The Luke 11 parable is another example of Jesus’ Jewish humor. The parable can be understood either from their similarities or from their differences. The key point here is based, not on similarity, but on hyperbolic contrast.

To appreciate this parable, understand it from the Middle Eastern hospitality culture.

이 비유를 이해하기 위해서는, 중동의 환대 문화를 알아야 한다.

In this culture, hospitality rules were clearly defined and rigidly followed. To open your home to a friend without offering them bread to eat was an egregious breach of etiquette. Travelers often journeyed late in the evening to avoid the heat of the midday sun. In Jesus' story, just such a traveller had arrived towards midnight at this friend's house. In the villages, bread was baked at home. Only enough for the day's needs was baked because, if it were kept and became stale, no

one would wish to eat it.

The late arrival of the traveller confronted the householder with an embarrassing situation, because his larder was empty and he could not fulfil the sacred obligations of hospitality. Late as it was, he went out to borrow from a friend. The friend's door was shut. In the east, no one would knock on a shut door unless the need was imperative. In the morning, the door was opened and remained open all day, for there was little privacy; but if the door was shut, that was a definite sign that the householder did not wish to be disturbed. But the seeking householder was not deterred. He knocked and kept on knocking.

The poorer Palestinian house consisted of one room with only one small window. The room was divided into two parts, not by a partition but by a low platform. Two-thirds of it was on ground level. The other third was slightly raised. On the

누가복음 11 장의 비유는 예수님의 유대식 유머를 보여주는 또 하나의 예시다. 이 비유는 유사점이나 차이점으로

이해할 수 있다. 여기서 핵심은 유사점이 아니라 과장된 대비에 기반한다.

raised part, the charcoal stove burned all night, and around it the whole family slept, not on raised beds but on sleeping mats. Also, it was the custom to bring the livestock, the hens, the cocks, and the goats into the house at night. To knock at night will cause everybody to wake up and be disturbed.

But the determined borrower knocked with shameless persistence.

그러나 밤에 찾아온 친구를 위해 기필코 빵을 구하려는 친구는 뻔뻔스럽게도 끈질기게 이웃집의 문을 두드렸다. The lesson of this parable is not that we must persist in prayer.
이 비유의 교훈은 기도에 끈기 있게 매달려야 한다는 것이 아니다.
This story is a lesson in the school of prayer.

이 이야기는 기도 학교에서의 가르침이다.
1. Grade School: We must pray 초등 저학년: 우리는 기도해야 한다.

In Luke 11:1-5, Jesus is praying. His disciples asked him to teach them to pray. His teaching starts with “When you pray...”

Jesus had been brought up to love prayer, and in this passage, he gives us the Christian charter of prayer – the Lord’s Prayer. Jesus taught His disciples the importance of prayer. It’s the ABC of following Jesus.

2. Elementary School: Know God 초등학교: 하나님을 알아야 한다.

In the story, Jesus tells about a friend going to a friend. Yet, he contrasts it and takes us to a relationship between a father and child. “How much more...!” If a friend's shameless persistence can eventually persuade a grumpy and unwilling householder to give him what he needs, how much more will God, supply all his children's needs?" Your concept of God will determine how you pray.

누가복음 11:1-5 에서 예수님은 기도하고 계신다. 예수님의 제자들이 예수님께 기도를 가르쳐 달라고 요청했다.

예수님의 가르침은 “너희는 기도할 때...”로 시작한다.

We are not wringing gifts from an unwilling God, but going to one who knows our needs better than we know them and whose heart towards us is the heart of generous love.

3. Middle School: How to pray 중학교: 기도하는 방법

In telling this story, Jesus explains prayer as asking, seeking, and knocking. He teaches that prayer is not a passive experience. These three words are all action verbs, and they build in intensity. Jesus was saying, “Ask and keep on asking; Seek and keep on seeking; Knock and keep on knocking.”

Asking is the first step of action, and it’s the most important. James writes, “...You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).

Seeking God’s answer about your request is the second step of action. Seeking implies two actions: seeking God’s will, and seeking for an answer. One is spiritual and the other is practical. If I ask God for a job, start looking for a job! Also, keep seeking God’s will in finding the right job.

Knocking is the third step of action. In Jesus’ story, what would have happened if the needy neighbor had stayed at home and only silently prayed, “Dear God, please provide bread for my guest!”? When you pray; you knock on doors. Let’s say you need a job. Pray and ask God for a job, but don’t sit at home and wait for someone to hire you. Put feelers out in the community, line up interviews, etc. Jesus teaches in this parable that prayer involves a plan of action. It’s not about sitting and asking; it’s asking, seeking, and knocking.

4. High School: Trusting in the Answer 고등학교: 응답을 신뢰하라. God will never refuse our prayers, nor will He mock them.

우리는 마지 못해하시는 하나님으로부터 선물을 짜내는 것이 아니라, 우리 자신보다 우리의 필요를 더 잘 아시고,

우리를 향한 마음이 관대한 사랑의 마음이신 분께 가고 있는 것이다.

구하는 것은 행동의 첫 번째 단계이며 가장 중요하다. 야고보는 “구하지 않기 때문에 얻지 못한다”(야고보서 4:2)고

쓰고 있다.

하나님은 우리의 기도를 결코 거절하지 않으실 것이며, 우리를 조롱하지 않으실 것이다.

God always answers prayer, but the following might help you understand what is happening when you are praying. 하나님은 항상 기도에 응답하시지만, 다음의 내용은 당신이 기도할 때 일어나고 있는 일을 이해하는 데 도움이 될 수

있다.

• If the request is wrong, God says, “No.” And that is for our good.

  요청이 잘못된 경우 하나님은 “아니오”라고 말씀하신다. 그리고 그것은 우리의 유익을 위한 것이다.

• Sometimes the request is proper, but the timing is wrong. God says, “Slow.” In this case, keep on praying until you recognize God’s timing.

• Sometimes the request is right, and the timing is right, but we aren’t right with God. That’s when God says, “Grow.”

• When the request is right, the timing is right, and you are right, God says, “Go.”

  요청이 옳고 시기가 옳고 당신이 하나님 앞에 옳으면, 하나님은 “좋아, 나아가라”고 말씀하신다. Conclusion 결론

  God wants to meet your physical needs. Jesus mentions a child asking for food, a fish, or an egg. Those are basic needs. They aren’t luxuries. Ask God the Father for the things you need to sustain you physically. But also note Jesus taught that God wants to meet your spiritual needs, namely the Holy Spirit (verse 13). There isn’t anything God will withhold from us when we pray according to His will.

때로는 요청이 적절하지만 시기가 적절하지 않다. 하나님은 “천천히” 라고 말씀하신다. 이 경우 하나님의 시간을 깨달을 때까지 계속 기도하라.

때로는 요청이 옳고 시기도 적절하지만, 하나님을 향한 우리가 옳지 않을 때가 있다. 그때는 하나님이

“성장하라”고 말씀하시는 때이다.