Seed Basket Stories

A parable, straight from the heart of Jesus.

The Parable of the Persistent Neighbor – Luke 11:5-10

For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.

Luke 11:10

In Jesus’ day, it was deemed impolite not to offer bread to visitors. Even unplanned guests could expect to be welcomed with bread and other acts of hospitality.

In this story, a man’s desire to offer a neighborly welcome to an unexpected guest, is intensified by the fact that his guest has arrived weary and hungry from a journey.

In Jesus’ parable, the man knocks on his neighbor’s door at midnight asking for three loaves of bread. The man explains his shame for not having the bread for his guest.

Everyone is asleep, so the neighbor initially refuses. However, the desperate man persists in his request for help. Eventually, the reluctant neighbor gives in, not out of friendship, but out of impatience.

So, Jesus begins to give the moral of His story by telling the disciples this.

“… everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.”

Matthew 7:8

Jesus wants the disciples to understand why persistence in prayer is vital. Jesus wants you and I to understand that drawing close to the Spirit, our Helper, is our lifeline. The Spirit is our Source for every need, whether it is practical or spiritual.

The point is not that God wants us to beg for anything. He already knows everything that we need, and His Word promises to supply every need that we have.

Our real need begins with our need for redemption. If we can trust Him for our redemption, then we should certainly trust Him for every other need that we have.

By persistent, faithful prayer, we begin to see a track record of God’s goodness and love. We see every godly attribute displayed in His kindness toward all mankind. His patience is beyond our understanding.

Another moral of this parable is how to be persistent. Reverence for God is so important. If we approach God with arrogance, then we will find ourselves praying selfish, godless prayers.

As we see God answer our prayers and supply every spiritual and practical need, then we should be filled with thankfulness for what He has done.

We should always pray for others. Pray for the redemption of the lost, pray for other believers, and we are even told to pray for the quick return of Jesus. Revelation 22:20

Our persistent prayers of faith will quiet our troubled hearts and establish our feet to walk in God’s way, forever.

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Luke 11 actually begins with a familiar passage. Why not read it aloud to the Savior who loves to hear you pray.

It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, when He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.” And He said to them, “When you pray, say:

‘Father, hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Give us each day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins,
For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.
And do not lead us into temptation.’”

Luke 11:2-4

Share the Good News in your world!

Isaiah 52:7