The Parable of:
“The Friend at Midnight“
(Luke 11:5-8)
LUKE 11
5 And he said unto them, which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves ; 6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him ? 7 And he from within shall answer and say, trouble me not : the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed ; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
Comments:
In order to understand this Parable we need to have a lot
of questions answered! Here are a few that we need to think about.
What is the problem in the parable?
What is the solution to the problem?
When does the problem occur?
Who has the solution to the problem?
Where is the one who has the solution?
Why is the solution given?
What are the Real Objects in the parable?
What are the Spiritual meanings of the real objects?
What is the Spiritual meaning of the Parable?
Take a minute and look at the above text and think about
these questions. Now lets see if we can get “answers” to our questions?
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Since the problem is Physical Hunger, then the parable will be about Spiritual Hunger or thirst for truth.
Since the solution to the problem is 3 loaves of Physical Bread, then the parable will be about 3 loaves of Spiritual Bread.
Since the problem occurs when it is Physically Darkest (midnight), then the parable will be about the time when it is Spiritually Darkest.
Since help for the problem comes from a
Physical friend, then the parable will be about receiving help from a Spiritual Friend.
Since the one who has the solution to the problem is in a
place of Physical Rest(bed) with his Physical Children, then the parable will be about receiving help from someone who has a place of Spiritual Rest and is resting there with his Spiritual Children.
The reason that help is given to the one asking for help
is because of “importunity” which means “to be in need
and reverent” #427, #127.
The Real Objects in the parable are :
darkness(midnight), friend, 3 loaves of bread, door,
bed, children, hunger.
Before we can determine the Spiritual meaning of the parable we must discover the Spiritual meaning of the Real Objects.
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Discovering the Spiritual Meaning of the Real Objects
What does “Midnight” or “darkness” REPRESENT ?

“Midnight” REPRESENTS “Lack of understanding”
AT THE END of TIME
Who does a “Friend” represent ?

A “Friend” is “someone you trust” (THE LORD)
What do the “Three loaves of bread” represent ?

“Three loaves of bread” represent “God’s Word in three parts”
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Discovering the Spiritual Meaning of the Real Objects
What does a “Door” (shut) represent ?

A (shut)“Door” represents “The End” ** of our “Probationary Time”
What does the “Bed” represent ?

The “Bed” represents the “Sabbath Rest and Relationship”
Who does “My Children” represent ?

“My Children” represent “God’s People”
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What does it mean to “Eat” or “Be Fed” ?

To “Eat” means to “Gain Spiritual Knowledge”
HUNGER (SPIRITUAL) “HUNGER” is : to be
without a knowledge of GOD’S WORD
HUNGER (SPIRITUAL) “HUNGER” for the
(FOR 3 LOAVES 3 MESSAGES in GOD’S WORD
OF BREAD) (3 ANGEL’S MESSAGES REV 14)
Now that we know the Spiritual Meaning of the Real Objects in the Parable, we can substitute these meanings back into the Parable to discover the Spiritual Meaning of the Parable.
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LUKE 11
(someone you trust)
5 And he said unto them, which of you shall have a friend,
(AT THE END WHEN ERROR IS GREATEST)
and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him,
(LORD) (3 MESSAGES of the 3 ANGELS)
Friend, lend me three loaves ;
6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me,
(nothing to satisfy his SPIRITUAL HUNGER)
and I have nothing to set before him ?
(THE LORD)
7 And he from within shall answer and say,
(PROBATION HAS CLOSED)
trouble me not : the door is now shut,
(MY PEOPLE) (SABBATH REST)
and my children are with me in bed ;
I cannot rise and give thee.
8 I say unto you, though he will not rise and give him,
(need and reverence)
because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity
(3 MESSAGES of the 3 ANGELS)
he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
Now we are ready to Paraphrase the Parable and see what it is telling us Spiritually.
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THE FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT
LUKE 11 : 5-8
5 And he said unto them, which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves ;
6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him ?
7 And he from within shall answer and say, trouble me not : the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed ; I cannot rise and give thee. 8 I say unto you, though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
PARAPHRASE 1
During the time of Greatest Spiritual Error (midnight), people who have nothing to satisfy their spiritual hunger or their friends spiritual hunger (nothing to set before him) will plead with the Lord (Friend) for the truth from His Word, which is in three parts (three loaves of bread). God’s people (children) who are with Him in the Sabbath Rest and Relationship (with him in bed), have had their probation close (door shut). Yet, because of the reverence of those outside (importunity # 335, # 247, # 127) who hunger after the truth, the Lord will satisfy their hunger with the truth of the Three Angels Message (three loaves of bread) before their probation closes (he will rise and give him).
PARAPHRASE 2
Which of you shall have someone you trust (friend) and shall go to him at the END of Time when Error is Greatest (MIDNIGHT) and say to him Lord (friend) give me the 3 Messages of the 3 Angels from your Word (3 loaves). A friend of mine has come to visit me and I have nothing to satisfy his Spiritual Hunger (nothing to set before him). And the Lord shall answer and say Probation has closed on my people (door shut) who are with me in the Sabbath REST and RELATIONSHIP (with me in bed). I can’t rise and give you. Even though he is not his friend, yet because of his need and his reverence ( importunity) he will rise and give him the 3 ANGELS MESSAGES before his probation closes.
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Doctrinal Truth (Taught by Jesus in the Parable of
“The Friend at Midnight”)
There is a problem of Spiritual Hunger in the world.
Spiritual Hunger can only be satisfied by Spiritual Bread.
The world is in Spiritual Darkness and it will soon be the End of Time for everyone.
Help is available from our Spiritual Friend.
Probation or the End of Time will end for God’s
Church first before it ends for the rest of the world.
- God’s People are with Him in the Sabbath
Rest and Relationship while outside are many people who have never had an opportunity to know
this relationship.
- There are sincere people who are in need of more
Spiritual Knowledge and because of their
need and reverence towards God, He will see that
they receive that knowledge before their probation
ends.
8. The Spiritual Knowledge that is needed is
contained in 3 Messages from God’s Word.
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THE LAST DAY MESSAGE TO ALL THE WORLD
(3 ANGELS MESSAGE)
FIRST ANGEL’S MESSAGE
REV 14 : 6 “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
(EVERLASTING GOSPEL) Same means of Salvation for all :
REV 14 : 7 “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him ; for the hour of his judgement is come ; and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
(GIVE GLORY TO GOD) Christian Living
(HOUR OF HIS JUDGEMENT IS COME) Judgement is NOW in session
(WORSHIP THE CREATOR) The Sabbath of the Lord honors Him as the Creator (Exodus 20 : 10)
SECOND ANGEL’S MESSAGE
REV 14 : 8 “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.
(BABYLON IS FALLEN) Warning against the religious confusion and doctrine of the Churches
THIRD ANGEL’S MESSAGE
REV 14 : 9 “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
REV 14 : 10 “The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation ; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb.
(WARNING NOT TO WORSHIP THE BEAST
OR TO RECEIVE HIS MARK) Warning against a specific religious power not to worship as it does nor receive its mark.