Teachings/Prayer/Three Parables on Prayer

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Prayer and Worship is a major theme in the Gospel of Luke[1]:

  • Luke’s Gospel begins (1:8) and ends (24:53) with scenes of worship.
  • Luke dedicates more space to Jesus’s prayer life than any other evangelist (3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 29; 22:41, 44) See below for details...
    • Prayer bookends his ministry: we find Jesus praying at his baptism in the Jordan River (3:21) as well as on the cross (23:46). [2] .
  • Luke's gospel contains three parables on prayer that are unique to Luke's gospel.
  • The gospel of Luke is largely structured as in terms of a journey towards Jerusalem (a pilgrimage motif).

Three Parables on Prayer:

Reference Parable
11:5–8 The Friend at Midnight
18:1–8 The Persistent Widow (and the Unjust Judge)
18:9–14 The Pharisee and the Publican (or Tax Collector)

The meaning of the Parable of the Friend at Midnight:

God often waits for our passionate persistence in prayer. It isn’t that God is reluctant and needs to be persuaded. Our persistence doesn’t change God; it changes us, developing in us a heart and passion for what God wants.


Liturgical material:

Reference Passage
1:46–55 Magnificat
1:68–79 Benedictus
2:14 Gloria in Excelsis
2:29–32 Nunc Dimittis

Jesus at prayer:

Reference Passage
3:21 at his baptism
5:16 in deserted places
6:12 on choosing his disciples
9:18 alone, with disciples nearby
9:28–29 at his transfiguration
11:1 in presence of his disciples
22:41, 44–45 in the garden

Instructions/Encouragements regarding Prayer:

Reference Passage
11:2–4 instruction in prayer (Lord's Prayer)
6:28; 18:1; 21:36; 22:40,46 encouragement to pray
  1. ↑ Baker Publishing Group, http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/introducing-the-new-testament-2nd-edition/11940/students/esources/chapters/700
  2. ↑ https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-other-lords-prayer
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