We’re still in Luke, and I apologize for skipping around a bit… Let’s circle back to Luke 11 for a lesson that’s echoed in Luke 18: persistent prayer.

And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Luke 11.5 – 9, ESV)

This was right after he taught them what we call “The Lord’s Prayer” – not something just to repeat every Sunday in church, but a model for prayer which is to be prayed…persistently. That’s what he said here, and that’s what he said in Luke 18:

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily…” (Luke 18.1 – 8, ESV)

In both parables the God figure comes across negatively with the idea that if these flawed people will help you if you persist, how much more will your loving Father? (I’ve written about this before.)

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11.11 – 13, ESV)

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5.17, ESV)