Luke 11:5-8 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

And he said unto them, which, &c.— Having taught his disciples, by the preceding short form, that they were not, in prayer, to use a multiplicity of words, with vain repetitions; he proceeded to caution them on the other hand against coldness, indifferency, and slackness in their supplications. The evil of this, and the necessity of askingaffectionately,with importunity and perseverance, he taught them by a parable, in which he shewed them that importunity, that is to say, earnestness and frequency in asking, were the proper and natural expressions of strong desires; and by consequence, that God very properly requires these things in men, before he bestows on them such favours as they stand in need of; just as he requires them to be earnestly desirous of these favours, before he blesseth them therewith. The passage, My children are with me in bed, Luke 11:7 might be rendered, My servants, together with me, or as well as myself are in bed. "My servants are in bed, as well as myself, and very probably they are fast asleep; so that there is nobody at hand to give you what you want."

Luke 11:5-8

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 inb his journey is come to 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.