What does Luke 11:6 mean?

In response to His disciples' request, Jesus has taught them how to pray (Luke 11:1–4). In the center of the prayer is a request for God to fill our practical needs, specifically "bread" (Luke 11:3). Here, Jesus tells a parable to illustrate why we can pray to God and why we can trust Him to fulfill our prayers in the way that is best for us.

Jesus' example placed the disciples in the role of a man who is surprised by a friend in the middle of the night. He has no bread and must ask a neighbor to borrow three loaves (Luke 11:5). The neighbor is sleeping; if he gets up to get the bread, he may wake his children (Luke 11:7). And if he gives his neighbor his bread, the neighbor may not return fresh loaves by the time the children awaken to eat.

At first, the neighbor refuses. But if he does not get up and get the bread, the man will not stop knocking. Reluctantly, he fills the need (Luke 11:8). The man and his neighbor are bound by friendship and a culture of hospitality, but the neighbor doesn't fill the need until he realizes the man will continue to annoy him. In contrast, God answers our prayers out of love (Luke 11:11–13).