Luke 10:38-11:13

Jesus entered into the city of Bethany where He was welcomed into the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (Luke 10:38; John 11:1), who Jesus raised from the dead (John 11:2-44). During Jesus’ visit in their home, Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word” but Martha “was distracted with much serving” (10:39-40a). Martha became very frustrated because she felt as if she was doing all the work to serve Jesus while her sister, Mary, had left her alone to do everything. Martha’s frustration led her to approach Jesus and say, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me” (10:40b). Jesus reacted to her words saying, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (10:41-42). Although there is nothing inherently wrong with Martha desiring to serve Jesus, she should have taken time to do that which was more necessary – listen to Jesus’ words and worship Him. Instead of celebrating His presence with them, Martha was consumed with all the details which caused her to lose her focus about what is really important. Jesus was teaching us that serving should never overshadow worshipping.

I believe Luke followed up this incident at Mary and Martha’s house with a very fitting lesson to His disciples concerning the importance of spending time alone with God. One day Jesus was praying and His disciples approached Him saying, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John [the Baptist] also taught his disciples” (11:1). The disciples had personally observed Jesus’ prayer life and wanted to know how they could also fellowship with God in prayer. In response to their question, Jesus provided these words: “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (11:2-4). This prayer was not to be merely recited, but to be an example of the elements which should be involved in prayer. The Lord’s prayer consisted of elements such as praise to God, submission to God’s will, dependence on God’s provision, confession of sin, and protection from evil. Again, this prayer should not be thoughtlessly repeated but rather provide a model for us to follow.

In conjunction with His teaching on prayer, Jesus also teaches them about perseverance in prayer by telling them the parable of the persistent friend. In this parable Jesus tells about a man who goes to his friend’s house at midnight saying, “Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him…” (11:5-6). The man inside the house reacts to this man’s request saying, “‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you…” (11:7). Jesus then reveals the meaning of this parable saying, “I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs” (11:8). Persistence is one of the keys to right praying. If a person believes something is important enough, he will continue asking God to answer until he receives his request. Unlike the man inside the house who initially turned his friend away, Jesus invites us to pray; furthermore, Jesus says, “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (11:9-10). Why should we be bold in asking? Jesus says that even earthly fathers, who are sinful (by nature), know how to give good gifts to their children, so “how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (11:11-13). The greatest gift a person could receive is the Holy Spirit who indwells those who believe. Even though we no longer pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit (He has already come, see Acts 2), the Holy Spirit lives in us and prays on our behalf that we would do the will of God (Romans 8:26).

Dear God, teach me to pray.