Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Luke 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?" — Luke 11:13 (ASV)

The bizarre examples in vv.11–12 reinforce the point that God will respond to our petitions only in kindness. There are two steps in the argument: (1) God is our heavenly Father (v.13) and will do no less for his children than would an earthly father; (2) God is perfect and will do “much more” than a sinful person would. While Mt 7:11 has the general term “good gifts,” Luke specifically mentions the Holy Spirit, who was “promised” (cf. 24:49; Acts 1:4).