(All scripture references are NASB and all references to “Law” are Torah (Mosaic law) unless otherwise noted. I usually capitalize “law”, only because I am using it as a proper noun, not as a special status.)
Having looked at a few parables when investigating botany, I think I might just do a series eventually on more of Christ's parables.
The gospel explains all of the parables, yet many seem just as confused as the disciples were. They simply cannot seem to apply a new covenant lens to Christ's words.
For now, I ran across this one, and I wanted to explore it with you.
As with most parables, your bias will inform your interpretation. I have one question to ask as you read through the parable.
Who do you identify with?
Let's take a look:
Luke 21:5-13
“5 - And He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 - because a friend of mine has come to me from a journey and I have nothing to serve him’; 7 - and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ 8 - I tell you, even if he will not get up and give him anything just because he is his friend, yet because of his shamelessness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.
9 - “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. 10 - For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened. 11 - Now which one of you fathers will his son ask for a fish, and instead of a fish, he will give him a snake? 12 - Or he will even ask for an egg, and his father will give him a scorpion? 13 - So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”
Three Characters: Which One are You?
There are three characters mentioned in this parable: the neighbor, the father, and the children. So, assuming you are a believer, a child of God, who do you identify with?
Many believers identify with the neighbor.
They proclaim that you must wrestle with God, beg and plead for Him to bless you. Yet, I propose that is actually the opposite idea of the parable.
The Object in the Parable is Salvation
Verse 13 leaves no doubt the object is gaining the Holy Spirit. Thus, the object is salvation.
Romans 8:9b - “But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.” When you gain the Spirit, you get born again, become a new creation, and gain salvation.
Much like the parable of the sower indicates, while salvation is simple and easy (by grace through faith), it is not simple and easy for those full of pride in their works or distracted by the world.
True faith requires giving up on your own abilities and recognizing your need for salvation. This is such a fine balance to communicate.
I never want to discourage or cause doubt in a true believer, right the opposite. As we will see, as a true believer we should be confident in the promises of the gospel!
Yet, someone who is fooling themselves by substituting their works for legitimate faith or for whom Christianity is only a mental exercise or purely a belief system like a religion should have some doubt.
This was the primary state of Christ's audience. They had been taught to approach God through a religious Law based works mentality.
They were truly the neighbor outside the house needing the “Bread of Life”. This was with whom Christ intended them to identify. He wanted them to see they were outside the house - their Law keeping had not gotten them into the Kingdom of God.
Faith in Christ is Always the Way
In the end, the answer is the same for both categories - have faith in the finished work of Christ. Give up your own works. This is the attitude for both salvation and growth.
For those outside the house, this enables you to open the door and enter (or as in Revelation 3:20, open the door for Christ to enter you - this is a two way relationship.)
However, for those already in the house, they need faith in the reality of who and where they are. They need to understand and believe what it means to be on the inside.
We should not let the enemy convince us we are outside the house and need to work hard or beg to get in. This limits our faith in the finished work of Christ that brought us into the family and into the house and gave us that status and glory (John 17:22).
What About the Children?
It is not without purpose that the father mentions his children safe in bed. In this parable, the person outside the door knocking is in need of salvation. Yet, what about the children?
They are safe in their fathers house. He has provided all their needs. You could say they “have everything they need for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:4) You could say they have been “blessed with every spiritual blessing” (Ephesians 1:3).
As a child of God, you should identify with the children in this parable, not the person outside the door in need. You have the indwelling Christ. You are in your Father's house. You are in Christ.
You have Christ. All your spiritual needs are met. You have all the privileges and power that comes from your family status.
Those Outside the House Must Knock
Salvation is freely available to all, but you must seek it. You must want it. You must be willing to stop trying to achieve; both to receive it; and to use it well once you have it.
If you are not in the family of God, then by all means, knock and enter. Scripture indicates that all you have to do is knock, ask, or seek.
Joining God's family is freely available to those who want it.
But if you are inside the house, then by all means stop acting like you are outside!
Snuggle up to your family in the Father's amazing bed, safe and secure. Trust in your family position. Stop trying to earn favor.
Receive the favor freely given and let that embolden and empower you.
