the verse reads Then the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.
2007-01-04 01:47:16 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jesus was trying to teach us that if we persistently pray, he will answer us-no matter what the circumstances. when that man said i can't get up-he literally means it. in those days, you and the whole family will lay on a "futon" in the main room and sleep together. well, if that's the case, how easy do you think it will be for that man to get up,maneuver around his wife and children to answer the door. however with the persistence of the knocker who was pleading, he gets up anyway.
2007-01-04 02:01:25 · answer #1 · answered by Jesus junkie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The persistent friend (Lu 11:5-8). The illustration was part of Jesus’ reply to his disciples’ request for instruction on how to pray. (Lu 11:1-4) As shown in verses 9 and 10, the point to be drawn from it is not that God is disturbed by our requests but that he expects us to keep on asking.
Hospitality is a duty in which people of the Middle East love to excel. Even though the guest arrived unexpectedly at midnight, perhaps due to the uncertainties of travel then, his host would feel compelled to provide food. Since it is often difficult to judge exactly how much bread a household will need to have baked, there was some borrowing among neighbors. In this case the neighbor had gone to bed. Since some homes, especially those of the poor, might consist of only one large room, his getting up would disturb the whole family, hence the man’s reluctance to grant the request.
2007-01-04 01:52:55 · answer #2 · answered by Tomoyo K 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Maybe you need yo read it in its entirety.
Further down it says:10] For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
[11] If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
What it is saying is that in a cruel world, ignorance will shut a friend out, when you should always leave the door open to helping someone in need.
No this is not one of the crudest verses in the Bible. When they are read out of context, it is always most certainly misinterpreted ~joni
2007-01-04 01:58:26 · answer #3 · answered by jonismuse 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you look at the whole story Jesus is merely telling his disciples that when you pray, pray until you receive an answer.
After rereading your question I see what you were talking about. Try using a decent bible translation. This snippet comes from the New American Standard Bible. It is one of the most accurate translations on the market. Because of that it is a bit odd to read at times but check our your verse here:
7 and from inside he answers and says, `Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.'
1 It happened that while Jesus was praying in a certain place, after He had finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John also taught his disciples." 2 And He said to them, "When you pray, say: `Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. 3 `Give us each day our daily bread. 4 `And forgive us our sins, For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.' " 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 me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are 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, 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 Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?"
2007-01-04 01:56:22 · answer #4 · answered by Emperor Insania Says Bye! 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't read some sort of sexual content into this verse -- in those times, beds were costly and the whole family would share one. The implication is simply that the resident was unwilling to disturb his children to answer the door.
2007-01-04 01:53:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Jesus had been praying and the disciples came and ask how to pray,Jesus gave them the Lords Prayer,Jesus was referring to anyone that would not feed someone that was hungry if you will notice Jesus name is always capitalized read the verses before and after and it will explain He was talking about who would see another go hungry
2007-01-04 02:05:05 · answer #6 · answered by loveChrist 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
this is what happens when scripture is taken out of context. If you read the whole passage, it is talking about persistence in prayer. The parable talks about if you go to a person's house keep knocking and he will eventually answer. Same with God= if we are constant in prayer God will answer. God is much more merciful then that house owner.
2007-01-04 03:53:26 · answer #7 · answered by AdoreHim 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
That is the point. He is saying, if you go to a friend at midnight and ask for food, will he say 'Don't bother me...' etc. ? No, he will give it to you. The same is true of God - if you ask him for something, he will not say, "Don't bother me...," he will give you what you ask for.
I hope that makes a little more sense - you have to read verses 3 to 13 as a complete discussion.
2007-01-04 01:53:41 · answer #8 · answered by NONAME 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
In older days, and in poorer places, many of the same family slept in the same bed. Small children slept often with parents while older siblings (ie. several sisters) would share the another. This was for warmth as well as space.
It doesn't mean anything except that "I don't ant to disturb my sleeping children and what could you possibly need that is so important at this hour".
2007-01-04 01:53:27 · answer #9 · answered by Shanna J 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Read verses 5-9 Then you will be enlightened to the true point of the message intended
2007-01-04 01:53:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