Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Luke 11:7

Eastern Fathers

Gregory of Nyssa

Well does he call those children who by the arms of righteousness have claimed to themselves freedom from passion, showing that the good which by practice we have acquired, had been from the beginning laid up in our nature. For when any one renouncing the flesh, by living in the exercise of a virtuous life, has overcome passion, then he becomes as a child, and is insensible to the passions. But by the bed we understand the rest of Christ.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

"Children" resting "on the bed" are people who have converted and thereby become children of the Lord and have been deemed worthy to rest together with Him.

Commentary on Luke ↗

Western Saints

Bede

And he from within shall answer: Do not bother me, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give to you. The door of the divine friend is the understanding of the word, which the Apostle prays to be opened for speaking the mystery of Christ. And it is closed in the time of the famine of the word when understanding is not given. And those who, like bread distributors, preached gospel wisdom throughout the world, the children of the master of the house, are now in secret rest with the Lord. …

On the Gospel of Luke ↗

Bonaventure

Second, regarding the refusing difficulty, he adds: And he answering from within should say: Do not trouble me, namely by disturbing one who is at rest and rousing him from sleep, as Abner said to David in 1 Kings 26: "Who are you who cry out and disturb the king"? …

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 11 ↗

Glossa Ordinaria

He does not then take away the liberty of asking, but is the more anxious to kindle the desire of praying, by showing the difficulty of obtaining that we ask for. For it follows, The door is now shut. (ordin.) And because of what has gone before he adds, I cannot rise and give thee, which must have reference to the difficulty of obtaining.

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