Parable of the Friend at Night

It is similar to the Parable of the Unjust Judge and is depicted by several artists, including William Holman Hunt.

"The scene described in this parable suggests a single-roomed peasant house, where the whole family sleeps together on a mat on the floor,[1][2] and a man travelling by night to avoid the heat of the day.

", since no friend would refuse to help under such circumstances[1] (the opening words in Greek occur elsewhere in Luke, but have no contemporary parallels, and I. Howard Marshall regards them as probably characteristic of Jesus himself[2]).

[4] John McEvilly comments on this parable, writing, "Our Lord illustrates by the following parable—which St. Luke alone records—or familiar comparison, founded on what might occur in daily life to any of themselves, the necessity of fervour and perseverance in prayer.

All the circumstances are of a very pressing character—the hour of the night so inconvenient, the urgent necessity of the case, not even the simplest means of meeting the wants of the stranger, fatigued and hungry from his journey.

"[6] There are a number of depictions of this parable, the most famous being The Importunate Neighbour (1895) by William Holman Hunt, held in the National Gallery of Victoria, Australia.