Luke 11:12 - Printer Friendly

ESV: or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

NIV: Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

NASB: Or he will even ask for an egg, and his father will give him a scorpion?

CSB: Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

NLT: Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!

KJV: Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

NKJV: Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

Jesus is concluding a teaching on prayer. The disciples ask Him how to pray; He responds with a short prayer that begins with worship and then gives a list of needs. Those needs parallel what the disciples need to perform their mission of preaching that the kingdom of God is near (Luke 11:1–4; 10:1–9).

Jesus then tells a parable about how a man will fill his neighbor's need if the neighbor is persistent enough (Luke 11:5–8). Now, He points out that if a boy asks his father for a fish, the father will not give him a snake (Luke 11:11). Nor will the father give a scorpion instead of an egg.

Jesus' point is that the neighbor and the son have legitimate needs that deserve to be filled and will be filled. The neighbor reluctantly fills the need of his friend; a father will fill his son's need willingly. How much more will the heavenly Father fill the needs of those sent out to do His work (Luke 11:13)? Why think He would respond with something evil?

In Matthew's account, Jesus compares bread to a stone, suggesting this is either a similar teaching at a different time and place or both writers condensed the larger story (Matthew 7:9).

Luke 11:9–13 is the last bit of the last story (Luke 11:1–13) of the first section (Luke 9:51—11:13) of what some refer to as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem." The larger section is on the blessings and responsibilities of following Jesus. This last story is on prayer: here, on how God is good and will answer our prayers because He loves us. This is also found in Matthew 7:7–11, although Luke's account may be a later event.

Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray and explains God's intent to give "good" to those who ask. He then exorcizes a demon and refutes the claim that His power is satanic. Jesus explains that unreasonable skeptics will only see the "sign of Jonah." He then criticizes the superficial legalism of the Pharisees. In response, they plot against Him.

In what some scholars refer to as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27), Jesus prepares His disciples for His crucifixion and resurrection and the establishment of the church. The description begins with Christ teaching the disciples how to spread the news of the kingdom of God and reaffirming how they will be blessed, culminating in the Lord's Prayer (Luke 9:51—11:13). Luke 11 finishes with accounts of leaders who reject Jesus. The remainder of the travelogue gives a pattern of teaching on the kingdom of God, miracles, and explanations of salvation. Then Jesus enters Jerusalem to face the cross.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.