If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?
Gospel according to Luke Chapter 11 verse 13 NIV
A Moral Condition
- Who are the people referred to as 'evil?'
The disciples who had been taught to pray.
- What does our Lord say men know how to do?
They know how to give good gifts to their children.
- What is meant by "know"?
Our natural feelings prompt us to do these things.
- What is meant with "good gifts"
Things that are suitable and necessary for children.
- What kind of request should a kind parent answer?
Only requests which will benefit the child.
- Suppose children ask for something that's hurtful, what would you expect?
Their parents should know not to give such things.
A Seeming Limitation
- Which words does our Lord Jesus insert to show that not everything is so perfect?
The words "though you are evil"
- What does it mean that we are evil?
It belongs to our nature to think and to do what is wrong.
- How do these words show the awful extend of sin?
These were spoken to the twelve disciples, to the kind and good.
- How does this evil often show itself?
In the fact that those who give earthly good things to their children are quite careless about heavenly good things for them.
- What does our Lord teach here as to the effect of evil?
It hinders us from fully knowing what is good.
- How is this idea brought out more clearly?
By the words "how much more."
- What is meant by saying "how much more?"
If we, blinded and stained by sin, know to some extent where the good of our children lies and therefore answer their prayers, God, Who is good, must at once give that gift which will benefit those who ask.
A Blessed Gift
- What blessed gift does the Lord say our Father is willing to give?
The Holy Spirit.
- What is meant by asking for the Holy Spirit?
Not merely repeating a prayer but desiring in our hearts this blessed gift.
- Why is the "Spirit" called Holy?
Because in His nature He is Holy and His work is to make us holy.
- In what condition must we be if we really ask for the Spirit?
In the condition of those who long for holiness of heart and life.
- What is it that prevents us longing for holiness?
The fact that we are evil.
- What text teaches us that we are evil?
Text 1, Romans 3:23
- When, then, shall we really ask for this blessed gift of God?
When God shows us our sins and makes us long to get rid of them.
- How does the gift of the Holy Spirit show that God knows what we need much better than any earthly parent?
They know what is good for time, He gives what is good for eternity; they supply the needs of our lives, He cares for the needs of body and soul; they give for the outside, He supplies the power to renew us within.
A lesson on Prayer
- What does this verse teach us about prayer?
That the one thing we require in prayer is a true sense of our real need.
- What does this text tell us about the Father?
That God as a Father is willing to give us that for which we ask.
- What, then, should we bring to God in prayer?
We should bring our needs and not our merits.
- What confidence have we that God will answer?
The confidence that He knows what is good for us and has promised to supply it.
- If we were told that God could not be approached ecept by very holy people, how should we reply?
"If you then, though you are evil"
- What is it that causes a parent to give a child?
Not the child's goodness, but the love of the parent.
- What is it that urges God to answer our prayers?
The fact that He is good although we are evil.
Text Seven
Adapted from:
"The one hundred texts of the society for Irish Church Missions."
T.C. Hammond, Dublin. 1939