Correct Option: B. Of his importunity Explanation of the Correct Answer: In the parable of the friend at midnight, found in Luke 11:5-8, Jesus tells a story about a man who goes to his friend’s house at midnight to ask for bread to feed an unexpected guest. The friend initially refuses to get up because it is late and he is already in bed with his family. However, the man continues to knock and plead for help. Eventually, the friend gets up and gives him what he needs, not because of their friendship, but because of the man’s persistent and urgent requests—his importunity. Importunity refers to the quality of being persistent and demanding in a way that is difficult to ignore. In this context, the man’s relentless knocking and pleading create a sense of urgency that compels the friend to respond. The parable illustrates the importance of persistence in prayer and the idea that God will respond to our needs when we earnestly seek Him. Why the Other Options Are Wrong or Weaker:

• A. He is his friend: While friendship is a significant aspect of the relationship, it is not the primary reason the friend helps. The parable emphasizes that the man’s urgent requests (importunity) are what ultimately lead to the friend’s action. If the man had simply relied on their friendship without being persistent, he might not have received help.
• C. He has awakened him: While it is true that the man’s knocking wakes the friend, this alone does not explain why the friend ultimately decides to help. The act of waking him does not guarantee assistance; it is the man’s persistent requests that compel the friend to respond.
• D. He is sorry for him: The parable does not indicate that the friend feels pity or sorrow for the man. Instead, the focus is on the man’s insistence and the friend’s eventual compliance due to that insistence. The friend’s action is not motivated by sympathy but by the pressure of the situation created by the man’s importunity.

Summary of Key Points:

• The correct answer is B. Of his importunity, highlighting the importance of persistence in prayer.
• The parable teaches that God responds to our earnest and persistent requests.
• Friendship alone (Option A) or simply waking the friend (Option C) are not sufficient reasons for the friend’s assistance.
• Sympathy (Option D) is not a factor in the friend’s decision to help; it is the urgency of the request that matters.

This parable encourages believers to be persistent in their prayers and to trust that their needs will be met when they earnestly seek God.