Improve Your Prayer Life by Learning From the Parables
Spiritual Questions with Scriptural Answers.
In the previous two articles of this series on prayer, we have examined the prayer life of Jesus as well as three examples from the Old Testament (David, Daniel, and Nehemiah). In this article, we turn our attention to the New Testament to see how we can improve our prayer lives.
I invite you to the book of Luke. In this account of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the “beloved physician,” by inspiration, records much about prayer.
He records the prayer of Zacharias (Luke 1:8, 13, 67-80), the beautiful prayer of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), Jesus’ prayer for the twelve (Luke 6:12-13, 20, 28), the model prayer in response to the disciple’s request to be taught (Luke 11:1-4), Jesus’ prayer in the garden (Luke 22:39-46), and also, several “prayer parables.”
For our study this week, we want to examine the “prayer parables” to help us better improve our prayer lives.
The Parable of the Persistent Friend.
First, we notice the parable of the persistent friend (Luke 11:5-13). The key word in this parable is “persistence.” This word means to be actively determined to accomplish something.
In the parable, a man went to a friend’s house at midnight seeking food to give to a guest. The friend, though it was late and inconvenient, because of the persistence, gave as much as was needed. Jesus then gives the meaning to the parable:
“So I say to 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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10).
Here we find the formula “ASK,” which means to ask, seek, and knock. The Father desires to aid us in our lives and we have to be persistent in prayer, praying by faith (Jas. 1:5-6).
The Parable of the Unjust Judge.
Second, we notice the parable of the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8). Jesus, to preview this parable said, “Men always ought to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1).
The parable He delivers is about an unjust judge who did not “fear God” or “regard man,” and a widow in the city who came to the judge for justice. He did not want to be attentive to her, yet by her “continual coming,” he gave in and assisted her. Notice the point of the parable:
“Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:6-8).
The point is that if the unjust judge who did not care about men’s problems listened to this widow, won’t the just God of Heaven avenge, assist, and aid His own people who continually come to Him in prayer?
The Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector.
Third and finally, we notice the parable of the pharisee and tax collector (Luke 18:9-14).
It is interesting that this parable is given directly after the parable of the unjust judge. While the previous parable focused on persistence in prayer and God’s compassion on the one praying, this parable has to deal with one’s disposition and attitude in prayer.
Jesus paints the picture of a Pharisee (religious elite) and a Publican (a despised tax collector). The Pharisees “trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others” (Luke 18:9). Both men went up to the Temple to pray showing they were both in covenant relationship with God. The Pharisee stood and prayed with himself saying,
“God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess” (Luke 18:11-12).
Notice the difference in the words from the Publican:
“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13)!
Jesus said that the man who had humility went home justified and added the timeless words, “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Luke 18:14).
These three “prayer parables” teach us much about how we can improve our prayer lives.
First, we learn to be persistent and approach God’s throne with confidence.
Second, we learn to have faith knowing God hears us and wants to help us.
Third, we learn the importance of approaching God with humility.
If we will apply these lessons to our prayer lives, they will be enriched.
Drew Suttles is a minister for the Quitman church of Christ in Quitman, Georgia, and one of my best friends in this world. They live-stream all their Bible classes and sermons on their YouTube channel.
Drew also hosts the “Weathering the Storm” podcast on the Scattered Abroad Network. Drew talks about facing life’s challenges as a child of God. His podcast will be a blessing to your life.
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