Luke 11:3 - Printer Friendly

Jesus' prayer continues to reflect His instructions for His disciples' ministry. When He sent out the Twelve and then the seventy-two, He told them not to bring extra supplies (Luke 9:3; 10:4); in this training stage, God would provide what they needed through others (Luke 10:7–8). Shortly before the crucifixion, Jesus gives the disciples different instructions for their work after His ascension, including to take a moneybag (Luke 22:36). On their mission establishing the church, they would need to be more mindful of getting food, but the source would always be God, often through those they had ministered to (Acts 2:44–47; 11:27–30).

The word interpreted "daily" is troublesome. It is only found in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:11). It refers to something that is necessary for life that has a time element, but scholars debate what "life" means: does it mean the regular sustenance required to keep our bodies going or does it refer to eternal life? Is the time element "this day," "tomorrow," or the future? Biblical scholars have many debates over these definitions.

The wording doesn't quite make sense as a prayer for eternal life. Although the rest of the prayer is more spiritual than practical, we only need to ask for salvation once. As a prayer for food, "each day" and "daily" are unnecessarily repetitive. The verse may mean, "Give us each day the bread we need to live." This is consistent with Proverbs 30:8–9 wherein the writer requests not too much, lest he feel he doesn't need God, nor too little, lest he be tempted to steal. It also is reflected in the following teaching on prayer which focuses on God's provision when His children ask (Luke 11:5–13).

Luke 11:1–4 is the last in a series of stories about the blessings people receive when they follow Jesus. In three sub-sections, Jesus teaches the disciples about prayer (Luke 11:1–13). First, He provides "The Lord's Prayer" which illustrates how completely dependent we are on God (Luke 11:1–4). Next, Jesus will challenge the disciples to trust that God works for their good, better than a friend or even a father. The Lord's prayer is also recorded in Matthew 6:9–13, although possibly at a different time and event.

Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray and explains God's intent to give "good" to those who ask. He then exorcizes a demon and refutes the claim that His power is satanic. Jesus explains that unreasonable skeptics will only see the "sign of Jonah." He then criticizes the superficial legalism of the Pharisees. In response, they plot against Him.

In what some scholars refer to as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27), Jesus prepares His disciples for His crucifixion and resurrection and the establishment of the church. The description begins with Christ teaching the disciples how to spread the news of the kingdom of God and reaffirming how they will be blessed, culminating in the Lord's Prayer (Luke 9:51—11:13). Luke 11 finishes with accounts of leaders who reject Jesus. The remainder of the travelogue gives a pattern of teaching on the kingdom of God, miracles, and explanations of salvation. Then Jesus enters Jerusalem to face the cross.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.