1. The context of the parable. Verses 1-5 “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
A. Jesus was praying and the disciples wanted to learn.
2. The cause of the need. Verse 6 “a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.”
A. A friend showed up unexpected, weary from his journey, desiring to be fed.
3. The complaint of the neighbor. Verse 7 “Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.”
A. The response was not that he had no bread to share. Don’t bother me. It’s a bad time.
4. The concession of the friend. Verse 8 “I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.”
A. He does not get out of bed because of your friendship but by your persistence.
5. The caution needed in application. Verses 5-13
A. Don’t compare God to the neighbor. God does not sleep and He is not inconvenienced by our prayers.
B. God is contrasted with the neighbor. If your reluctant sleeping neighbor meets your need on the basis of your persistence and friendship, how much more will God meet the need of the Children he loves?
6. The command to pray. Verses 9-10 “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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened
A. Jesus is telling us to persist in our prayer life, don’t get discouraged in prayer and never give up until the Lord removes the burden to stop praying.
7. The commitment of relationship. Verses 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?”
A. God answers prayers based on our relationship as His children not on our persistence or cleverness.