Luke 11:5-13

This section contains instruction that is very important to praying effectively. Verse 9 is written in the present imperative tense. It means to keep on doing something that you are presently doing. "Keep on asking." "Keep on seeking." "Keep on knocking." That fits exactly with what precedes it with the illustration of the persistent friend. Let's reread verse 13.

Let's not misunderstand here. It would be very easy to assume from this that somehow or another we must be persistent in order to cajole God into giving things to us. That is not the lesson.

Notice, God is "much more" willing than a man is to give gifts to his son. If a man is willing to give gifts to his son, then God is even more willing to give gifts. God does not have to be argued into kind of opening up His hand and giving us what it is that we ask for. Being persistent means something else entirely. God is not unwilling to respond. Being persistent is not required because He is not hearing us.

Back to Luke 11. When we pray to God, God is not putting us off because we are irritating Him. He does not mock us, mock our prayers, by giving us a shabby substitute for what we have asked. God will not give a stone for a piece of bread. God will not substitute a scorpion for an egg. God will give us what we ask for!

God is not putting us off. And He does not mock our prayers by supplying a substitute. He tells us here through Christ that even ungenerous humans give good gifts. Actually, the word would be better translated "wholesome" things.

God gives gifts that will meet the need not only for the present but for all eternity as well—and it is most likely, Luke says, going to be something of His Spirit that we can carry through the grave and on into His kingdom.

This section here in Luke 11:1-13 is devoted to one major objective—to do to instruct us concerning our perception of God the Father. Number one, He is not a reluctant stranger who can be bullied into bestowing His many gifts simply because of our many words. That is not the issue for being persistent.

Number two, He is not a malicious tyrant who takes vicious glee in the tricks that He plays on His subjects—by giving a scorpion rather than an egg.

Number three, He is not an indulgent grandfather who provides everything that is requested of Him. He does not spoil His children.

Number Four, He is our heavenly Father who graciously and willingly bestows good gifts when they are needed in answer to prayer. The key thing is "the good gifts when they are needed."

Luke 11:1-13

This section here in Luke 11:1-13 is devoted to one major objective—to do to instruct us concerning our perception of God the Father. Number one, He is not a reluctant stranger who can be bullied into bestowing His many gifts simply because of our many words. That is not the issue for being persistent.

Number two, He is not a malicious tyrant who takes vicious glee in the tricks that He plays on His subjects—by giving a scorpion rather than an egg.

Number three, He is not an indulgent grandfather who provides everything that is requested of Him. He does not spoil His children.

Number Four, He is our heavenly Father who graciously and willingly bestows good gifts when they are needed in answer to prayer. The key thing is "the good gifts when they are needed."