And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
And the guy inside calls back, 'Don't bother me right now! I've already locked up for the night, and my kids are all tucked in bed with me. I can't get up to help you out.'
Sometimes people say no because it's genuinely inconvenient, but that doesn't mean you stop asking.
📚 Historical Context
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells a parable about a man who goes to his friend at midnight to ask for bread because an unexpected guest has arrived, illustrating the cultural value of hospitality in ancient Jewish society. The friend's initial refusal, mentioning the shut door and his children in bed, reflects the practical realities of first-century homes, which were often small and shared by the whole family, making nighttime disturbances highly inconvenient. This sets the stage for Jesus to emphasize persistence in seeking help from God.
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