he said  unto them,  When  ye pray,  say,  Father  which  art in  heaven,  Hallowed be  name.  kingdom  come.  will  be done,  as  in  heaven,  so  in  earth.  [3] Give  day  by day  daily  bread.  [4] And  forgive  sins;  for  we  also  forgive  every one  that is indebted  And  lead  not  into  temptation;  but  deliver  from  evil.  [5] And  he said  unto  them,  Which  of  shall have  a friend,  and  shall go  unto  him  at midnight,  and  say  unto him,  Friend,  lend  three  loaves;  [6] For  a friend  in  his journey  is come  to  and  I have  nothing  to set before  him?  [7] And he  from within  shall answer  and say,  Trouble  not:  the door  now  shut,  and  children  with  in  bed;  I cannot  rise  and give  [8] I say  not  rise  and give  him,  because  his  friend,  yet  because  of his  importunity  he will rise  and give  him  as many as  he needeth.  [9] And  I say  Ask,  and  it shall be given  seek,  and  ye shall find;  knock,  and  it shall be opened  [10] For  every one  that asketh  receiveth;  and  he that seeketh  findeth;  and  to him that knocketh  it shall be opened.  [11] If  a son  shall ask  that is a father,  will he give  him  if he ask a fish,  for  a fish  give  him  a serpent?  [12] Or  he shall ask  an egg,  him  a scorpion?  [13] If  then,  being  evil,  know  how to give  good  gifts  children:  how much  more  your heavenly  Father  give  the Holy  Spirit  to them that ask  him? 

What does Luke 11:1-13 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus continued to point out the disciple"s proper relationships. Having explained their relation to their neighbors ( Luke 10:25-37) and to Himself ( Luke 10:38-42), He now instructed them on their relation to their heavenly Father. This pericope, as the former one, clarifies the meaning of the first commandment ( Luke 10:27).
This whole section consists of teaching on prayer. Luke presented prayer as a major subject in which Jesus instructed His disciples whereas in Matthew prayer instruction is incidental to other themes. The teaching in the present section of this Gospel gives help to disciples who need to learn how to pray and encouragement that God will hear and answer their prayers. The disciples" request for instruction on how to pray ( Luke 11:1) resulted in Jesus giving them a pattern prayer ( Luke 11:2-4). He then gave them a parable that illustrates God"s willingness to answer ( Luke 11:5-8), a promise that God would answer ( Luke 11:9), and further assurance showing God"s readiness to answer their prayers ( Luke 11:10-13). Prayer is a discipline of dependence on God and as such is the life breath of every disciple of Jesus.