Luke 11:1
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. 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.
Jesus was praying aloud in a certain place, absorbed in supplication, and when He ceased one of His disciples, deeply moved by His prayers and sensing his own need, asked Him to teach them to pray as John also had taught his disciples. He lived in continual prayer and communion with the Father, spending long hours with God, and what He received there supplied the words, power, peace, refreshment, and spiritual strength seen in His ministry to the weary and oppressed. In answer He gave them a prayer suited to offer to their heavenly Father, repeating the Lord's Prayer as given in the Sermon on the Mount. That model prayer uses simple, direct, short words for daily needs and the soul's necessities, to be offered earnestly and comprehensively rather than merely repeated as a form, with deep meaning in every word. He then illustrated persistent prayer by the friend asking for bread at midnight and by the invitation to ask, seek, and knock, showing that earnest persevering asking strengthens desire, brings what is needed, and will not be disappointed, for the door will be opened, including asking God for spiritual food so His people can give the bread of life to others.
Setting and Request
Jesus lived in continual prayer and communion with God, receiving from the Father in order to give to others. He spent long hours with His Father, and those hours were the source of the power of His words and works. What He received there supplied the words and spiritual strength He shared with people, especially the weary and oppressed. The peace and refreshment He carried into His labor came from that communion.
On this occasion He was praying in a certain place, in a particular place set apart for the purpose. He was absorbed in supplication, praying aloud as if unconscious of any presence but God's. After a short absence from Him the disciples found Him so. When He ceased praying they spoke to Him.
They had heard Him and were deeply moved and much impressed by His prayers and habit of communion with God. They connected His praying with His power and recognized their own need. Then one of His disciples, speaking for them, asked Him to teach them to pray, as John also had taught his disciples.
Lessons Jesus Gives
In answer to the request He gave them a prayer suited to offer to their heavenly Father. That prayer was the Lord's Prayer repeated as He had given it in the Sermon on the Mount. It was given in simple, direct words rather than elevated or high-flown or lofty language. It is short and addresses daily needs and the soul's necessities and daily needs.
It is to be earnest and comprehensive rather than merely repeated as a form. Every word of that prayer has deep meaning. He then illustrated the lesson He desired to teach with the parable of the friend asking for bread at midnight. By that parable and by the invitation to ask, seek, and knock He taught persistent prayer and persistent seeking.
Earnest, persevering asking strengthens the petitioner's desire and leads to receiving what is needed. Those who persevere will not be disappointed, for the door will be opened. This is the central promise of the passage that asking receives an answer. That includes asking God for spiritual food so His people can give the bread of life to others. Prayer is something disciples can learn from Christ. Believers are to make the same request as the disciples, seeking to pray with the spirit and with understanding.