Book of Luke - Chapter 11 - Verse 8

In this verse, Jesus is teaching about the power of persistence in prayer. He tells a story of a man who goes to his friend at midnight asking for loaves of bread. Initially, the friend refuses to get up and give him the bread because it is late and he has already settled down for the night. However, because of the man's persistence and continual knocking, the friend eventually gets up and gives him as many loaves as he needs. Jesus uses this story to illustrate that even when our prayers are not immediately answered, we should continue to persist in our requests to God. Just as the friend eventually gives in to the man's persistence, God will answer our prayers in His perfect timing. This verse teaches us to have faith in God's willingness to provide for our needs and to trust in His timing, even when we do not see immediate results.

The theological interpretation of this verse focuses on the importance of persistence in prayer. The friend in the parable represents God, who may not always answer immediately, but will respond to the persistent prayers of his children. The term "importunity" refers to the friend's persistence, which ultimately leads to him receiving what he needs. This can be seen as a lesson for believers to continue to pray and seek God's intervention in their lives, even when it may seem like their prayers are not being answered right away. The emphasis is on the faithfulness of God to provide for his children, especially when they come to him with persistence and faith. This verse encourages believers to persevere in prayer and trust that God will meet their needs according to his perfect timing and will.