Luke 11:5 - He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight, and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

Generated Verse: Luke 11:5

What does "Luke 11:5" mean?


This verse, Luke 11:5, is the beginning of a parable Jesus tells to illustrate the importance of persistent prayer. Let's break down what it means:

"He said to them..." This indicates that Jesus is addressing his disciples or a larger crowd, teaching them a lesson.
"Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight..." Jesus is presenting a hypothetical scenario, something that would be familiar to his audience. Midnight was an unconventional time to visit someone, especially with a request. It highlights the urgency and potential inconvenience of the situation.
"...and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread..." The request is simple: three loaves of bread. Bread was a staple food, and three loaves would likely be enough to feed an unexpected guest.

Therefore, the core meaning of this verse is the introduction of a scenario that sets up the parable. It's about a person who finds themself in a bind (needing food for a visitor) and is willing to inconvenience a friend to get what they need.

The overall purpose of the parable (verses 5-8) is to teach about:

Persistence in Prayer: The friend asks for help at an unreasonable hour, but he doesn't give up. He keeps asking until he gets what he needs. This represents how we should approach God in prayer – with persistence and without giving up easily.
God's Willingness to Answer: The friend in the story eventually gives in, not because of friendship, but because of the persistent begging. Jesus implies that God is even more willing to answer our prayers than this reluctant friend. He will answer those who diligently seek Him.
The Importance of Prayer: The parable emphasizes that we should not hesitate to ask God for our needs. He is a loving Father who wants to provide for us.

In essence, Luke 11:5 is the opening line to a story that Jesus uses to encourage his followers to pray with persistence and confidence, believing that God will hear and answer their prayers. It's not about literally bothering your friends at midnight for bread; it's about the principle of relentless prayer and God's loving response.