What is the point of the parable? Is Jesus saying that God is like that sleepy, reluctant man? No! Far from likening or comparing the sleepy man to God, Jesus is drawing a contrast. He is showing how different this man is from God.
- Here is a man disturbed at an inconvenient time. God is never inconvenienced. There is no midnight where God is. “Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep” (Psalm 121:4 cf. Psalm 139:12).
- Here is a man who, despite friendship, is reluctant to help. God is the Friend who is never reluctant or grudging. He “gives generously to all without reproach” (James 1:5).
- Here is a man who cares for his own children more than his friend’s guest. But we are God’s children! (1 John 3:1-2)
Here is a man who, despite his reluctance, arises to help. If persistence succeeds with an unwilling friend, how much more does our willing Father reward persistent prayers! Jesus then states the parable’s lesson.
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened (Luke 11:9-10).
The tense of the verbs can also be translated, “Keep asking… keep seeking… keep knocking.” The actions themselves tell of determined pursuit: “Ask!” Yet, don’t quit there. “Seek!” Yet, even more, go up and boldly “knock” at God’s door! That is the kind of tenacity shown by the host at midnight, the kind of determination that receives what it asks for. This promise is open to “everyone”—which includes you and me here and now.