Jesus Teaches the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-13)
What Does Luke 11:1-13 Mean?
Luke 11:1-13 records Jesus teaching his disciples how to pray, introducing what is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer. Unlike Matthew’s fuller version (Matthew 6:9-13), Luke’s account is shorter but retains the essential elements: reverence for God, dependence on God for provision, and the necessity of forgiveness. Jesus follows this with the parable of the persistent friend (Luke 11:5-8) and a call to persistent prayer (Luke 11:9-13). This passage teaches that prayer is relational, persistent, and rooted in trust that God gives good gifts to His children.
Read a sermon on Luke 11:1-13 titled “The Hope of Our Prayer.”
Teaching on Prayer (Luke 11:1-13): A Verse-by-Verse Breakdown
In Luke 11:1-13, Jesus provides one of the most profound teachings on prayer in the New Testament. This passage not only includes the Lord’s Prayer but also emphasizes the importance of persistence, faith, and trust in God’s provision. By examining this text verse by verse, we can uncover truths about prayer that are deeply rooted in Scripture and applicable to our lives today.
Luke 11:1 – The Disciples’ Request
"He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, 'Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.'" (Luke 11:1)
The passage begins with Jesus in prayer, a recurring theme in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 3:21, Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12). The disciples, recognizing the depth of Jesus’ relationship with the Father, ask him to teach them how to pray. This reflects their desire to align themselves with his mission and their recognition that prayer is vital to spiritual life.
Also, we can learn from the disciples - when we see someone experiencing something in their faith that we desire to experience also, ask. There is so much wisdom within the church and if we asked others to share what they know or ask about their disciplines, we’d all be the better for it!
Luke 11:2-4 – The Lord’s Prayer
“He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial.’” (Luke 11:2-4)
Jesus begins his model prayer with a strikingly personal address—“Father.” In a religious culture where God was often revered from a distance, Jesus invites his disciples into an intimate relationship with God, much like a child speaking to a loving parent. This theme of divine closeness echoes throughout Scripture, from God’s tender care for Israel (Isaiah 63:16) to Paul’s declaration that believers can cry out, “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).
The first petition—“Hallowed be your name”—sets the tone. Before any requests are made, the prayer starts with worship. To “hallow” God’s name means to recognize God’s holiness and revere God above all else. This echoes the commandment in Exodus 20:7, warning against taking God’s name in vain. Prayer begins with a posture of awe, acknowledging who God is before presenting our needs.
“Your kingdom come” is a bold request for God’s rule to be realized on earth. This isn’t just about the future fulfillment of God’s kingdom but a plea for God’s reign to shape the present. Jesus preached the arrival of God’s kingdom (Luke 4:43), and this prayer calls for hearts, communities, and the world to be transformed under God’s rule. I am reminded of the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4 and how the kingdom is planted and grows astoundingly.
The request for “daily bread” is a nod to Israel’s dependence on God’s provision in the wilderness (Exodus 16:4). It’s a reminder that all sustenance—physical and spiritual—comes from God. The Greek word for “daily” (ἐπιούσιος, epiousios) is rare and suggests both immediate provision and trust for tomorrow. This is an invitation to daily dependence on God’s care rather than self-sufficiency.
This is not just a theology class for Jesus. This is tough, rubber-meets-the-road challenge. In a time where most people didn’t know where their next meal was going to come from, and when over 90% of those in Palestine and Judea lived in subsistence, Jesus was encouraging the disciples to active trust. Mary sang about it and I wrote about it here.
The prayer then moves to forgiveness: “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.” Jesus ties our forgiveness from God to our willingness to extend the same grace to others. This echoes his teaching in Matthew 6:14-15, where he warns that refusing to forgive hinders our own experience of God’s mercy. This isn’t about earning forgiveness but about living in the reality of it—if we truly grasp God’s grace, it naturally extends to others.
Finally, Jesus instructs his disciples to pray, “And do not bring us to the time of trial.” This acknowledges human weakness and dependence on God’s protection. The phrase is often debated, but it likely refers to asking God to keep us from overwhelming temptation or testing. Similar language appears in Matthew 26:41, where Jesus tells His disciples to “pray that you may not come into the time of trial.” It’s a humble confession that apart from God’s guidance, we are vulnerable.
Jesus’ model prayer is simple yet profound. It shapes how we approach God—not as a distant deity but as a loving Father. It teaches that prayer isn’t just about asking for things; it’s about aligning our hearts with God’s character, trusting in God’s provision, and living out grace.
