Luke 11:11

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if [he ask] a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

If {G1161} a son {G5207} shall ask {G154} bread {G740} of any of you {G5216} that is a father {G3962}{G5101}, will he give {G1929}{G3361} him {G846} a stone {G3037}? or {G1499} if he ask a fish {G2486}, will he {G1929} for {G473} a fish {G2486} give {G1929}{G3361} him {G846} a serpent {G3789}?

“Is there any father here who, if his son asked him for a fish, would instead of a fish give him a snake?

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

And of which of you that is a father shall his son ask a loaf, and he give him a stone? or a fish, and he for a fish give him a serpent?

Luke 11:11 is part of Jesus' teaching on prayer, immediately following the Lord's Prayer and the parable of the persistent friend. In this verse, Jesus uses a rhetorical question to illustrate the benevolent nature of a human father, drawing a clear parallel to God's even greater goodness towards His children.

Context

This verse is found within a discourse on prayer that begins with Jesus teaching His disciples how to pray, often referred to as the Lord's Prayer in Luke 11:2-4. He then tells the parable of the importunate friend (Luke 11:5-8), emphasizing persistence in prayer. Luke 11:9-10 encourages asking, seeking, and knocking, promising that those who do so will receive. Verse 11, along with the subsequent verses, serves to reassure believers that just as earthly fathers provide good things for their children, the Heavenly Father will certainly provide for His. The ultimate good gift, as revealed in Luke 11:13, is the Holy Spirit.

Key Themes

  • God's Benevolence and Goodness: The core message is that God is a loving and generous Father who delights in giving good gifts to His children. He would never offer something harmful or worthless in place of what is truly needed.
  • Trust in Divine Provision: Jesus encourages profound trust in God's character. If imperfect human fathers understand how to give good gifts, how much more can we rely on the perfect Heavenly Father. This contrasts with any fear that God might withhold or give something detrimental.
  • The Nature of Prayer: This verse reinforces that prayer is not about coaxing a reluctant God, but about approaching a willing and loving Father who desires to bless. It emphasizes the confidence believers should have in God's desire to hear and respond.

Linguistic Insights

The power of Luke 11:11 lies in its simple, yet profound, rhetorical questions. "Bread" and "fish" were staples of the Galilean diet, representing basic, life-sustaining provisions. The contrast with a "stone" (worthless, inedible, potentially harmful) and a "serpent" (dangerous, repulsive, a symbol of evil) vividly illustrates the absurdity of a father giving something harmful instead of what his child genuinely needs. This stark contrast highlights God's perfect and loving nature.

Reflection and Application

Luke 11:11 offers immense comfort and encouragement for believers in their prayer life. It assures us that our Heavenly Father is not only willing to hear our prayers but is also eager to provide what is truly good for us. We can approach Him with confidence, knowing that He will never give us something detrimental when we ask for something beneficial. This teaching culminates in the promise that God's ultimate good gift is the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him, empowering us and guiding us in all truth. It reminds us to pray with faith, trusting in God's perfect wisdom and unfailing love.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 7:9

    Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

  • Isaiah 49:15

    Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

Add TrulyRandomVerse to your Home Screen for quick access!

← Back