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 every one 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 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 can not 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?
Golden Text: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Luke 11:9.
Suggestive Questions.
(1) On what occasion did the disciples of Jesus approach him for instruction? Verse 1. Note 1. (2) What did they ask him to do? Same verse. (3) How did he reply? Verses 2, 3, 4. Note 2. (4) With what incident did Jesus illustrate answer to prayer? Verses 5, 6. (5) How might the earthly friend respond? Verse 7. (6) But what would he do? and for what reason? Verse 8. Note 3. (7) What general rule is given on the subject? Verse 9. Note 4. (8) With what truth in fact is this supplemented, or established? Verse 10. (9) How is the lesson illustrated from human conduct? Verses 11, 12. (10) What is the conclusion? Verse 13. Note 5.
Note.
1. He was praying.—As teaching concerning prayer we have no higher example than the example of Him who is our pattern in all things leading to life. Inglis' “Bible Text Cyclopedia” refers to twenty-one instances where Jesus prayed, besides the general statement in Heb. 5:7 that “in the days of his flesh” he had “offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears,” and “was heard.” His prayers were in public and in private, and for various purposes, but perhaps none is more wonderful than the short prayer of Luke 23:34: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” Thus was manifested his spirit toward his enemies. One thing we should bear in mind, Jesus needed to pray, and he needed to pray for himself—not for self, but for strength to complete his mission of saving others. If the need of the Son of God was thus great for divine help, how dare we limit our own need? Our constant—moment by moment—prayer should be for divine assistance and grace.
2. When ye pray, say, etc.—Here follows the14Lord's prayer. It is given in fuller form in Matt. 6:9-13. It was not intended that the disciples were to pray this prayer, and no other. While they might pray in these words, if they so chose, the design was to teach them the spirit that should underlie whatever form of expression the occasion might indicate. Each thought and expression of this wonderful prayer is worthy and capable of unlimited expansion. In fact, the mind of man can not grasp it in its fullness, for it leads into the deep things of God. The more it is studied and contemplated, the more will its meaning unfold to the earnest seeker after light. It bears the same relation to the field of prayer as does the law of God to the varied and individual application of universal principles concisely summed up in the Ten Commandments. As suggestive for study, take “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” It is not simply my Father. Our takes in all. Consider who is meant. See Acts 17:26. Why “Father”? What are the relations of a father? If “Father,” then we are children. See Rom. 8:16, 17. Note the Father's abiding place, and compare Acts 17:27; Isa. 41:13; Jer. 23:23, 24. Note that his “name” represents his character, and all that he is; and in this connection to hallow is to hold sacred, holy, in reverence, to sanctify. See Prov. 18:10; Isa. 8:13; Eze. 36:23; 1 Peter 3:15. Follow a similar analysis and study of the whole prayer.
3. Because of his importunity.—This is not a comparison of the attitude of God and of man. It is rather a contrast, and a marked one. The Lord is not annoyed or disturbed when petitions ascend to him. He is full of mercy, his thoughts are ever thoughts of peace, and he is willing to pour out blessings even more than we can receive. Isa. 55:7; Jer. 29:11; Mal. 3:10. The thought is, if a selfish man, who has no sympathy for others in need, can be induced to grant a request through the persistent asking of the one in need, how quickly will our Father in heaven, who is all sympathy, and whose love and mercy are ever overflowing towards his children, answer an earnest petition. But the Lord always knows better than we what is best for us, and often when we ask amiss, he bestows that which answers the spirit of the prayer, rather than bestowing the thing prayed for. No prayer of faith is ever unanswered, but the best thing will be given. See 1 John 5:14, 15. But is the importunity necessary?—It may, and it may not be, according to the petition. Jesus passed whole nights in prayer to his Father, and Gethsemane was an hour of agonized pleading. Many wonderful prayers are on record from holy men of God. Very often it is necessary that time should be taken in order that the suppliant may realize the importance of the matter presented before the throne of grace, and his own weakness. But the Lord is the same forever, and with him even the silent prayer of faith is not unheard.
4. Ask . . . seek . . . knock.—The asking will receive an answer, but there is the seeking and searching. We are to seek to know the right way, seek to enter into life, and to search for wisdom. These are all matters for presentation to our heavenly Father, on whom we are dependent for all things. We knock at a friend's door, and may reasonably expect that the door will be opened. So if on the invitation of our Father we knock at the portal of his treasure house, why may there not be absolute assurance of a response? He is always in. These broad assertions are supplemented or reinforced by the statement that he “that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth.” Verse 10. In all this there is implied action on the part of the petitioner. The Lord always answers prayer in a practical way. Energetic doing after the petition is presented is sometimes said to be the best answer to prayer. It is only because such doing shows faith in the Lord's promises. A listless waiting for something to turn up shows a want of faith.
5. If ye then . . . know how to give good gifts.—A father after the flesh will take no pleasure in tormenting his son, or in beholding suffering. He delights, rather, in giving him whatever is best. So it is, only to an infinitely greater degree, with the heavenly Father, from whom cometh “every good gift and every perfect gift.” James 1:17. Then how reasonable to ask for, and how reasonable to expect, the Holy Spirit, with all his blessed influences. This was the conclusion of the lesson on prayer. This is the best gift the Father can bestow upon his children in this life. Having this, they will be guided into all truth, and will understand the will of the Father, for self and selfish desires will be submitted to that will.
