Luke 11 13

Luke 11:13 kjv

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?

Luke 11:13 nkjv

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"

Luke 11:13 niv

If you then, though you 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!"

Luke 11:13 esv

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

Luke 11:13 nlt

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him."

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 13 Meaning

Luke 11:13 proclaims God's generous nature, using an earthly analogy of parents giving good gifts to their children. It highlights that if imperfect human parents, despite their inherent flaws, know how to provide beneficial things for their offspring, how much more will the perfectly good Heavenly Father grant the ultimate good gift, the Holy Spirit, to those who ask Him. This verse assures believers of God's immense love, perfect fatherhood, and unwavering desire to bless His children, specifically with the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Luke 11 13 Context

Luke 11:13 concludes a teaching on prayer that begins earlier in the chapter. The disciples requested Jesus to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus then gave them the pattern prayer, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2-4). Immediately following this, He told the Parable of the Persistent Friend (Luke 11:5-8), emphasizing that persistent, bold, and even importunate prayer is heard and answered, not because God is unwilling but to illustrate the human necessity of persistence. This parable is then followed by a general exhortation to ask, seek, and knock with the assurance of receiving (Luke 11:9-10). Luke 11:13 serves as the capstone of this entire section, offering a powerful logical argument a fortiori (from the lesser to the greater) that if imperfect human parents give good gifts, the perfect Heavenly Father will surely give the supreme "good gift," the Holy Spirit, to those who ask. Unlike Matthew's parallel, which speaks of "good things," Luke's specific mention of "the Holy Spirit" points to the Spirit as the preeminent blessing God bestows on His children, deeply connected to Christian life and spiritual empowerment.

Luke 11 13 Word analysis

• If (Εἰ - Ei): Introduces a logical condition, not doubt. It sets up an a fortiori argument: "If even X (lesser) is true, how much more surely will Y (greater) be true."
• you then (ὑμεῖς οὖν - hymeis oun): "You" refers to human parents. "Then" connects to the preceding argument of asking, seeking, and knocking, highlighting the reality of human experience.
• being evil (πονηροὶ ὄντες - ponēroi ontes):
  • ponēroi: Morally deficient, flawed, inherently wicked in a general sense, not necessarily in specific actions but in their fallen nature. Even with this intrinsic flaw, human parents have a basic goodness (God-given parental affection) that guides them to care for their children. This contrasts sharply with God's absolute goodness.
• know how to give (οἴδατε δόματα διδόναι - oidate domata didonai): "Know how to give gifts." Indicates inherent understanding, practical wisdom, or the natural parental instinct to provide for children's needs and well-being.
• good gifts (ἀγαθὰ - agatha): Things that are genuinely beneficial and appropriate. In the Matt parallel, these are specifically contrasted with harmful things (stone for bread, serpent for fish, scorpion for egg). Here, Luke uses a broader term "good" but implies the best kind of gifts within the human capacity.
• to your children (τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν - tois teknois hymōn): Emphasizes the recipient of the good gifts – their own offspring, for whom there is natural parental affection.
• how much more (πόσῳ μᾶλλον - posō mallon): The core of the a fortiori argument. If lesser (fallen humans) do this, then greater (perfect God) will surely do it to an even higher degree. It indicates an even greater certainty and abundance.
• your Father (ὁ Πατὴρ ὁ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ - ho Patēr ho ex ouranou):
  • Your Father: Establishes an intimate, personal, and loving relationship with God. Not just any giver, but a devoted parent.
  • who is in heaven (ὁ ἐξ οὐρανοῦ): Heavenly, signifying His divine nature, holiness, supreme goodness, boundless resources, and perfect wisdom, unlike the limited and flawed human parents. He is the ultimate, perfect source.
• will give (δώσει - dōsei): Future tense, a promise, a certainty of God's action.
• the Holy Spirit (Πνεῦμα Ἅγιον - Pneuma Hagion):
  • Πνεῦμα: Spirit, breath, wind.
  • Ἅγιον: Holy, set apart, pure.
  • This is the supreme "good gift" God gives. Unlike "good things" (Matt 7:11), the Holy Spirit is not merely a material blessing but God Himself, imparting spiritual life, power, guidance, comfort, and sanctification. This is Luke's distinctive emphasis, connecting the reception of the Spirit directly to prayer. The Spirit is the essence of divine presence and aid in the believer's life.
• to those who ask Him (τοῖς αἰτοῦσιν αὐτόν - tois aitousin auton): Highlights prayer as the means of reception. It implies persistent, sincere asking, echoing the earlier parts of the chapter. God responds to earnest prayer for this greatest of gifts.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "If you then, being evil": Sets the lower standard—human nature, marred by sin. Yet, even this imperfect nature possesses innate capacity for parental care.
• "know how to give good gifts to your children": This highlights the intuitive, universal practice of human parenting to provide beneficial things.
• "how much more will your Father who is in heaven": This is the great contrast and amplification. It elevates the expectation from the finite, flawed human parent to the infinite, perfect, and celestial divine parent. God's goodness and willingness to give surpass human understanding.
• "give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him": This specifies the supreme gift, not material blessings, but God's very presence and power. It also sets the condition for receiving: sincere, expectant prayer. This gift enables believers to live according to God's will and be empowered for His service.

Luke 11 13 Bonus section

• Ultimate Gift: Luke 11:13 notably highlights "the Holy Spirit" as the supreme "good gift" promised by God, distinct from Matthew's more general "good things." This specific emphasis aligns with Luke's broader theological interest in the Holy Spirit's role throughout Jesus's ministry and the early Church (e.g., in Acts).
• A Fortiori Argument: The a fortiori logical structure (from lesser to greater) is a common teaching method in rabbinic and ancient wisdom traditions, making the argument inherently persuasive and easily graspable for Jesus's audience. It elevates our understanding of God's character far beyond human limitations.
• Continuity of Relationship: The term "your Father who is in heaven" reinforces the intimate, familial relationship God desires with His children, emphasizing His benevolence and care in the covenant. This contrasts with any transactional or coercive view of God, presenting Him as one who delights in giving.
• Prayer's Purpose: The passage implies that genuine prayer, particularly for the Holy Spirit, is not about persuading an unwilling God, but aligning with His already established good will and accessing the resources He desires to give. The asking is a condition for reception, but reflects dependence, not coercion.

Luke 11 13 Commentary

Luke 11:13 stands as a profound declaration of God's character and His divine generosity. Jesus presents an irrefutable argument from the lesser to the greater: if earthly parents, despite their fallen nature ("being evil"), naturally provide good things for their children, then our perfectly good Heavenly Father will undoubtedly and abundantly give the very best gift—the Holy Spirit—to those who earnestly seek Him. This verse encourages fervent prayer with unwavering confidence, understanding that God delights in giving His most precious possession, the empowering presence of the Spirit, which encompasses all good things spiritually. The Holy Spirit is the ultimate enabler of Christian life, fostering intimacy with God, imparting spiritual power, and guiding believers into all truth. It serves as an encouragement to specifically ask for spiritual anointing and guidance rather than limiting our requests to merely material blessings.