From my forthcoming The Second Testament
Yēsous teaches about prayer
Luke 11:1 It happened: in his praying in some place, as he stopped, one of his apprentices said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray just as Yōannēs also taught his apprentices. 2 He said to them,
Whenever you pray, say [this]:
Father,
Your name be devoted,
Your Empire come,
3 Give our bread to us, for our existence, day by day,
4 Release from us our sins for we ourselves release those indebted to us,
Don’t guide us into the test.
5 He said to them,
Which of you [Knocker] will have a friend and will journey to him [Resident Friend] in the middle of the night and say to him, [Knocker]: “Friend, lend me three breads 6 since my friend came to me from the path and I don’t have something that I may present to him.” 7 That person inside [Resident Friend], responding, said, “Don’t present labor for me. Already the door has been closed and my children are with me in the bed. I am unable, arising, to give [anything] to you.”
8 I say this to you: “Even if he [Resident Friend] will not, arising, give [breads] to him [Knocker] because he is his [Resident’s] friend, yet because of his [Knocker’s] impudence,[1] being raised, he will give to him whatever he requires.”
9 And I say this to you:
Ask – God will give it to you.
Pursue – you will find.
Knock – God will open the door for you.
10 For everyone who asks receives and the one who pursues finds and for the one who knocks God will open the door. 11 Or, which father among you whose son will ask for a fish: Will he ever give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or, he will ask for an egg: Will he give him a scorpion? 13 Therefore, if you, existing as evil, know to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father, the one of heaven, give the Holy Spirit to the ones asking him!
[1] Everything in this parabolic story hangs on the meaning of “impudence,” one viable translation of anaideia. The term can mean “shamelessness” but not “persistence” or “avoidance of shame.” It counters friendship in this verse.
The Second Testament got exciting this week. IVP and I had some discussion about the cover design and color. More to come!
I’m looking forward to hearing more details about the release of The Second Testament! It’s been 2 years since I first heard you mention it and I thought you said it would release 2022. Keep up the good work!