Today my church Bible study spoke on Luke 11:5-13 and 18:1-8. In both parables the characters show persistence to get what they are desiring. However, the commentator, J. Ellsworth Kalas, missed the point of the parables in my opinion. He focused on the laughter and humor "Back Side" elements of the parables. No matter how the parables are read (the group read from a few different versions), we could not find humor in the scripture.
We all concluded that we believe in the power of laughter and the power of prayer, but to put the two together seemed disingenuous.
Jesus shared the model prayer, "the Lord's Prayer," prior to the first parable. And I believe in these parables he was teaching his disciples a story of the persistence of prayer. How should we pray? We should pray and pray often. Be serious, earnest and fervent when we pray.
Here is the scripture from Luke 11:5-13:
Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him. Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.' I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man's boldness he will get up and give him as much as he needs. "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
In the same parable (albeit not as long) found in Matthew 7:7 the text is as follows:
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
When I was growing up, there was a song called, "Welcome To My World." I remember it mostly because of Kindergarten. My teacher, Miss Wetmore (an amazing woman), used to play the song and we sang it as a class. At the time, I thought it was a romantic song about a man wanting his love to be part of his world. However, as an adult I realize it is a love song, but one from Jesus to us. Here are the words:
Welcome to my world
Won't you come on in
Miracles I guess
Still happen now and then
Step into my heart
Leave your cares behind
Welcome to my world
Built with you in mind
Knock and the door will open
Seek and you will find
Ask and you'll be given
The key to this world of mine
I'll be waiting here
With my arms unfurled
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world
I believe the parable from Luke (and Matthew) is talking about praying to be a part of God's Kingdom. Whether this Kingdom is on Earth or in Heaven. It is through God that we receive our daily bread - our nourishment.
In the second parable, Luke 18:1-8, Jesus speaks of a widow that desired justice from her opponent. Widows were second class (or possibly third class) citizens in the first century. Yet this woman continued her persitence with the judge.
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.' "For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' " And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"
Again, I don't see the humor in these scriptures. However, I do see the beauty in the widows desire for justice. Even when the judge's answer was no (when he was ignoring her), she continued to press forward in her quest.
In conclusion, I believe Jesus is telling us that when we feel our prayers aren't getting answered, keep knocking...keep asking. He is waiting with open arms to his Kingdom, and because he loves us he wants each one of us to partake in the Kingdom. God and the universe is on our side, even when it feels impossible. I need to truly believe this if I am to have complete faith in the Lord.
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