LESSON FOURTEEN THE PARABLE OF THE FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT & THE PERSISTENT WIDOW (Luke 11:1-13; 18:1-8). INTRO: TEACHING PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER I The Friend At Midnight (Luke 11:1-13). A. Jesus Praying Prompts A Request (V. 1). 1. Jesus had been praying in a certain place (v.1). a. In the gospels we see glimpses into the prayer habits of Jesus: i. Rising early to pray in a solitary place (Mark 1:35). ii. Often withdrawing into the wilderness to pray (Luke 5:16). iii. Praying all night in preparation to selecting His apostles (Luke 6:12-13). iv. His beautiful prayer recorded in (John 17). v. His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-44). vi. His prayers on the cross (Matthew 27:46; Luke 23:34, 46). b. Undoubtedly His example had an impact on those who saw Him praying. 2. A disciple wants Jesus to teach them to pray (v.1b). a. Even as John had taught his disciples. b. Certainly this Jewish disciple knew how to pray in some sense, but understood that Jesus had so much more to teach him. B. Jesus Answers By Teaching A Model Prayer (V. 2-4). 1. Commonly referred to the Lord s Prayer. a. Recorded here in (Luke 11:2-4). His sermon on the mount (Matthew 6:9-13). 2. This prayer serves as an example. a. The words in this manner (Matthew 6:9) suggest that The Lord s Prayer is a pattern and not a liturgy that must be recited every time we pray. b. Here we begin to learn the how and what of prayer. i. How to pray would include simplicity in prayer. ii. The word therefore in (Matthew 6:9) connects what follows with what was said before (Matthew 6:7-8). iii. Jesus pattern for prayer is an illustration in contrast to the many words used by the heathen. c. We learn the what of prayer should include such things as: i. Reverence for God and His Name (v.2). ii. Praying for the progress of God s Kingdom and Will on the earth (v.2b). iii. Asking for physical necessities (v.3). iv. Also, our spiritual needs... a) Forgiveness of sins as we forgive others (v.4). b) Protection and deliverance from evil (v.4). C. The Parable Summarized (V. 5-8). 1. You find yourself with company and inadequate provisions. 2. Yet you know that you can go to your friend s house and borrow some food. 3. Even if it late at night, and.. a. He and his family are already in bed. b. He would normally not help you, even though you are a friend, yet you know that if you persist, he will help you (v.5-8). 4. The point of the parable is simple: a. Jesus is illustrating the importance of persistence in praying.
PAGE TWO. D. Jesus Application Of The Parable (V. 9-13). 1. The importance of persistence (v.9-10). a. It is those who ask, seek, and knock, who will receive, find, and have doors opened. b. The element of persistence is implied even in... i. The present tenses of the verbs for ask, seek, and knock (literally, keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking. ii. Failure to persist in prayer, then, may be one reason some prayers go unanswered! 2. Remembering who it is you are asking (v.11-13). a. To encourage persistence in prayer, Jesus speaks of earthly fathers and their sons. i. If a son asks his father for bread, while he give him a stone? ii. If he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead? iii. If he asks for an egg, will the father offer him a scorpion? iv. Each of these rhetorical questions implies a definite No! b. Then how much more will our heavenly Father gives us that which is good? i. If earthly fathers, though evil, know how to give good gifts to their children ii. How much more will our heavenly Father give the Spirit to those who ask Him? iii. This reference to the Holy Spirit may relate to promise of the Spirit. c. Jesus point seems to be this: i. If persistence with a friend will prove fruitful (cf. the parable)... ii. If earthly fathers know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will persistence prove fruitful with our heavenly Father! II The Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8). A. The Parable Itself (V.1-5). 1. The value of prayer (v.1). a. Men always ought to pray persistence. b. Never lose heart grow weary. 2. The character of the judge (v.2). a. One who did not fear God nor regard man. b. An unjust judge, for which this parable is sometimes known as The Unjust Judge 3. The distress of the widow (v.3). a. She has some adversary who has wronged her. b. She seeks the aid of the judge to avenge her. 4. The difficulty she faced (v.4a). a. The judge would not help her at first. b. Repeated attempts seem to fall on deaf ears. 5. Finally, the judge heeds her complaint (v.4b-5). a. Not out of any sense for what was right in the sight of God or man. b. But only to avoid being wearied by her constant appeals. B. The Parable Applied (V.6-8). 1. Hear what the unjust judge said (V.6). a. He was moved by the persistence of the widow. b. Even when he was not moved by reverence for God or regard for man. 2. Shall not God avenge His own elect (v.7)? a. This is an argument from the lesser to the greater.
PAGE THREE. b. If an unjust judge will heed a persistence widow, how much more will a Just God heed His chosen people! c. If persistence paid off for the widow, how much more for God s elect who pray? 3. God will avenge His elect (v.7b-8a). a. He may bear long with the prayers of His persecuted people. b. When His vengeance comes, it will come swiftly! c. There is a Day coming in which God will take vengeance (2Thessalonians 1:7-9). d. when it comes, there will be sudden destruction with no way of escape (1Thessalonians 5:1-3). 4. Will there be faith on the earth when He comes (v.8b)? a. The Lord will come, avenging His elect. b. His delay may prompt some to lose faith (implying lack of prayer is indicative of lack of faith)! c. The Lord s concern over this matter is what prompts this parable! i. That men always ought to pray. ii. That men not lose heart. iii. The importance of persistent prayer. QUESTIONS: 1. What prompt the question asked by one of the disciples? 2. What request did the disciples make of Jesus that prompt this parable? 3. Did the Jews not know how to pray? Explain your answer. 4. Was the prayer Jesus taught the disciples the Lord s Prayer? Explain your answer. 5. Can we recite The Lord s Prayer today? Can this prayer serve as an example? Explain your answer.
PAGE FOUR. 6. Why did the man go to his friend s house? What, do you suppose, made his need so urgent that he would go to his friend s house at such a late hour? 7. Why did the friend not answer the door at first? 8. What finally moved his friend to give him what he requested? 9. What THREE THINGS does Jesus stress to do, as His people make requests of God? 10. Why does Jesus compare the Heavenly Father to fathers of our flesh? 11. What is the main lesson of this parable? 12. Why did Jesus teach the parable of The Persistent Widow? 13. Describe the character of the judge. 14. Why did the widow come to the judge?
PAGE FIVE. 15. How did the judge react to her request at first? 16. What was it about the widow that moved the judge to listen to her? 17. Contrast the judge with God. 18. What does Jesus mean when He says of the Father, Though He bear long with them? 19. What does Jesus mean when He asks, Shall He find faith on earth? 20. What comfort do Christians derive from this parable?