Thematic Bible: Prayers of, unanswered
Thematic Bible
The wicked » Guilt of » Prayers of, unanswered
Once He was praying in a certain place, and when He ceased, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." So He said to them, "Whenever you pray, say: 'Father, Your name be revered; Your kingdom come; continue giving us day by day our daily bread, read more.
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who does us wrong, and do not let us be subjected to temptation.'" Then He said to them: "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him in the middle of the night and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has just come to my house on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him to eat.' And suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me; the door is now locked, and my children are packed about me in bed; I cannot get up and give you any.' I tell you, although he will not get up and give you any because he is your friend, yet because of your persistence he will get up and give you all your needs. So I tell you, keep on asking, and the gift will be given you; keep on seeking, and you will find; keep on knocking, and the door will open to you. For everyone who keeps on asking, receives; and the one who keeps on seeking, finds; and to the one who keeps on knocking, the door will open. Now is there a father among you who, if his son asks him for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or, if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? So if you, in spite of your being bad, know how to give your children what is good, how much more surely will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who continue to ask Him?"
Now He told them the following story to show how necessary it is for people always to pray and never to give up: "Once there was in a city a judge who had no reverence for God nor respect for men. And in that city there was a widow who continued to come to him and say, 'Give me justice and protection from my opponent.' read more.
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"
And he would not for a time, but afterward he said to himself, Though I have no reverence for God nor respect for men, yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will give her justice and protection, so that she may not finally wear me out by her continual coming." Then the Lord added, "Listen to what the unrighteous judge says! And will not God give justice and protection to His chosen people who continue to cry to Him day and night, since He is so patient with them? I tell you, He will give them justice and protection, and that without delay. But when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?"