5 Then He said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend , and goes to him at midnight and says to him, 'Friend , lend me three loaves ; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey , and I have nothing to set before him'; 7 and from inside he answers and says , 'Do not bother e me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed ; I cannot e 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 , yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs . 9 "So I say to you, ask , and it will be given to you; seek , and you will find ; knock , and it will be opened to you. 10 "For everyone who asks , receives ; and he who seeks , finds ; and to him who knocks , it will be opened . 11 "Now suppose one of you fathers is asked by his son for a fish ; he will not give him a snake instead of a fish , will he? 12 "Or if he is asked for an egg , he will not give him a scorpion , will he? 13 " If you then , being evil , know how to give good gifts to your children , how much more will your heavenly e Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Luke 11:5-13
Commentary on Luke 11:5-13
(Read Luke 11:5-13)
Christ encourages fervency and constancy in prayer. We must come for what we need, as a man does to his neighbour or friend, who is kind to him. We must come for bread; for that which is needful. If God does not answer our prayers speedily, yet he will in due time, if we continue to pray. Observe what to pray for; we must ask for the Holy Spirit, not only as necessary in order to our praying well, but as all spiritual blessings are included in that one. For by the influences of the Holy Spirit we are brought to know God and ourselves, to repent, believe in, and love Christ, and so are made comfortable in this world, and meet for happiness in the next. All these blessings our heavenly Father is more ready to bestow on every one that asks for them, than an indulgent parent is to give food to a hungry child. And this is the advantage of the prayer of faith, that it quiets and establishes the heart in God.