The Late Night VisitorSample

What is a parable? A parable is a concise and simple story that is used to illustrate a moral, spiritual, or ethical lesson or principle. It typically involves characters or events that serve as metaphors or symbols to convey deeper meaning or insight.

There are two types of parables: Parable of Comparison and Parable of Contrast.

Parable of Comparison: These parables serve the purpose of comparing one figure with another to provide us with understanding. For example:

● "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and then hid again. From the joy it brought him, he sold all that he possessed and bought that field" (Matthew 13:44).

● "The kingdom of God is like a man who sows seed on the soil" (Mark 4:26-29).

● "The kingdom of heaven will be similar to ten virgins" (Matthew 25:1-13).

Parable of Contrast: In contrast, this type of parable highlights differences. One such parable is found in Luke 18, known as the parable of the persistent widow and the unrighteous judge. It tells the story of a judge who neither feared God nor respected man, yet because the widow persisted, he eventually heard her plea. This parable serves to emphasize that if an unrighteous judge heard the widow, how much more will our Heavenly Father, who genuinely cares and loves His children, listen to our prayers.

Luke 11:5-13 Is a Parable of Contrast:

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘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.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

If you are a person who has been praying earnestly to God for something, then this passage is a must-read. If you tend to give up on prayers easily, then this is a go-to passage. We often hear stories of how God has answered others' prayers, while it may seem that our own prayers go unanswered. However, by closely examining these verses, you can gain a deeper understanding of what our Lord is teaching us about prayer.