What did Jesus say about Persistent Prayer?

² “There was a judge in a certain city who didn’t fear God and didn’t respect man.

³ A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’

⁴ He wouldn’t for a while; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man,

⁵ yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”

⁶ “Listen to what the unrighteous judge says.

⁷ Won’t God avenge his chosen ones who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?

⁸ I tell you that he will avenge them quickly. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

⁵ “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

⁶ for a friend of mine has come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him,’

⁷ and he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you’?

⁸ I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs.

³⁴ “So be careful, or your hearts will be loaded down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that day will come on you suddenly.

³⁵ For it will come like a snare on all those who dwell on the surface of all the earth.

³⁶ Therefore be watchful all the time, praying that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

⁹ “I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you.

¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.

¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he won’t give him a snake instead of a fish, will he?

¹² Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he?

¹³ If you then, 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?”

⁵ “When you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Most certainly, I tell you, they have received their reward.

⁶ But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

⁷ In praying, don’t use vain repetitions as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking.

⁸ Therefore don’t be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.