How does Luke 11:12 illustrate God's willingness to give good gifts? Setting the Scene Jesus is teaching His disciples about prayer. Immediately after giving the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4), He tells a parable about persistent asking (Luke 11:5-10). Then He drives the truth home with a simple family picture: “Or if he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion?” (Luke 11:12) What’s in the Illustration? • Child: utterly dependent, trusting, asking for a basic need. • Egg: nourishing, life-giving, harmless. • Scorpion: harmful, poisonous, dangerous. Contrast of Egg vs. Scorpion • Provision vs. peril • Gentle nourishment vs. hidden sting • Parent’s protection vs. reckless cruelty The contrast is stark so nobody misses the point: even flawed human parents instinctively choose the good gift. Revealing the Father’s Character • Generosity: God delights in blessing, not begrudging (Psalm 84:11). • Goodness: “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17). • Protectiveness: He refuses to substitute something that looks intriguing but destroys (Jeremiah 29:11). • Certainty: We never risk receiving spiritual “scorpions” when we pray in faith; His answers may differ from our requests, but they are never evil (Romans 8:28). Assurance for Our Prayers Because Jesus bases the lesson on ordinary fatherhood, He anchors prayer in relationship rather than performance. If fallen dads get this right, “how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:13). Our confidence rests not on our skill in asking but on His unchanging nature. Supporting Scriptures • Matthew 7:11 – “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts... how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” • Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare His own Son... how will He not also... graciously give us all things?” • Psalm 34:10 – “Those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.” Living It Out Today • Ask boldly, knowing you approach a generous Father. • Trust His wisdom when the answer differs; a delayed or redirected response is still a good gift. • Look for the “eggs” He’s already placed in your life—signs of His daily care. • Pass on the pattern: give good gifts to others as a reflection of His heart (Ephesians 5:1-2). |
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