The Friend At Midnight

This parable is one out of the three parables on prayer recorded in the gospels.

Too long; please open your Bible. Luke 11: 5-8

The parable occurs ONLY in the gospel of Luke. Matthew however has the portion of Luke 11:1-13 in different places; The Lord’s Prayer at 6:9-15 and ‘Asking and knocking’ in Matthew 7:7-9

Too long; please open your Bible. Matthew 6: 9-15

Too long; please open your Bible. Matthew 7: 7-9

Cultural Background

A strong sense of responsibility for hospitality existed in their world, which was part of the shame and honor system of the ancient world. Inns were not numerous and, though used, often were places of corruption, so travelers depended a lot on hospitality. The host had responsibility to care for his guest, and the sleeping man had obligations to help his neighbor.

Common Interpretations of the Parable

The parable was about prayer and people allegorized it so that the bread represents some form of spiritual benefit, the friend represents Christ, and the petitioner represents a believer.
Often the parable has been understood to urge persistence in praying. If a human will respond to persistent asking, how much more will God?
Some think the parable is about the avoidance of shame by the one inside. If a human will respond to avoid shame, how much more will God? Others think the focus is on the shamelessness of the one outside asking. If a human will respond, even if because someone has no sense of shame, how much more will God respond to one’s legitimate request.

Analyzing the Parable

An interrogative parable starting with ‘Who among you’? The whole point is no one would say such a thing and refuse to get up and give his friend what he needs. Such a refusal is unthinkable.
The parable uses the word ‘shamelessness’ or ‘impudence’ (’anaideia’). This word refers to people who have no proper sense of shame and willingly engage in improper conduct. Rather than representing the avoidance of shame, the word expresses an ignorance about or disregard of what is shameful and the absence of any sense of proper behavior. It describes the rudeness of the man outside asking for bread.
Against what is mostly assumed, it is important to note that the petitioner does not knock repeatedly or ask repeatedly. The parable has no refusal and does not mention knocking at all, nor does it mention any repetition of the request. The ideas of continued knocking and asking come from vv. 9-10, but they are not part of the parable. Praying continually and faithfully is a good thing, but persistence, especially persistence as repetitious prayer, should not be imported into this parable.

Meaning of the Parable

What does the text teach about God and prayer?

Firstly, the parable does not provide a comparison between the sleeper and God and between the petitioner and the believer. The whole point of the parable, however, is that God is not like the sleeper. It is a parable contrasting God with the sleeper.

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
and his ears are attentive to their cry;
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
to blot out their name from the earth. Psalm 34: 15-16 & 1 Peter 3:12

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29: 12-13

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. Luke 11: 9-10, 13

Secondly, as many other parables, this is a ‘how much more’ scenario where an argument progresses from a weaker case to stronger case. In this parable however, Luke does not provide the ‘stronger’ element that explains the intent of the parable but mentions it in Luke 11:13. The parable says in effect: “If a human will obviously get up in the middle of the night to grant the request even of a rude friend, will not God much more answer your requests?

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! Luke 11:13

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

Thirdly, the parable teaches the certainty of a God who hears prayer and responds. Indirectly, the parable does encourage boldness in praying. If one is assured of being heard receptively, and particularly if one thinks of God as a Father to his children, praying boldly is much easier.

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:15

So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. Galatians 3:26

Lastly, the parable expresses with reference to prayer the freedom from anxiety. God encourages us to see that true trust and reliance on Him is hinged on the truth that He does care for us.

Too long, please open your Bible Matthew 6: 26-34

Too long, please open your Bible Luke 12: 22-34

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 6-7

Conclusion

Jesus’ intention with the parable is to birth conviction in the hearts of the hearers that God is a God who eagerly hears the prayers of his people, is biased in their favor, and can be trusted to respond.

The parable affirms the importance of prayer and is an invitation to pray. If you would ask for and expect help from a neighbor, how much more should you seek and expect the help of God? If God cares about birds and flowers, will he not care about you? If a friend will get up and give a person bread because he needs it, even though he asks rudely, will not your heavenly Father?