The English word "importunity" means a constant and insistent demanding and comes from the Latin word "importunitas" ≈ "incivility".

The ancient Greek word "ἀναιδής" ≈ "shameless, ruthless" and comes from two Greek words.

• "ἀν" ≈ "not" and negates what it is a prefix for.
• "αἰδώς" ≈ "shame".

The modern Greek word "αναίδεια" (a-NEH-thee-a) ≈ "lack of modesty and respect".

Whenever a word is used once in the GNT (Greek New Testament), that word and usage needs to be carefully researched to determine if any double meanings or play on words are being used.

Luke: The ancient Greek word "ἀναιδής" ≈ "shameless, ruthless".

Matthew: The ancient Greek word "παράπτωσις" ≈ "impetuous pursuit, going astray". The parts of the word mean, literally, going "beyond falling".

The Greek for "midnight" is, literally, the "middle of the night".
Being woken up at midnight or early in the morning is not appreciated.

The early worm gets eaten by the bird.

Are you more of a morning person or evening person?
Early morning noises: breathing, lip-flapping, snoring, log-sawing.

There are three "friends" in the story. We will identify them as follows.

• Friend#3 Charlie came to Friend#2 Bob as a guest.
• Friend#2 Bob goes to Friend#1 Alex at midnight for bread.
• Friend#1 Alex is sleeping with his family at midnight.

Friend#3 Charlie appears to represent any "thing" or "reason" to motivate the actions.

A Christmas hymn about midnight is "It came upon a midnight clear".

More: Song: It came upon a midnight clear

Details are left as a future topic.

Another hymn, by Lister, is "Til the storm passes by" which starts with the words "in the dark of the midnight".

Details are left as a future topic.

John 3 could be entitled "Nick at night" as Nicodemus comes to see Jesus at night.

More: John 3:1-17 Born from the beginnings

Luke 11 has the parable of the friend at midnight. The important context is that of the Lord's Prayer in Luke.

More: Luke 11:1-4: Lord's Prayer in Luke

After the short prayer, Jesus tells the parable of the friend at midnight.

Hospitality at that time was important. The Greek for "journey" is the same word the early Christians used for the "way", the word in "exodus" as the "way out". What type of friend is Friend#3 Charlie?

• Discuss: Why might Friend#2 Bob not have been prepared?
• Discuss: What might the "bread" represent?

We are talking about a "friend" of a "friend". This as a "meta friend".

More: Have you ever met a prefix like this?

This "friend" was not prepared for the "friend".
The Lord's Prayer, right before this parable in Luke, was to provide daily bread. Here, Friend#2 Bob is asking Friend#1 Alex for that bread.

Discuss: What is the similarities and differences between "friends" and "neighbors"? In many senses, we are all connected to others. This is the idea of the "six degrees of separation".

Matthew 6 (Lord's Prayer, righteousness, etc.) is the lead-up to Matthew 7 (Love thy neighbor, false teachers, houses on rock and sand, etc.).

Friend#1 Alex at first makes excuses, providing reasons why he cannot help.
Jesus tells a parable about two people being asked to do something.

• One says he will not do it, then does it.
• One says he will do it, then does not.

Jesus asks which did the will of the father/Father.

Details are left as a future topic.

Friend#1 Alex gave Friend#2 Bob what he "needs" and not what he "wants". What is the difference?
One view: The Friend#2 Bob is "impudent". That is, he has gone "beyond" and has "fallen" in his desired obligation to Friend#3 Charlie and wants Friend#1 Alex rectify the situation, at midnight - not a convenient time.

Another view: Friend#1 Alex is "impudent" because hospitality is due, regardless of the time of day.

Which is correct? Can they both be correct?

Jesus is speaking.


Discuss: How does the use of the Greek word for "friend" in the parable of the friend at midnight effect the meaning of the parable?

More: Both love your God and love your neighbor as yourself needed

• Is the main focus of the story on Friend#2 Bob who asks Friend#1 Alex at midnight?
• Is the main focus of the story on Friend#1 Alex who "lets go" of what might be considered a "stupid" action by Friend#2 Bob - he should have been prepared?

Can we look at it both ways?

• You are Friend#2 Bob and you go to Friend#1 Alex.
• You are Friend#1 Alex and Friend#2 Bob comes to you.

This relationship is at the peer level. The parable of the unjust judge involves a subordinate and superior. So is the woman begging scraps from the master's table.

More: Luke 18:1-8 Parable of the unjust judge

More: Matthew 7:6-12 The hunt for holy hounds

Sometimes you feel like your are one of them. Sometimes the other. The idea is that what goes around comes around. One should consider both sides.

The Hebrew word "כבד" (ka-ved) ≈ "heavy, liver". The Semitic root is that of being heavy from which comes the idea of something being important, honor, etc. The basic noun form means "liver" is something in the "interior" as a "soul". The word is used to describe the "hardening" of Pharaoh's heart. This word (or variant) appears in the Hebrew Bible 376 times. The exact meaning is "heavily" dependent on context.

In the context of Exodus 19:19, the corresponding ancient Greek word "τιμά" ≈ "honor, value, price" as found in the LXX (Septuagint) and GNT.

Commandment: Honor thy father and thy mother.

It does not say "humor your father and mother". [popcorn, trying]


A transitive relation can be viewed in (at least) two ways.

What happens when the father and/or mother is not present?

One pastor gave a sermon on "forgiving your parents". The Greek for "forgive" is to "let go". Might this title mean that one is to "let go" of their parents? Such a sermon might include the following verses.


Discuss: Consider human beings. What is a male? What is a female? How might these words and definitions be made less clear?

Discuss: Jesus said that male and female were made "in the beginning". Which ideas here might the world want to reject?

Remember: What Jesus does not say is often as important as what he says.

Details are left as a future topic.

Note that Luke puts the "parable of the friend at midnight" right after the Lord's Prayer. The verses right after the Lord's Prayer in Matthew appear to fit well with the "parable of the friend at midnight". What might be the significance of this?

Paraphrase: You should do unto others (within the limits of God's laws) what you would want Jesus to do unto you.

The verse right after the parable of the friend at midnight is the following.
Jesus continues with the "ask", "seek" and "knock" sequence. Discuss the following.

Is the "ask" meant to mean to not prepare and "seek" your friend at midnight and "knock" to make requests?

Details are left as a future topic.

Discuss: What are the similarities and differences between the "parable of the unjust judge" and the "parable of the friend at midnight"?

In the "parable of the ten virgins", half are prudent and half are not.

The half that are not prudent did not get ready for the bridegroom (Jesus coming). The half that were wise did get ready. They do not accede to the request by the half who did not get ready to give them some of their oil to light the lamps.

Discuss: What are the similarities and differences between the "parable of the ten virgins" and the "parable of the friend at midnight"?

When Jesus washes the feet of the disciples, Peter asks for his head also. Jesus puts limits on what is needed.

Discuss: What limits should be put on requests made by friends?

• Song: What a friend we have in Jesus