If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
If {G1487} ye {G5210} then {G3767}, being {G5225} evil {G4190}, know {G1492} how to give {G1325} good {G18} gifts {G1390} unto your {G5216} children {G5043}: how much {G4214} more {G3123} shall {G1325} your heavenly {G3772} Father {G3962}{G1537} give {G1325} the Holy {G40} Spirit {G4151} to them that ask {G154} him {G846}?
So if you, even though you are bad, know how to give your children gifts that are good, how much more will the Father keep giving the Ruach HaKodesh from heaven to those who keep asking him!”
So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
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Matthew 7:11
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? -
Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring: -
Isaiah 44:4
And they shall spring up [as] among the grass, as willows by the water courses. -
John 4:10
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. -
Romans 8:32
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? -
Proverbs 1:23
Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. -
Acts 2:38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Luke 11:13 concludes a powerful section of Jesus' teaching on prayer, assuring believers of God's profound generosity and willingness to respond to their requests. This verse presents a compelling argument from the lesser to the greater, contrasting the imperfect nature of human parents with the perfect, benevolent character of our heavenly Father.
Context
This verse is the culmination of Jesus' instructions on prayer, immediately following His teaching of the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2-4) and the parable of the persistent friend (Luke 11:5-8). While the parable emphasizes the importance of persistence in prayer, Luke 11:13 shifts the focus to the character of God Himself, highlighting His readiness to give good things to those who ask. It's a direct encouragement to pray with confidence and expectation.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The term "evil" (Greek: poneroi) used to describe human parents is significant. It does not imply that all parents are malicious, but rather acknowledges the inherent sinfulness and imperfection of humanity since the Fall. Despite this, even fallen human beings retain a natural inclination to care for their offspring. The contrast with "heavenly Father" highlights God's pure and perfect goodness.
The "Holy Spirit" (Greek: Pneuma Hagion) refers to the third person of the Trinity, the divine Helper and Counselor sent by God to indwell believers. It is the source of spiritual life, wisdom, power, and the ability to live a godly life.
Practical Application
Luke 11:13 provides immense encouragement for our prayer lives. It assures us that we can approach God with confidence, knowing that He is eager to give us what is truly good for us, especially the Holy Spirit. This means: