Lord’s Day, Vol. 14 No. 44
How Much More Shall Your Heavenly Father Give
Luke 11:11-13 (KJV) If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 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?
Our Lord Jesus answers His disciples’ question, “Lord, teach us to pray.” He showed them the precepts of prayer – how and what to pray (v2-4).
(1) Preface (v2a): Our Father which art in heaven,
(2) Praise (v2b): Hallowed be thy name.
(3) Preach (v2c): Thy kingdom come.
(4) Power (v 2d): Thy will be done as in heaven, so in earth.
(5) Provision (v3): Give us this day our daily bread.
(6) Pardon (v4a): And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.
(7) Protection (v4b): And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
And the willingness of the Father in heaven to answer the prayers of His children who cry out to Him with a illustrative story of the Father’s readiness and watchful care over them to provide for their needs (v5-8). It is indeed comforting to know that our God neither slumbereth or sleep. He is our ever present Helper through Christ our Advocate – Psalm 121:3-4 (KJV) He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
The disciples are taught the blessings of a consistent and persistent prayer life with God answering the prayers of His children – Luke 11:9-10 (KJV) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Our Lord Jesus further emphasizes the willingness of the Father to gifts good gifts to His children. With the increasing value of the gifts requested, our Father likewise will not withhold His good hand in providing for them more precious gifts. Bread is a basic necessity. Fish is a more expensive complementary dish to bread and egg is a luxury, poultry is not common in Bible times. A good father within his means will want the best for his children. He will not deny them their daily bread by giving them a stone, his children that go hungry. Nor will he give a serpent to harm his children for requesting something better to fill their stomach. To the extent of a privilege dish like the egg, he will not give a scorpion to frustrate their desire to be filled.
In citing the example of meeting the physical needs of His children, the Father in heaven will not hesitate to give the best gift to His children which is to meet their spiritual needs which is the gift of the Holy Spirit to them. The Holy Spirit that indwells His children in adoption (Romans 8:9, 11) that they belong to Him, is a perpetual seal of His protection (1 John 4:4) against every evil spirit, guide to know His truth (John 16:13), will (Romans 8:26) and wisdom (James 1:5). It is indeed most privilege to be called the children of the Most High God! Amen.