Luke Chapter 11, Verse 7
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7: κακεινος εσωθεν αποκριθεις ειπη μη μοι κοπους παρεχε ηδη η θυρα κεκλεισται και τα παιδια μου μετ εμου εις την κοιτην εισιν ου δυναμαι αναστας δουναι σοι
7: And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the
door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot
rise and give thee.
7: And he from within should answer and say: Trouble me not; the door
is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give
thee.
My children are with me in bed. This does not necessarily mean that
they were in the same bed with him, but that they were all in bed, the
house was still, the door was shut, and it was troublesome for him to
rise at that time of night to accommodate him. It should be observed,
however, that the customs of Orientals differ in this respect from our
own. Among them it is not uncommon -- indeed it is the common practice --
for a whole family -- parents, children, and servants -- to sleep in the
same room. See (The Land and the Book, vol. i. p. 180). This is
not to be applied to God, as if it were troublesome to him to be
sought unto, or as if he would ever reply to a sinner in that manner. All
that is to be applied to God in this parable is simply that it is proper
to persevere in prayer. As a man often gives because the request
is repeated, and as one is not discouraged because the favour that
he asks of his neighbour is delayed, so God often answers us after
long and importunate requests.
