(1) And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. (2) And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. (3) Give us, day by day, our daily bread. (4) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive everyone that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. (5) 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; (6) For a friend of mine in his journey is come unto me, and I have nothing to set before him? (7) 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. (8) 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. (9) 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. (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 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? (12) Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? (13) 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?
It should be observed in this place, that though the form of prayer here delivered by Luke, differs not, in anything material from that recorded by Matthew, (Matthew 6:9) yet Jesus was now in Judea; whereas, then he was in Galilee. And moreover, the prayer was then, according to Matthew, delivered in the midst of Christ's preaching. Here we are told, he himself was praying. I need not tell the Reader (indeed the limits and designs of this Poor Man's Commentary would not permit me), how much hath been said for and against the use of this prayer by the Lord's people. Doubtless it is a very blessed, a very comprehensive prayer, and every petition in it truly spiritual; and contains, more or less, everything of what the prayer of the faithful ought to be. And, according to what Luke hath here said, it should seem to decide the point. He doth not use the same expression as Matthew did, when recording the words of Christ: After this manner, therefore, pray ye; but he positively saith, When ye pray, say, Our Father, etc.
Our Lord beautifully illustrates the holy importunity of prayer, under the figure of a friend arising at midnight; and at length prevailing over all the arguments brought against him by his unwearied earnestness, which will take no refusal. The Lord loves a fervency in spirit. Scripture hath furnished several striking instances of its effect and success. Genesis 32:24-29; Genesis 32:24-29; Luke 18:1-8.