Luke 11:11

11 If your children ask for a fish, which of you would give them a snake instead?

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 tell you, ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you.

10 Yes, everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened.

11 If your children ask for a fish, which of you would give them a snake instead?

12 Or, if your children ask for an egg, would you give them a scorpion?

13 Even though you are bad, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"