Originally posted October 2019
Read: Matthew 7,7-11, Luke 11, 5-13, Luke 18,1-8
It is vital that we really take time to read and internalise these very important scriptures where Jesus teaches about prayer.
POINTS TO BE DRAWN FROM THIS TEACHING
From Matthew 7,7 and Luke 11,9: Ask, seek, knock! All these verbs are in the present tense in Greek, and therefore could be translated: Ask, and keep on asking! Seek, and keep on seeking! Knock, and keep on knocking! Prayer is not just a one time affair. You persist!
If you being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more..! in Matthew 7,11, and Luke 11,13. Faith in prayer is going to be very dependent on who we think God is. Through this a fortiori argument Jesus is concerned to teach us that our Father is MUCH MORE concerned to give us good gifts, than our flawed earthly fathers are, willing though they may be.
The story of the friend at midnight, and of the widow and the unrighteous judge, teach similar lessons:
THE FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT, LUKE 11,5-8
Jesus says because of his impudence (ESV). The word here – anaideia (αναίδεια) in Greek means persistence, impudence, shamelessness. It is important to realise that it is the situation of this man – the urgency – that has driven him to have the gall/impudence to approach his friend at midnight, when the whole house is sleeping; with his request.
Is Jesus making the point that just as unwilling as this man is at midnight to get out of bed – so also is God unwilling, unless you have a really pressing need? No, he is not saying that! Rather, he is saying: This man could be forced out of bed – at midnight, while his family was asleep, not because the other guy was his friend (which he was), but because of his need.
How much more God, WHO NEEDS NO FORCING, will respond to your needs – because you are his friend, AND because of your need!
THE WIDOW AND THE UNJUST JUDGE, LUKE 18,1-8
First, let´s just remind ourselves of who widows are in the Bible, and in the OT. Widows are important people to God – they are not just anybody – they are helpless, vulnerable people (together with the fatherless and orphans), who need society´s special protection – so the prophets preach (Isaiah 10,2).
This widow gets her way, is heard – her right is upheld, because of her persistence –she kept coming to this unrighteous judge, and wouldn´t give in! Is Jesus saying that God is like that, that in fact if we pester him enough, if we wear him out by our coming, bend his arm so to speak, we will in the end persuade him to do what he doesn´t want to do?
No! Again, Jesus is teaching by contrast! If the unrighteous judge could in the end be persuaded, HOW MUCH MORE GOD, who is not unrighteous will attend to the needs of his children – THOUGH HE BEAR LONG WITH THEM! (KJV)!
Jesus says: I TELL YOU, HE WILL GIVE JUSTICE TO THEM SPEEDILY!
So, the underlying assumption in both these stories is that there will be times when answer to prayer does not come immediately, and we may be left wondering – has he heard my prayer? In Luke 18,4, it says “for a time he refused”. “For a time” is “epi chronon” (επί χρονον) in Greek. This is pregnant with meaning! It is indefinite time – NO ONE KNOWS HOW LONG! In fact, in Luke this story is placed in the context of The End and the Coming of the Son of Man. We are to have faith, and to pray without giving up – UP UNTIL THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN!
It is in this context, that Jesus “told them a parable to the effect, that they ought always to pray, and not lose heart!”(Luke 18,1)
SO, WHAT IS THERE OF IMPORTANCE FOR US TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS?
There is an emphasis on persistence, and not giving up in our prayerlife! It tells us that prayer will not always be easy. There are reasons for prayer answers to be delayed. Some we can think of, some we can´t.
But persistence shows faith, and faith is what moves God. It shows our commitment to him, it shows that we deem him faithful and just. I think also of psalm 91,14: “Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him” (KJV). Persistence in the face of adversity shows we have metal! And metal is what God wants our faith to be infused with.
Nevertheless, we all know of situations where prayer does not seem to be effective. We may have prayed and prayed and not seemingly seen any answers. We are quick to condemn ourselves, saying we can´t have had enough faith. It is never the voice of God condemning us. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of encouragement. God has a plan to get us where he wants us to be, when we give our lives to him. Let’s trust him! Prayer is also thanksgiving! Let´s thank him each day for the gifts he gives us. That will help us avoid letting any unsolved issue completely take over our lives. Unsolved issues are God´s business. Let´s keep on praying!
Jesus says to you: Don’t give up!
