Note 3 at Lu 11:5: Many people interpret this parable on prayer to say that they should be persistent with their prayers in the same way that this man was with his friend. That interpretation leads people to believe that there are times when God is not inclined to answer their prayers, but if they will just "keep after Him," He will finally "give in." Nothing could be further from the truth of what this parable is actually teaching.

Rather, Jesus was ministering assurance to us that the Father is ready and willing to answer our prayers. To make that point, He asked which of the disciples had a friend who would be so rude as to deny him help simply because it was late at night and the friend was already in bed. The answer to that question is none. No friend would ever treat another friend that way! Even if one could imagine a person feeling the way Jesus described in the parable, one would still help the person just to get rid of the person.

The point that Jesus was making was that if we put so much faith in human friendship, how much more should we be able to completely trust our heavenly Father to grant our requests? We should come expecting to receive our answers to prayer much more so than to have a friend help us in a time of need.

This makes Lu 11:9-13 compatible with this parable instead of contradictory. Lu 11:11-13 uses this same reasoning and comparison with human relationships to stress "how much more" our heavenly Father loves us. The comparison in this parable is a contrast, not a representation. The same method of interpretation holds true with the parable of the woman and the unjust judge (see note 2 at Lu 18:2).

The Lord was promoting the opposite of importunity in prayer. He was saying, "You wouldn't have to hound a friend with insistent and repeated requests. Why would you then think that you have to treat God that way? Just ask and you shall receive."