WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
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international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday February 23, 2020
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EVER-PERSEVERING PETITIONS
(Teaching about prayer)
(Luke 11:5-13)
In the Gospel of Luke, chapter 11,
verses 5-13, JESUS gives us two parables that teach us that prayer grows out of
a persistent, experiential relationship with GOD. In verses 5-8 HE teaches us a
“good lesson” by using the “bad example” of a man who does not want to be
bothered, and who refuses the petition of a neighbor because he felt that it
was too late at night for someone to come calling for a favor.
Here JESUS states: “Suppose you went to
a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You would
say to him, “A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing
for him to eat”. He would call out from his bedroom, “Don’t bother me. The door
is locked for the night, and we are all in bed. I can’t help you this time”. But
I tell you this_ though he won’t do it as a friend, if you keep knocking long
enough, he will get up and give you what want so his reputation won’t be
damaged” (NLT).
JESUS goes on to say: “And so I tell you,
keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and
you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. For everyone who
asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door in opened to everyone who
knocks (Vs 9-10) (NLT).
JESUS then shows the contrast of the ways
of a loving GOD, WHO wants us to pray to HIM, no matter what time it is, or how
many times we need to ask. Here JESUS is encouraging us to be persistent, not
in order to change GOD’s mind, but rather, as a way of being steadfast in
praying, so that we might receive our every need.
In verses 11-13 JESUS gives us a second
parable in the form of a question, in an attempt to teach us that GOD gives HIS
children “what they need”, and not necessarily “what they want”. Here JESUS says to the fathers who are present, and, who
are responsible to lead their families in prayer: “You fathers, if your
children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for
an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!” “HE goes on to say, If you sinful people
know how to give gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly
FATHER give the HOLY SPIRIT to those who ask HIM”.
We can always rest assure that GOD will
grant, through prayer, all of our needs, simply because HE knows what they are,
and HE knows that “our needs can never harm us”. However, on the other hand,
GOD often does not grant some of the things we want, simply because,
oftentimes, those very same things will harm us, even though we may not think
so at the time. On those occasions when our “wants” and “needs” are one and the
same, GOD is more than happy to grant our petitions. HE will always grant that
which is good for HIS children, and always decline to grant those things that
are not.
However, JESUS reminds us in verse 13b that,
the greatest gifts that GOD can bestow upon anyone is the gift of “salvation”
and “the HOLY SPIRIT” through CHRIST JESUS our LORD. And with that in mind, let
us, at all times, be inspired to continue to go to the LORD in prayer, and
quite literally, we must do so, without ceasing, because, if we are honest with
ourselves, our need for GOD, will never cease.
A
Sunday school lesson by,
Larry
D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER-
Official Website
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