11:5Luke 11:5

At midnight a man goes to a friend to ask for three loaves because a weary traveler has arrived late and he has nothing to set before him.Ms 111, 1898, par. 2–5+2 He asks not to supply himself but to meet another's need, and the bread stands for the spiritual food, grace, wisdom and truth needed to feed hungry souls.Ms 31, 1898, par. 2–3+3 The verse teaches persistent, earnest asking that keeps pleading patiently until the answer comes, even when the answer is delayed.19MR 227.3–228.2+2 The unwilling neighbor's selfish indifference is not a picture of God, but a contrast, for God is the compassionate best Friend who delights to give to those who come in faith.Ms 93, 1898, par. 21–26+2 Importunate prayer offered at midnight for loaves to nourish others will always succeed, for it is the law of heaven that what is received from God is to be imparted to others.COL 148.1–3+4

Luke 11:5 belongs to Christ's lesson on prayer, grounded in His practice of receiving from the Father so that He could give to others.COL 139.1 It stands within Luke 11:1-13 as part of the teaching that those who ask receive.COL 139.1+1

A man goes to a friend at midnight asking for three loaves because a weary, belated traveler on a journey has arrived late at an unseasonable hour and he has nothing to set before him.Ms 111, 1898, par. 2–5+4 The need is real and urgent, with a traveler to feed and no food to offer him.Ms 111, 1898, par. 2–5+2 He asks not for himself alone but so he can meet another person's need, since he must obtain bread before he can supply the traveler's need.COL 140.1–3+2 He must ask because he has nothing to give.Ms 31, 1898, par. 2–3+2

The friend is unwilling at first and repulses the petitioner again and again, revealing selfish indifference.Ms 93, 1898, par. 21–26+1 The asking may be refused for a time and may not receive an immediate answer.19MR 319.1–2+2 Yet the pleading continues and does not give up its purpose until he gives as much as is needed.Ms 93, 1898, par. 21–26+4 The midnight coming shows a persistent entreaty when there is nothing to offer, with the host keeping on pleading until the neighbor meets the need rather than leaving the guest's need unmet.Ms 93, 1898, par. 21–26+2

The midnight request for three loaves is made not for the asker himself but so he can meet the need of another.Ms 31, 1898, par. 2–3+4 A weary, belated traveler on a journey has arrived late at an unseasonable hour, and the host has nothing to set before him.Ms 31, 1898, par. 2–3+4 He must obtain bread before he can supply the traveler's need, because without receiving he has nothing to give.Ms 31, 1898, par. 2–3+4

The bread sought is grace and spiritual food needed to serve others.Ms 31, 1898, par. 2–3+4 It is the bread of life to give to spiritually hungry people, received as the Holy Spirit, with wisdom and light and an intelligent knowledge of truth to share.Ms 31, 1898, par. 2–3+4 Those who persistently ask for what they need to feed hungry souls will receive what is to be shared with others.Ms 23, 1899, par. 1–4+2

As Christ's representatives the disciples must seek blessings from God in order to give to the people.ST Mar 16, 1915+2 When thrown into unexpected positions and feeling human insufficiency, destitute and helpless before souls hungering for the bread of life, they must receive spiritual food or they will have nothing to impart.COL 140.4–5+1 They must not turn one soul away unfed, but must go to the source of supply and press their request.COL 140.4–5+1 They can be certain that God who sent His servants to feed the hungry will supply their need for His own work.ST Mar 16, 1915+1

It is a law and rule and principle of heaven that as people receive they are to impart.Ms 99, 1902, par. 15+4 Receiving from God is joined to the duty of sharing with others what was received.Ms 99, 1902, par. 15+4 Those who thus beg at midnight and plead for loaves to feed hungry souls and nourish others will be blessed and successful in inviting others to Christ and to receive the truth.Ms 99, 1902, par. 15+4

Luke 11:5 begins the lesson on persistent prayer, introducing a man who goes to a friend at midnight to ask for bread because a traveler has arrived and he has nothing to set before him.19MR 227.3–228.2+3 The request is for food for a weary, belated traveler when the petitioner himself has nothing to offer, so the entreaty is urgent and continued.Ms 111, 1898, par. 2–5+3 The friend is unwilling at first and repulses the petitioner again and again, revealing selfish indifference, but afterward gives as much as is needed because the pleading does not stop.Ms 93, 1898, par. 21–26+2 Prayer may therefore be refused for a time and may not receive an immediate answer, so those who ask are to keep pleading patiently and earnestly until the request is answered and not give up their purpose.19MR 227.3–228.2+4 Such determined, importunate faith obtains its request, gives force to the instruction to ask, seek, and knock, strengthens wavering faith in God's response, and continued earnest prayer brings a richer experience of grace.19MR 319.1–2+2

Persistent asking itself makes the petitioner more earnest and increases the desire to receive what is sought.Ms 111, 1898, par. 2–5+1 The more earnestly and steadfastly a person asks, the closer the spiritual union with Christ becomes, and increased faith brings increased blessings.ST Mar 16, 1915+1 Delay in answer does not mean prayer should cease when the answer seems withheld or refused.COL 143.1+1 Prayer does not change God but brings the one praying into harmony with Him, while delay comes because He leads through test and trial and humiliation to cause searching of heart and repentance of sin and to reveal what hinders the working of His Holy Spirit through the life.COL 143.1+1

