Luke 11:1-23
Prayer is the expression of dependence. As the perfect minister of the disciples’ souls, Christ sets Himself to teach them, and you find a form of prayer presented. The Lord suits His words to their then condition. Prayer is the expression of the heart in its present condition.
The Lord then speaks of a man going to a friend at midnight and asking for three loaves. “And he from within”—these are striking words. Are you within? It is a dangerous condition in this world. What I mean by that is losing your sympathies with the joys and sorrows around you.
Here, the Lord shows out God’s grace on the dark ground of that man’s selfishness. Believers have not to ask and seek and knock; that is importunity. But “ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” See the divine readiness in answer to human necessities. Never say importunity is needed to move God.
Remember Daniel (Dan. 10). For three full weeks Daniel was chastening his heart before God, and no answer was given. At the end of that time the answer came. The angel told him that as soon as ever he began to pray, he was heard. However, a certain transaction that was going on in heaven hindered the answer. He went on in importunity for three weeks, but as soon as ever he had prayed, he was heard. So you may have been praying for a long time and getting no answer, but be sure the interval has been well employed, if not in heaven, then in the chastening of your spirit.
There is no reluctance in God—not that selfishness to be overcome that there was in the man at midnight—but there may be reasons to delay the answer. Then, when it does come, it may be in a way you are little prepared for. Paul prayed three times, and the thorn was not taken away, but the answer came at last, and in a way he had not expected. The thorn was left until the day of his death, but he was given grace by which he could triumph in it.
After commenting on prayer the Lord enters (vs. 14) on a solemn scene. Two antagonist thoughts come up to Christ—He who was constantly enduring the contradiction of sinners against Himself.
The first, representing a perverted religion, was set of the people come to charge Him with casting out devils by Beelzebub. The second, representing infidelity, tempted Him, seeking a sign from heaven.
The Lord takes up the first of these by asking in exquisite beauty, “If Satan . . . be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand?” In answering this contradiction, He begins by showing them the folly of their thought. Would Satan be so foolish? Why are you so senseless? Then He presses in on their consciences: “By whom do your sons cast them out?” No doubt the kingdom of God had come unto them. Therefore they were to take care what they were about—take care, He says, for your faithless reasoning has put you on dangerous ground.
J. G. Bellett (adapted from Notes on the Gospel of Luke)