The Pulpit Commentary — Luke — Volume 1 — Section 299

only nil cxceRs, but nll extravngnnce, nnd midnigl,t hae nothing stmine<l in it-it wBII even oonsiderntirm crnd thought, in providing frequently tho prooti~e in the Enst to travel fur anyU.1iug beyond the simplost daily by night, anJ so to eecape the greo.t heat of sustounnce. the de.y. Ver. 4.-~nd forgive u1 our ain1; for we Ver. 8.-BeoauBe of his importunity, ha also forgive every one that is indebted to will riae. The one idPa left upon Lh" rninrla us. Unforgiving is unforgiven. Nothing of the hearns or this little qu&int homely nppnrently more easy to fro.me with the lip•, parablP is-importunity i, rnmpletely mcces•- and to desire intensely with th~ henrt, thnn ful. The borrower he.d only need to keep this potition that the FRther won Id forgive on knocking to get all he wanted. us our sins, only, in praying the pmyer, 1,ow Vere. 9, 10.-And I say unto you. Ask, e.nd many forget, or nt least slur over, tlie con- it shall be given you ; seek, and ye ahe.ll find ; dition of tlmt forgiveness-a condition Ll10y knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For impose thernedv1:s I We forget the ten every one that aaketh receiveth; and be that thousand tulcnts ns we exo.ct the hundred eeeketh findhth ; e.nd to him that knocketh pence, and, in the act of cxacLillg, we bring it shall be opened. Then the Lord-taking buck a~in the weight of Lhe great debt on advantage of the state of mind into which ourselves. And lead us not into temptation. hi8 strange words had brought his hearers- The simple me1111iug of this concluding ma.de, as ProfeBSor Bruce well points out, petition in St. Luke's report of the prayer the eolernn rlecle.ration on which, e.nd nut is, " Thou kuowest, l+'ather, how weak I am; on the parable, he desired the tried soul to let me not be tempted abuve tho.t I nm able." le.y the stress of its faith : "And I say unto Vera. 5--13.-Prayer continued. The wis- you, Aek, and it shall be given you," etc. dom of persevern nee in prayer is pressen,. Jesus here pledges that those who act in The Lord introduces hid argwnumt b!J the accordance with this counsel shall find the short parahle of the selfish neighbour. event justify it. This statement, that those Ver. 5.-And he ea.id unto them, ,Whioh of who pray to God shall surely be hea.rd, rests you shall have a friend, and shall go unto absolutely on Christ's authority. It is not him at midnight, and ee.y unto him, Fr:wmd, given as e. fact which is self-evident, but as lend me three loaves. Tuia whole passage a fact which he, the Speaker, knows to be follows naturally the Lord'& own formula of true. The man in bed is pictured in the prayer. Theteo.chingcontained in vers. 1- para.hie as utterly sellish, regardless of his 13 may be well summarized as the Master's poorer neighbour's wants and sufferings. lesson on prayer. The disciples, when they So God seem., to ns often, ae we pray to him hea1·d Jesus pray, asked him to instruct day after day, month o.fter month, and our them in the holy art. The Lord then eug- prayer receives no answer; he merely appen.rs gedted to them a series of short subjects for to us then as a passionless Spectator of the constant prayer, and further gave them tragedies anti cnmeclies of time. "Chil<lren," words in which they could embody these so.id the Saviour," the selfish man of my ,tory subjects, and then proceeded to press upon yields to constant importunity. Tliink ye them that this constant seeking help fron1 God, who only seems to be deaf to man's God should never be interrupted; no dis- plea.ding voice that he me.y deepen his faith ooure.gornente were ever to prevent their e.nd educate his soul-think ye God is not praying. " See," said the Master, "this" listening e.11 the wbile, and will not in the (Milling them the little parnbloi) "is what end, in all his g!L,rioua generosity, grant the God appears to be when prayer receives no prayer? Only pray on." 1mswer." Of course, he is not what he o.ppears Ver. 11.-If a son shall ask bread of any to be (see ver. 9). The truth conoerning God of you that ie a father, will he gi,e him a does not reully como out before the words of stone 1 or if he ask a fuh, will ha for a. fish ver. 9; but the parable, gl'otesquo and quaint, give him a serpent! The Master keeps oil e.nd pioturiug a common scene of everyday adducing instances of the loving Fatlicl'liood life, arrested the attention then as it has done of God. All the while men were tl1inking in many a million co.see since, and told men hard things of him and his sovereignty. out of heart e.nd despairing of receiving any "Children," urged tho Saviour, "sueh thing-,,, o.nswer to their prayers, to think. Well, such a cruel part as you would in your ,fork hori, iii a case in point; but is Gud like this? sad thoughts ascribe to the loving hc,we11ly The Lord replies shortly to this mute heart- Father, ie simply nnthiukable in the cS1se of query. At midnight. The whole picture is earthly parent... They never really turn o. dl'awn from a poor man's house-children deaf ear to their chilJren's plea.ding; thi 11k and parents sleeping in one room. "With you that your Father which is in hmvcn Ille in bed" probably suggests what is com- will refuse to listen to you when you indeed mon in 110 Enstorn house, whore I\ divan or c,111 on him?" ro.ised plo.tform (rendered hero" bed") often Ver. 13.-How much more shall vnur filled well-nii;h half the room. 'fho hour heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them  Tm~ GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. LUKE. [on. XI. 1-64.