The coming at midnight means no hour is improper for prayer, because God's eye never slumbers nor sleeps.Ms 59, 1900, par. 19–20 God tries faith by delay and encourages pressing the petition to the throne of grace, and this pressing is for the petitioner's good.Ms 59, 1900, par. 19–20 He always hears the prayer of the humble suppliant and grants blessing, and never turns away unblessed those who seek Him with the whole heart, so that when believers feel their great need of grace and an intelligent knowledge of truth in order to give the bread of life to those in need, asking in humble faith brings grace for grace bestowed.19MR 319.1–2+1 Prayer in this verse is to be simple and earnest, and also bold and expectant, as one bringing a real need in order to receive supply to meet another's need.Ms 23, 1899, par. 1–4+1 Those who ask the heavenly Father receive good gifts, especially the Holy Spirit.Ms 23, 1899, par. 1–4

The human part is to pray and believe, to watch unto prayer, and to cooperate with the prayer-hearing God by speaking and acting in harmony with requests, which proves faith genuine rather than mere form.COL 146.1–2 Believers are therefore to keep praying rather than distrust God when an answer does not come at once, joining earnest prayer with good works.COL 146.1–2+1

The reluctant neighbor does not portray God, for the lesson works by contrast rather than likeness.Ms 93, 1898, par. 21–26+3 The man in the story is unwilling at first and yields only to continued pleading, revealing selfish indifference, while God is the best Friend, compassionate and delighting to give to those who come to Him in faith.Ms 93, 1898, par. 21–26+2 He does not turn away from His people indifferently even when the answer does not come at once.ST Sep 15, 1898

Unlike the friend who pleads trouble and a closed door, God never makes that excuse and never says He cannot help.COL 148.1–3 All who seek find and all who knock have the door opened, because the honor of His throne is staked to fulfill His word to those who come confessing unworthiness and sin.COL 148.1–3 God supplies His servants so they can minister to others and become like Him, and He will supply their need for His own work of feeding the hungry.ST Mar 16, 1915+2 Those sent to feed the hungry with the bread of life can therefore trust Him to provide the spiritual food they lack.ST Mar 16, 1915+1

God invites humble petitioners to ask for what they need, including grace and knowledge of truth to share the bread of life, and answers them with blessing.19MR 319.1–2 He is pleased when people importune Him for His grace and favor, not only for themselves but for others who need help, and taking hold upon Him in earnest prayer with implicit confidence gives strength of soul and certainty that He will hear.19MR 319.1–2+1 Importunate prayer for others, asking God at midnight for loaves to feed hungry souls, will always be successful.COL 148.1–3+1 Humble workers who thus beg for what they need to nourish others, receiving spiritual bread from heaven to impart and inviting people to Christ, will be blessed and succeed, for it is a law of heaven that as people receive they are to impart.Ms 99, 1902, par. 15+4

The midnight request for bread is the pattern for praying for the sick, teaching that when healing does not come at once believers are to keep asking earnestly in trusting faith that God hears.HPMMW 51.4–52.1+1 Answers in such prayer may come immediately or may require patient, earnest pleading, and petitions prompted by the Lord will be answered.HL 240.1 In soul-saving the verse pictures humble workers seeking spiritual bread for hungry souls and going house to house to invite people to receive the truth and to come to Christ.STB 426.2+2 Those who thus plead for what they need to share will be blessed and helped to bring spiritual nourishment through personal work, for heaven's rule is that what is received is to be imparted to others.STB 426.2+2

Its lesson applies to asking daily for instruction and guidance, keeping the request in mind and continuing to pray in faith while working until needed light and knowledge are received.FE 530.3 Such daily asking is offered with trust in God and with request for the power of the Holy Spirit.FE 530.3 The verse teaches wrestling with God in earnest, importunate, fervent prayer for the impartation of the vitalizing power of the Holy Spirit.Ms 242, 1902, par. 11 Such prayer has efficiency because in answer to it God can turn the thoughts and hearts of men as He turns the waters of the sea.Ms 242, 1902, par. 11

Believers may bring all needs to God, even the smallest concerns, without wearying Him, asking for what brings glory to His name and waiting patiently trusting His wisdom.ST Feb 14, 1906+1 Prayer is a request to be made earnestly and persistently, and believers should remain before God until deep longing for salvation and assurance of pardoned sin are received.MYP 268.2+1 Earnest, continuing prayer turns the soul toward Christ and transforms it into His likeness.ST May 28, 1896 Such prayer does not accept denial because it is offered in faith, pleading with God for the needs of others and committing both the petitioner and those prayed for to Jesus as sufficient helper and Saviour.Ms 8, 1892, par. 11–12 Making God the only trust and taking hold upon the Lord in much earnest prayer gives strength of soul, and putting implicit confidence in the Lord Jesus in continued praying and believing brings certainty that He will hear.Lt 403, 1906, par. 3 God is pleased when people importune Him for grace and favor, not only for themselves but for others who need help.Lt 403, 1906, par. 3

Asking a neighbor for bread when an unexpected guest arrives is also a practical response to having nothing to serve, showing that lack of prepared food is not a reason to refuse hospitality.2T 28.2