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!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to skim over "heavenly Father," but Luke specifically calls him "the Father who is from Heaven." This isn't just a descriptor; it emphasizes that God's goodness and willingness to give, unlike earthly fathers, are infinite and not tainted by our "evil" nature. This elevates the gift of the Holy Spirit from just "good things" to the very source of divine life and power.
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!”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just told the parable of the persistent friend at midnight, urging his disciples to boldly ask, seek, and knock in prayer. He then contrasts the flawed goodness of human fathers with the perfect goodness of God, explaining that just as earthly parents give good gifts to their children, the heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. This builds on the previous instruction about prayer, showing that God's generosity far surpasses human generosity.
Ever feel like God's gifts are small, or maybe even stingy? Jesus uses a startling comparison to show us just how wrong that is.
Jesus starts with a relatable, even slightly uncomfortable, truth: parents who are 'evil' – meaning imperfect, flawed, and self-centered – still know how to give good gifts to their children. Think about it: what parent wants to give their child a rock when they ask for bread? Or a snake when they ask for a fish? It goes against our very nature.
This isn't about praising human goodness; it's about highlighting the vast difference between our flawed giving and God's perfect giving. If even our imperfect, 'evil' human nature compels us to give good things to our kids, how much more will our Heavenly Father, who is perfectly good and loving, give good gifts to us?
When we ask God for good things, what's the ultimate gift He longs to give us? It's not what you might expect.
Here's where Luke's account gets really specific and powerful. While Matthew's version says the Father gives 'good things,' Luke tells us Jesus specifically highlighted that the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
Why the Holy Spirit? Because the Holy Spirit is the ultimate good gift. He is God Himself, dwelling within us, empowering us, guiding us, comforting us, and transforming us. He is the earnest of our inheritance, the seal of our adoption, and the very presence of God that makes our relationship with Him real and dynamic.
Ask a follow-up
This isn't just a good gift; it's the gift that enables all other good gifts and ensures our deepest needs are met in God.
Jesus emphasizes not just asking, but how we ask, and what it means for our confidence in God.
The context here, drawing from Jesus' teaching on persistent prayer, is crucial. He's urging us to ask, seek, and knock – not out of desperation, but out of confident expectation based on God's character. The comparison to earthly parents shows that God's willingness to give good gifts, especially the Holy Spirit, is far greater than any human parent's willingness.
This means when we ask for the Holy Spirit, we can do so with boldness and assurance. It’s not a gamble; it's an appeal to a Father who delights in giving His best to His children. The underlying message is: don't hold back, don't doubt. God's heart towards us is to give, and His greatest giving is His Spirit dwelling within us.
Understand the original words
ponēros · Greek Adjective
In a moral or theological sense, this refers to being depraved, corrupt, or lacking inherent goodness. It denotes the fallen nature of humanity that is alienated from God's holiness.
pneuma hagion · Greek Noun phrase
The third person of the Trinity, the promised Comforter, Counselor, and Presence of God who dwells within believers, empowering them for service and guiding them into all truth.
This passage, also from Jesus' teachings, uses a similar analogy of earthly fathers giving good gifts to their children, but uses the more general phrase 'good things' instead of specifically the Holy Spirit, highlighting the breadth of God's provision.
Romans 8:15This verse speaks of receiving the Spirit of adoption, which enables us to cry 'Abba! Father!', directly connecting the Father's gift of the Holy Spirit with our intimate relationship with Him, as implied in Luke 11:13.
Galatians 5:22-23These verses describe the 'fruit of the Spirit,' listing the character qualities that God cultivates in believers, showing the transformative nature of the gift Jesus promises in Luke 11:13.
Acts 1:4-5Here, Jesus instructs His disciples to wait for the promise of the Father – the baptism with the Holy Spirit – showing that this gift is essential for their empowerment and ministry, directly echoing the prayer Jesus encourages in Luke 11:13.
1 Corinthians 2:12This passage highlights that believers have received 'the Spirit who is from God,' enabling them to understand the things God has freely given them, underscoring that the Holy Spirit is the ultimate gift that unlocks spiritual understanding.
vincentLuke 11:13: "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?"
Being (ὑπάρχοντες)See on James 2:15.Heavenly FatherLit., the Father, he who is from Heaven,
calvinLuke 11:5-13: "And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;"
- Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8. For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9. Is there any man among you, who, if his son shall ask bread, will give him a ston? 10. Or if he shall ask a fish, does he offer…
It's easy to skim over "heavenly Father," but Luke specifically calls him "the Father who is from Heaven." This isn't just a descriptor; it emphasizes that God's goodness and willingness to give, unlike earthly fathers, are infinite and not tainted by our "evil" nature. This elevates the gift of the Holy Spirit from just "good things" to the very source of divine life and power.
Jesus has just told the parable of the persistent friend at midnight, urging his disciples to boldly ask, seek, and knock in prayer. He then contrasts the flawed goodness of human fathers with the perfect goodness of God, explaining that just as earthly parents give good gifts to their children, the heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. This builds on the previous instruction about prayer, showing that God's generosity far surpasses human generosity.
Jesus has just told the parable of the persistent friend at midnight, urging his disciples to boldly ask, seek, and knock in prayer. He then contrasts the flawed goodness of human fathers with the perfect goodness of God, explaining that just as earthly parents give good gifts to their children, the heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. This builds on the previous instruction about prayer, showing that God's generosity far surpasses human generosity.
"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!”" — It's easy to skim over "heavenly Father," but Luke specifically calls him "the Father who is from Heaven." This isn't just a descriptor; it emphasizes that God's goodness and willingness to give, unl…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026