Luke 11:5-8 – The Parable of the Persistent Friend
"And he said to them, 'Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, "Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him."'" (Luke 11:5-6)
In Luke 11:5-8, Jesus tells a parable about a friend in need and the persistence required to receive help. He begins with a scenario: a man goes to his friend at midnight, asking for three loaves of bread to feed an unexpected guest. The friend initially refuses, citing the lateness of the hour and the inconvenience of getting up. However, Jesus emphasizes that despite the late hour and the reluctance, the persistent friend will eventually get what he needs—not because of the friendship, but because of his bold persistence. This parable illustrates the power of persistence in prayer.
Read a sermon on Luke 11:1-13 titled “The Hope of Our Prayer.”
“The certainty of God’s response is not based on the persistence itself, but on the goodness of God’s character. ”
The story draws attention to the urgency of the request. Midnight is a time of rest, and the sleeping household would naturally be reluctant to wake up and meet the request. Yet, the one asking for bread does not relent. His persistence forces his friend to act, showing that when there is a genuine need, persistence is key. Jesus uses this image of a late-night, inconvenient request to underscore the willingness of God to answer those who earnestly and persistently seek.
In the context of prayer, this parable teaches a crucial lesson about our approach to God. Just as the friend persistently knocks on the door until he gets what he needs, so too must we persist in our prayers. The parable challenges the notion that God will only answer quickly or easily, instead revealing that the persistence of the one praying reflects the depth of their need and trust. It’s a reminder that perseverance is often required when seeking God’s help, and that God delights in responding to those who seek earnestly.
Ultimately, Jesus uses this story to demonstrate that if even a reluctant friend will eventually answer a persistent request, how much more will our heavenly Father respond to us when we ask in faith? While the parable does not promise that God will give us everything we want immediately, it does reassure us that God hears our prayers and will respond in perfect timing.
Luke 11:9-13 – Ask, Seek, Knock
"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."(Luke 11:9-10)
In Luke 11:9-13, Jesus encourages his followers to approach God with boldness and persistence, urging them to “ask, seek, knock.” He promises that those who actively seek God will find God. The invitation to ask is not a mere formality but a call to engage with God sincerely and regularly. Jesus uses three verbs—ask, seek, knock—each increasing in intensity, to illustrate the progressive nature of prayer. The act of asking shows desire, seeking shows effort, and knocking demonstrates determination. Together, they convey the need for a persistent, ongoing approach to God in prayer.
Jesus assures his listeners that God will answer those who seek. He compares God to a father who would not give his child something harmful, like a serpent or scorpion, when asked for basic necessities like food or eggs. This analogy emphasizes that God, as a loving Father, knows how to give good gifts to us. The certainty of God’s response is not based on the persistence itself, but on the goodness of God’s character. Just as earthly parents know how to provide for their children, how much more will our heavenly Father give us what we need?
The context of these verses highlights the trust we are called to have in God’s generosity. Jesus stresses that the gift of the Holy Spirit is the greatest of all, offered freely to those who ask. This is the ultimate “good gift”—the Holy Spirit, who empowers, guides, and strengthens believers in their relationship with God. Jesus shifts the focus from material needs to the spiritual reality that God desires to give divine presence through the Holy Spirit, which is far more valuable than anything we could ask for on earth.
Through this passage, Jesus teaches that prayer is an expression of both trust and relationship with God. It’s not about just making requests or receiving answers, but about deepening our connection with the Father. The invitation to ask, seek, and knock reflects an open door to a life of prayer where God’s goodness and generosity abound. As we persist in prayer, we not only receive God’s answers but also grow in our understanding of His nature, learning to trust in His perfect provision and timing.
Luke 11:1-13 Meaning for Today
This passage teaches that prayer is more than a ritual; it is a relationship. Jesus calls us to approach God with confidence, persistence, and trust. Just as a loving father gives good gifts to his children, God provides for our needs. In a world where worry and self-reliance are common, Jesus reminds us that our first response should be to turn to God in prayer.
FAQ
Q: Why is the Lord’s Prayer so important?
A: The Lord’s Prayer is a model for how to pray, emphasizing worship, dependence on God, forgiveness, and guidance. It teaches us to seek God’s will above our own.
Q: What does it mean to pray with persistence?
A: Praying with persistence means continually bringing our requests to God with faith and boldness, trusting in God’s timing and goodness. It reflects our dependence on the Lord.
Q: How does the Holy Spirit help us in prayer?
A: The Holy Spirit empowers us to pray, intercedes for us when we don’t know what to pray, and aligns our prayers with God’s will (Romans 8:26). Read, learn, and enjoy more —> What the Holy Spirit Can Do
