Luke 11:1-13 – today we study the next unique text in Luke’s Gospel found in the “Journey to Jerusalem” section. It starts with a request from the disciples, “teach us to pray.” Jesus goes on to give them a template for prayer (known as the Lord’s Prayer in church history) and he gives them an understanding of what God is like by telling them what God is not like. Luke 11:5-8 is the teaching that is only found in Luke’s Gospel.

As we study this passage, hopefully we discover that we are all students of prayer. Jesus takes us to prayer school.

Luke 11:1-13
New Revised Standard Version

1 He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

Father,[a] hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.[b] 3 Give us each day our daily bread.[c] 4 And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”[d]

5 And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

9 “So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for[e] a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? 13 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[f] to those who ask him!”