Luke 11:6 - Printer Friendly

ESV: for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;

NIV: a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’

NASB: because a friend of mine has come to me from a journey and I have nothing to serve him’;

CSB: because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I don’t have anything to offer him.’

NLT: ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’

KJV: For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

NKJV: for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;

In response to His disciples' request, Jesus has taught them how to pray (Luke 11:1–4). In the center of the prayer is a request for God to fill our practical needs, specifically "bread" (Luke 11:3). Here, Jesus tells a parable to illustrate why we can pray to God and why we can trust Him to fulfill our prayers in the way that is best for us.

Jesus' example placed the disciples in the role of a man who is surprised by a friend in the middle of the night. He has no bread and must ask a neighbor to borrow three loaves (Luke 11:5). The neighbor is sleeping; if he gets up to get the bread, he may wake his children (Luke 11:7). And if he gives his neighbor his bread, the neighbor may not return fresh loaves by the time the children awaken to eat.

At first, the neighbor refuses. But if he does not get up and get the bread, the man will not stop knocking. Reluctantly, he fills the need (Luke 11:8). The man and his neighbor are bound by friendship and a culture of hospitality, but the neighbor doesn't fill the need until he realizes the man will continue to annoy him. In contrast, God answers our prayers out of love (Luke 11:11–13).

Luke 11:5–8 is often called "the parable of the persistent neighbor." This is the second of three parts of Jesus' teaching on prayer (Luke 11:1–13). Having given the Lord's Prayer, Jesus tells the story of a neighbor who reluctantly answers the request of a man because the man is persistent. Jesus finishes by comparing the neighbor to God the Father who answers prayers well because He loves His children. Luke is the only gospel author to include this parable.

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.