Luke Chapter 11.

Luke Chapter 11.

The Lord's Prayer.  11:1-4.  A prayer for the disciples to pray.  It consists of five petitions.  The first two are Godward and concern His purpose. The final three concern our need.  Note how the prayer expresses the Majesty of God, and our dependence.

  *   'Paternoster' or Paternal relationship,  "Father". Prayer now has a filial basis.

  *   Praise. "Hallowed be thy name."  See V-D.

  *   Purpose.  "Thy Kingdom come."

  *  Provision.  The word 'epiousios' (daily) is obscure.  See V-D.  The figure may be derived from the daily rations issued to soldiers.  The bread issued today is for consumption tomorrow, so that everyone has his food in his house overnight (W.T.M).  Pray for necessities, not for luxuries.

  *  Penitence.  "Forgive our debts."  Jesus likely used an Aramaic word meaning, debt, sin and punishment for sin. (W.T.M).

  *    Proof.  "As we forgive."  The spirit that does not forgive has not experienced the forgiveness of God.

  *   Perseverance.  Do not bring to the test.  If the meaning is temptation, then it means, keep us from carelessness and lack of diligence when tempted.  But the primary meaning of the word is 'test'.  This is not a request for a sheltered life, but bring us not into trial beyond our strength.  It may refer to the final great trial preceding the Parousia.

           

The importunate friend.  11:5-8.  This parable not only indicates the freedom we have to pray but the reward that comes to persistent prayer.  In his need the man goes to the house of a friend at midnight to supply him with bread.  But the friend is surly at being disturbed and his answer is an emphatic "No."  But the knocker at the door will not accept refusal.  Shamelessly he continues his demand, until finally, the uncooperative friend realizes that, if he is to get rid of his caller and his shameful persistency, he must supply him with the necessary loaves.

           

Now, if a difficult friend can be persuaded to oblige you, providing you are persistent enough, then, do not get discouraged about prayer, for your heavenly Father is kind and generous, and in no way resembles a moody and obstinate friend.

           

This merits the question, why must we persist in prayer?  Does not God know all we need?  Why must we continue to pray?  It is God's plan for us to continue in prayer.  He knows our need, and is willing to grant them, but He wills to bring our desires in agreement with His will.  It is in the exercise of expressing our desires in prayer that God brings them in line with His will.

           

On answers to prayer.  11:9-13. 

  *   The aim of the passage, is to encourage us to prayer.  It is worthwhile to pray.

  *  God has a closer relationship to us than a friend, for He is our Father.  This passage emphasizes that.

  *  Since He is our Father we are confident that He will always do that which is best for us.  He will not refuse any good thing, but will not give that which is hurtful to us.

  *   We must be earnest in our prayer.  If we are not vitally aware of our need we cannot appreciate His gifts.  Our awareness of our need, is our capacity to enjoy His gift.

  *   His greatness and all-comprehensive gift is the Holy Spirit.  This is not a prayer for larger instalments of the Holy Spirit.  They had not yet received the Spirit.  They did not receive the Holy Spirit until Pentecost, preceded by much prayer, (Acts 1:14).  This was the part of the climax of their journey to Jerusalem, when at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit would  be poured out upon all believers.  Now all Christians are indwelt by the Spirit.  However, it remains true, that a prayerless life realises little of His presence.

           

The Beelzebub charge.  Their blindness mistook good for evil.  Christ was engaged in conflict with the forces of evil, and was victorious.  They in their peril, that being neutral and positively on the side of Christ, their final state became worse.

           

The condition of blessedness.  11:27-28.   Mary was blessed among women to be the mother of the Messiah, but there was a greater happiness that belongs to all who hear the Word of God, to do it.

           

The demand for a sign.  11:29-36.  Those who hear His Word and keep it are indeed happy, but they who reject His preaching shall be condemned.  Jonah illustrates the importance of preaching.  This was a sign to the people.  Jesus gave to His generation the same sign.

 *  Hearing/ Preaching.  The Queen, because of her great eagerness to hear, shall rise in condemnation of the indifference of the hearers of Jesus' day.

 *   Keeping the Word.  The readiness to repent of the men of Nineveh, shall judge the men of this generation, who repent not at the words of the wisest and greatest of all preachers.  The testimony was clear enough but their eyes were bad.

           

Denunciation of the Pharisees.  11:37-54. The passage contains six woes:

           

The three woes against the Pharisees:

  *   Woe for the lack of humanity.  They had a faulty set of values.  The central emphasis of true   religion and the love of God is humanity to our fellowmen.  11:42.

  *   Woe for the lack of humility.  They loved vainglory. and sought pre-eminence.  11:43.

  *   Woe for lack of reality.  They were bad examples, and had a defiling influence upon those who came under their influence.  11:44.

           

Three woes against the Scribes:

  *  Woe for making religion intellectually complicated and burdensome.     11:46.

  *  Woe for hypocrisy in religion, and murder of God's messengers.           11:47-51.

  *   Woe for religious despotism.                                                             11:52.

           

They would maintain a jealous monopoly of knowledge.  It served their interests best to leave the people in ignorance.