What does Luke 11:12 reveal about God's nature compared to human nature? Setting the scene Jesus has just taught the disciples the Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). He follows it with two illustrations—persistence in asking (vv. 5-10) and a father’s instinct to provide (vv. 11-13)—to show why believers can pray with confidence. What the verse says Luke 11:12: “Or if he asks for an egg, will he give him a scorpion?” Human nature in Jesus’ illustration • Even “evil” earthly fathers (v. 13) instinctively avoid harming their children. • An egg represents nourishment, growth, and life. • A scorpion represents pain, danger, and death. • Common-sense love keeps human parents from swapping life-giving food for a deadly creature. What this reveals about God’s nature • Perfect goodness—God never mixes harm into His gifts (James 1:17). • Generous provision—He gives “much more” than fallen humans do (Matthew 7:11). • Protective love—He shields His children from what would destroy them (Psalm 91:3-4). • Faithful consistency—His character does not change; His kindness is not fickle (Malachi 3:6). • Spiritual priority—He ultimately gives the greatest gift, the Holy Spirit (Luke 11:13), meeting our deepest need. Key contrasts summarized • Human parents: sinful yet capable of basic kindness. • God the Father: sinless, infinitely kind, never withholding what is truly good (Psalm 84:11). • Human gifts: limited, sometimes misguided. • God’s gifts: perfect, purposeful, life-giving (Romans 8:32). Supporting Scriptures • James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above.” • Matthew 7:11 (parallel passage). • Romans 3:23; Jeremiah 17:9—human sinfulness. • Romans 8:15-16—the Spirit of adoption confirms God’s fatherly love. • Ephesians 3:20—God “is able to do immeasurably more” than we ask. Take-home encouragement Because the Father is better than the best earthly parent, we can pray boldly, trust His timing, and rest assured that whatever He gives—or withholds—will always nourish rather than injure our souls. |
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