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Luk 11:8. Λέγω, I say) Almost all the codices of the Latin Vulg. omit the clause, “Et si ille perseveraverit pulsans,” or “et ille si perseveraverit pulsans.[105] See App. Crit. Ed. ii. on this passage. It might seem to be a gloss from Act 12:16, “Petrus autem perseverabat pulsans.” But Bede, Augustine, Ambrose, and especially Tertullian, set aside this conjecture. See lib. de Or. cap. 6, where Tertullian says, “Sed et nocturnus ille PULSATOR panem PULSABAT.” Add his lib. de Præscript. c. 11 and 12, and his lib. iv. c. Marcion, ch. 26. The more recent Armenian translators, and the old English Versions, follow the Latin; [however the Germ. Vers. of Bengel himself does not follow it.-E. B.]-διὰ τὸ, because that he is) God hears on account of His own love, and is not affected by sense of trouble.-τὴν ἀναίδειαν, shameless importunity) unabashed boldness, shown in coming by night. [In prayer, we must not proceed with timidity, but ask, seek, knock: ch. Luk 18:1; Luk 18:5; Luk 18:7; Psa 55:18.-V. g.] In the case of such an importunate petitioner, it would cost one less trouble to grant his request than to refuse it. Comp. ch. Luk 18:5. The order of the words is well-considered,-δώσει ἀναστάς-ἐγερθεὶς δώσει: though he will not give rising up-yet being aroused he will give. Friendship might have impelled him to give [but it did not]: shameless importunity, persevering in knocking, does impel him to the labour of rising [therefore the giving is made prominent by being first in the former clause; the rising in the latter].-ὃσων, as many as) even if the loaves asked for be more than what urgent necessity requires. It is no greater inconvenience now to give many, than to give three, or even one loaf.
[105] c has it, and some old MSS. of Vulg.-ED. and TRANSL.