Christ's Point is God is the best Giver
Realize that the parable, as all of Christ's parables, is truly a human story. The man who didn't initially open the door for the neighbor was human, not God. Yet, Christ was drawing a comparison.
Christ's point was not that you must beg and plead God for salvation (much less beg and plead for blessing as a child), it was that unlike a human neighbor, God is the best Giver. Salvation is willingly offered.
Verses 9-13 are the point of the parable. If you don't have the Holy Spirit, and you want Him, then ask. If you haven't found Him yet, then seek Him. If you are not in the Father's house, then knock.
The gospel is that simple. God is the most amazing gracious Giver you can imagine. We so often make Him out as a 'taker', but that is not His nature. This is Christ's point.
John 10:10 - “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly.” It is not God who is the taker, it is the enemy.
The demands of the Law provide a skewed perspective on God and portray Him as a demanding taker rather than Giver. This is an Old Covenant view, not a complete view, and it has been done away with in the New.
As Hebrews 11 describes, keeping the Law would never save, and even the faith of the Old Testament characters was not complete until the new covenant.
Christ is trying to overcome His audience’s trust in the Law and the perspective of God as a demanding taker and introduce the gospel of grace to His audience.
Grace gives and empowers, it never takes.
When we see God as a taker, then this skewed perspective will limit His ability to work through us.
Once You have the Gift, Stop Seeking It, Simply Use and Enjoy It
Are the children worried about their next loaf of bread? Of course not, they are snug in their bed, snoring gently away. And so should be our attitude towards our heavenly Father.
Of course, once they get up the next morning, they will be about their Father's business. But not because they are afraid He will disown them or punish them if they don’t. Any business they do based on that mentality would be extremely poor quality anyway.
We must live and give freely, from the heart, not under compulsion. (2 Corinthians 7;37, 9:7; 1 Peter 5:2; Philemon 1:14). This is grace living, love does not compel out of fear.
The children, if they are healthy, act as confident family members with all the authority that conveys.
Sure, some of them are young. They aren't meeting with the town elders yet. Perhaps they are simply standing by their Father's side listening. But they have the family name and crest and that means something.
Act Like a Member of the Family
A child who utilizes the benefits of being in the family walks boldly and acts like a family member of status.
My point is, if you are in, you are in. You have found what you were looking for, no more seeking needed. You have opened the door and entered, no more knocking needed. You have the Bread of Life, the Living Waters, no more hungering and thirsting. You are sitting at the bountiful table of the Father.
Don't sit there with your lips firmly sealed refusing to eat the bounty, waiting to be worthy by accomplishing one more thing for the Father - just eat.
Don't stand by God's 18” memory foam mattress with the 1200 thread count sheets refusing to get in until you have proven your worth - just rest.
Don't sit by the clear sparkling stream of water with parched lips looking around as if you are trespassing. This is your Father's land - just drink. You are co-heirs with Christ, what is His is yours.
I could go on and on. You are a child of the King, the Lord of Hosts, the Almighty. He has graciously gifted this status. All He asks in return is you learn what it means and confidently step out in that knowledge, acting like the prince or princess you are.
Faith Pleases God
It pleases God when we take what He has given and use it. What we have is Christ. He freely offers Himself. He wants to be used; He can handle it. Cast all your cares upon Him.
We have His life within; what more do we need? Stop acting like the needy beggar outside the house. Start acting like the child of the King, who has all their needs met, and extravagantly.
Faith is believing God's promises, taking Him at His word. Yes, part of being in the family is learning the history and what it means to be a child of God. But there is no pressure, you are a child of God. That will never change.
I simply ask you to consider what that really means. Doesn't it make you want to breathe a sign of relief? The good news should relax you. If it doesn't, then is it really good?
That is a serious question. The gospel or good news should encompass our life. If the teaching, preaching, or what you believe is not truly good news then is that what we should be about?
Of course, sin stinks, it's stupid and harmful. But the answer is still good news. It is always the only answer. And not fake good news, where we must be miserable and proclaim “God is good”.
The true promises of God, the real good news, cause relaxation and bliss. No matter what is going on around us.
I pray all who have read this will bask in their Father's love, glory, and status this week. If you truly do that, I guarantee those around you will notice. It is what we are called to do.
Have a great week!