Luke 11:11

11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?

Luke 11:11 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 11:11

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father,
&c.] Our Lord illustrates and confirms what he had said before by an instance common among men: the relation between a father and a son is natural, and it is very near; and it is usual for a son, when hungry, and at the proper times of meals, to ask bread of his father: and when he does,

will he give him a stone?
should he do so, he would show that his heart was as hard, or harder than the stone he gives:

or if he ask a fish, will he, for a fish, give him a serpent?
And endeavour to deceive him by the likeness of the one to the other, especially some sort of fish, which would poison or sting him, but not refresh and nourish him: such inhuman brutish parents are not surely to be found; (See Gill on Matthew 7:9), (See Gill on Matthew 7:10).

Luke 11:11 In-Context

9 "So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.

10 For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

11 Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?

12 Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion?

13 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!"

Footnotes

• [a]. Other ancient authorities add [bread, will give a stone; or if your child asks for]