Luke 11:5

5 And Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you should go to a friend's house at midnight and say, "Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread.

Luke 11:5 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 11:5

And he said unto them, which of you shall have a friend,
&c.] A neighbour, or acquaintance:

and shall go unto him at midnight;
which may seem a very unseasonable time, and which nothing but real distress, not knowing what otherwise to do, would put a man upon:

and say unto him, friend, lend me three loaves:
it was usual of the Jews to borrow bread of one another, and certain rules are laid down, when, and on what condition, this is to be done; as for instance, on a sabbath day ^F11,

``a man may ask of his friend vessels of wine, and vessels of oil, only he must not say, lend me: and so a woman, (twrkk htrybxm) , "bread of her friend".''

Again ^F12,

``so said Hillell, let not a woman lend (htrbxl rkk) "bread to her friend", till she has fixed the price; lest wheat should be dearer, and they should be found coming into the practice of usury.''

For what was lent, could not be demanded again under thirty days ^F13.

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FOOTNOTES:

F11 Misn. Sabbat, c. 23. sect. 1.
F12 Misn. Bava Metzia. c. 5. sect. 9.
F13 T. Bab. Maccot, fol. 3. 2. Jarchi in T. Bab. Sabbat, fol. 148. 1. Bartenona in Misn. Sabbat, c. 23. sect. 1.

Luke 11:5 In-Context

3 Give us day by day the food we need.

4 Forgive us our sins, for we forgive everyone who does us wrong. And do not bring us to hard testing.' "

5 And Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you should go to a friend's house at midnight and say, "Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread.

6 A friend of mine who is on a trip has just come to my house, and I don't have any food for him!'

7 And suppose your friend should answer from inside, "Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'