And he [Jesus] said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”(Luke 11:5-13 ESV)
Impudence is Greek anaideia, which occurs only here in the NT. In all of its other known uses in ancient literature, the term means “lack of sensitivity to what is proper,” “impertinence,” “impudence”; it describes being without aidōs (“respect,” “modesty”). “Impudence,” then, would indicate that the friend is shamelessly and boldly awakening his neighbor, and of course the neighbor will give him whatever he needs. On this interpretation, Jesus’ point is that if even a human being will respond to his neighbor in that way, then Christians should go boldly before God with any need they face, for God is more gracious and caring than any human neighbor. Some other interpreters believe that anaideia means “persistence” here, even though there are no other known occurrences of that meaning. Such a reading does fit the context, however, for the very next verses emphasize that believers must keep seeking, asking, and knocking (vv. 9–10). This would make the parable similar to 18:1–8. Both ideas—a kind of shameless persistence—are possibly intended by this unusual term.
Matthew Henry writes: “We prevail with men by impudence because they are displeased with it, but with God because he is pleased with it.” What an incredible way to understand prayer! We truly are friends of God (John 15.15), and he takes joy in his friends’ impudence (note: this does not equate with irreverence, or pride).
We can come to God for all of our needs: our sustenance (daily bread), strength in weakness, freedom from sin, the power to overcome temptation, the presence of the Holy Spirit in us and with us (see v. 13), and as in this parable, blessings for us to pass on to others.
Prayer works! What are you praying for?
I am working on a post centered on the prayer of Elijah (What does prayer look like? & What are its results?). Also, a post on Psalm 37.4 (“Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”)
