This is a parable about persistence — not in the sense of nagging, but in the sense that it is important to convince regarding the sincerity and the true need in a request. (The convincing is for ourselves as well as for the one of whom we make request.)
The chapter opens with a reference to the “Lord’s Prayer.” It is a prayer of REQUESTS. Then follows the parable — a parable about persistence in request — not about repetitiveness, but about thought-out sincerity.
The story begins with a man who has unexpected guests. Our lives are full of unexpected situations and needs. This one is important in that the request for help is because the requestor wants to serve.
The PROVIDER of the needs is inconvenienced. This part of the parable teaches us in case we are ever privileged to be providers. We won’t mind requests if we see their legitimacy.
In verse 7 we see the initial reticence of the provider-friend to respond to the request. We should not assume that this is a bad attitude. All of us have constant demands from others. We cannot possibly fulfill them all. And, frequently, the demands for our attention or our means are not really vital.
Verse 7 indicates what we have just stated. The response from the other side of the door is, “Do you REALLY need this right now?” We are justified in weighing how we respond to the requests of others. Elders, for instance, need not say “yes” to every invitation. Brethren, for instance, need not go to every available meeting in their area. All of these things, including requests for assistance on varying levels, can be properly and prayerfully weighed.
Actually, the parable ends in verse 7. The remainder of the verses under consideration (8-13) are Jesus’ comments on his own parable. If we compare Matthew 7:12, which follows a similar context, we find that Jesus summarizes the entire matter with what we call “The Golden Rule.” “However you want people to treat you, so treat them.” Then he adds, “…for this is the Law and the Prophets” — a phrase which connects us to the previous parable about our responsibilities toward family and neighbor.
The 8th verse of Chapter 11 gives us much to think about. Jesus points out that FRIENDSHIP (or we might even add “family”) is not enough reason to expect rapid fulfillment of our requests. There is more that is needed. We must CONVINCE the one of whom we are making request of the VALIDITY of the request. This convincing is here called “persistence.” It doesn’t mean nagging repetition! It means a rational presentation of the true need. IF THAT is accomplished, then, Jesus says, “he will get up and give… as much as” is needed. It is a wonderful verse. It accomplishes two important concepts:
- We should give because we are convinced that the need is real.
- When we ask, we should be convinced that asking is appropriate.
In verses 9-13, Jesus expounds on the many implications which his parable contains.
Verse 9 is famous. We remember its sequence because A.S.K. becomes an acronym for Ask, Seek, and Knock. The NAS margin helps to augment the thought of reasoned persistence: “Keep asking…keep seeking…keep knocking.”
It is also incumbent upon us to question the three words. To ask, of course, is simply to make reasonable request. To seek, however, adds the thought of our having made all due diligence in finding the answers for ourselves. This demonstrates sincerity. To knock implies that having asked and searched, we are requesting the opening of doors — the access to avenues of supply that haven’t been opened to us via the previous two activities. There are some things (many things!) that cannot be accomplished without the help of others. If those things are important to the development of our new creatures and to the service of God and His saints, then the knocking is justified.
Verses 11-13 are there for one specific reason: if we ask, seek, and knock, our heavenly Father will be very ready to grant that which is appropriate.
Verses 11 and 12 need a little analysis. First of all, they seem to deal with COUNTERFEITS. There are fish and serpents which RESEMBLE one another. There is a white scorpion which rolls itself into an egg-shaped defensive posture. Jesus’ point is this: No father will give his son a harmful substitute. Or, to put it more to the point: if our requests are harmful (unknown to us) for our spiritual welfare our Father will not give them to us. He wants only to give the real and beneficial item. Thus, our Father insists that we justify the importance of our requests — that we analyze our requests. If we ask for a fish — and He knows that granting the request will be tantamount to giving us a serpent, HE WILL NOT GRANT THE REQUEST. We do this with our own children. If we (yet being imperfect) know how to practice this concept with our children, how much more would we expect from our perfect heavenly Father! He would, as would we, always grant true needs for His children when they perceive the need.
Thus Jesus summarizes emphasizing what the REAL GIFT is: “the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.” The Holy Spirit is the answer to all requests! Making us ask for it was the thrust of the parable. We will never appreciate it without having WEIGHED what it means to us — without having demonstrated that we have CONSIDERED its need and that we use it APPROPRIATELY!