Luke 11:8 (WEB)
I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs.
Catechism · 2
In the Fullness of Time
“Three principal parables on prayer are transmitted to us by St. Luke: - the first, "the importunate friend,"” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 11:5-13.
Heaven and Earth
“They protect Jesus in his infancy, serve him in the desert, strengthen him in his agony in the garden, when he could have been saved by them from the hands of his enemies as Israel had been.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 1:20; 2:13,19; 4:11; 26:53; Mk 1:13; Lk 22:43; Macc 10:29-30; 11:8.
Fathers and councils · 23
John Cassian
- John Cassian, Conferences I–X IX.34Conference IX
“You have it in continuance in prayer, which the Lord’s words call, by reason of unwearied perseverance in petitioning, importunity: “For, verily, I say unto you that if not because of his friendship, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as much as he needs.”” — editor's note: S. Luke xi. 8.
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John Chrysostom
“Again it has overcome sloth also, and what friendship did not effect, this continued entreaty did: and “although he will not give him because he is his friend” (He says), “yet because of his importunity he will rise and give to him.” ( Luke xi. 8 ) And continued assiduity made her worthy who was unworthy.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“For this cause He told thee also the example of that friend, who came by night, and asked a loaf;and of the judge that feared not God, nor regarded men.” — editor's note: Luke xi. 5–8.
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Jerome
“By her importunity the widow in the gospel at last gained a hearing, and by the same means one friend induced another to give him bread at midnight, when his door was shut and his servants were in bed.” — editor's note: Luke xi. 7, 8.
Read the whole comment“Unless you knock importunately you will never receive the sacramental bread.” — editor's note: Luke xi. 5–8.
Read the whole comment“Our riches are to meditate in the law of the Lord day and night, to knock at the closed door, to receive the ‘three loaves’ of the Trinity, and, when the Lord goes before us, to walk upon the water of the world.”” — editor's note: Luke xi. 5–8.
Read the whole comment“How often he reminded me of the man in the gospel who sought help by night and of the widow who importuned the cruel judge!” — editor's note: Luke xi. 5, 8.
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Tertullian
“Nay, even that nocturnal knocker knocked for “bread.”” — editor's note: Luke xi. 5–9.
Read the whole comment“Accordingly, the preceding similitude represents the man who went at night and begged for the loaves, in the light of a friend and not a stranger, and makes him knock at a friend’s house and not at a stranger’s.” — editor's note: See Luke xi. 5–8.
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Ambrose of Milan
“For the Lord speaks in the Gospel of him who had already closed his door; how that when one knocks at his door very violently, he rises and gives what is wanted, because of his importunity.” — editor's note: S. Luke xi. 8.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
The Saviour had before taught, in answer to the request of His apostles, how men ought to pray. But it might happen that those who had received this wholesome teaching, poured forth their prayers indeed according to…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
God is that friend, who loveth all men, and wills that all should he saved.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Who is a greater friend to us, than He who delivered up His body for us? Now we have here another kind of command given us, that at all times, not only in the day, but at night, prayers should be offered up. For it…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
But what are these three loaves but the food of the heavenly mystery? For it may be that one has had a friend asking for what he cannot supply him with, and then finds that he has not what he is compelled to give. A…
Read the whole comment - Basil the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
For perhaps He delays purposely, to redouble your earnestness and coming to him, and that you may know what the gift of God is, and may anxiously guard what is given. For whatever a man acquires with much pains he…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Luke
He does not then take away the liberty of asking, but is the more anxious to kindle the desire of praying, by shewing the difficulty of obtaining that we ask for. For it follows, The door is now shut.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
This is the door which Paul also requests may be opened to him, beseeching to be assisted not only by his own prayers, but those also of the people, that a door of utterance may be opened to him to speak the mystery…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
The time then referred to is that of the famine of the word, when the understanding is shut up, (Amos 8:11.) and they who dealing out the wisdom of the Gospel as it were bread, preached throughout the world, are now…
Read the whole comment - Gregory of NyssaCatena Aurea on Luke
Well does he call those children who by the arms of righteousness have claimed to themselves freedom from passion, shewing that the good which by practice we have acquired, had been from the beginning laid up in our…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Luke
And because of what has gone before he adds, I cannot rise and give thee, which must have reference to the difficulty of obtaining.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else, the friend to whom the visit is made at midnight, for the loan of the three loaves, is evidently meant for an allegory, just as a person set in the midst of trouble might ask God that He would give him to…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
But when thou shalt have obtained the three loaves, that is, the food and knowledge of the Trinity, thou hast both the source of life and of food. Fear not. Cease not. For that bread will not come to an end, but will…
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on Luke
Or else, The midnight is the end of life, at which many come to God. But the friend is the Angel who receives the soul. Or, the midnight is the depth of temptations, in which he who has fallen, seeks from God three…
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Cross-references · 14
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 11:5–8 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Ambrose of Milan on Luke 11:5–8 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 11:5–8 (2) (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.
Cited together in Letters Letter 30.