Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 11:5

"And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves;" — Luke 11:5 (ASV)

Jesus’ teaching on prayer continues (vv.5–13) with a parable unique to Luke. The scene is that of a Palestinian home in which the family are all asleep in one room—perhaps the only room in the house—and probably all on one mat. The father could not get over to the door and slide back the heavy bolt that bars it without waking up his family. In such a situation no one would be happy to respond, especially in the middle of the night. Nevertheless the man does respond to his friend at the door. A host in first-century society would be expected to provide a welcome to a guest regardless of when he arrived.