Luke 11:12 (WEB)
Or if he asks for an egg, he won’t give him a scorpion, will he?
Catechism · 1
“Three principal parables on prayer are transmitted to us by St. Luke: - the first, "the importunate friend,"” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 11:5-13.
Fathers and councils · 21
Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
“Luke adds a third thing, “an egg,” [Luke 11:12] which signifies hope; for an egg is the hope of the animal.” — the author cites it
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Augustine of Hippo
“If ye then,” saith He, “though ye be evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” — editor's note: Luke xi. 12.
Read the whole comment“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him!”” — editor's note: Luke xi. 11–13.
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Tertullian
“For when they asked for bread, He gave them manna from heaven; and when they wanted flesh, He sent them abundance of quails—not a serpent for a fish, nor for an egg a scorpion.” — editor's note: Luke xi. 11–13.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Having laid aside the metaphor, our Lord added an exhortation, and expressly urged us to ask, seek, and knock, until we receive what we are seeking. Hence he says, And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you.
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
The words, I say unto you, have the force of an oath. For God doth not lie, but whenever He makes known any thing to His hearers with an oath, he manifests the inexcusable littleness of our faith.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Luke
Now by asking, He means prayer, but by seeking, zeal and anxiety, as He adds, Seek, and ye shall find. For those things which are sought require great care. And this is particularly the case with God. For there are…
Read the whole comment - A Greek expositorCatena Aurea on Luke
Or by the word knock perhaps he means seeking effectually, for one knocks with the hand, but the hand is the sign of a good work. Or these three may be distinguished in another way. For it is the beginning of virtue…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
But He would not so encourage us to ask were He not willing to give. Let human slothfulness blush, He is more willing to give than we to receive.
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
Now he who promises any thing ought to convey a hope of the thing promised, that obedience may follow commands, faith, promises. And therefore he adds, For every one that asketh receiveth.
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Luke
But some one may seek to know, how it comes that they who pray are not heard? To which we must answer, that whose sets about seeking in the right way, omitting none of those things which avail to the obtaining of our…
Read the whole comment - Basil the GreatCatena Aurea on Luke
If also any one from indolence surrenders himself to his desires, and betrays himself into the hands of his enemies, God neither assists him nor hears him, because by sin he has alienated himself from God. It becomes…
Read the whole comment - Ambrose of MilanCatena Aurea on Luke
The argument then persuading to frequent prayer, is the hope of obtaining what we pray for. The ground of persuasion was first in the command, afterwards it is contained in that example which He sets forth, adding,…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
In these words our Saviour gives us a very necessary piece of instruction. For often-times we rashly, from the impulse of pleasure, give way to hurtful desires. When we ask any such thing from God, we shall not…
Read the whole comment - OrigenCatena Aurea on Luke
Consider then this, if the bread be not indeed the food of the soul in knowledge, without which it can not be saved, as, for example, the well planned rule of a just life. But the fish is the love of instruction, as…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Or by the bread is meant charity, because we have a greater desire of it, and it is so necessary, that without it all other things are nothing, as the table without bread is mean. Opposed to which is hardness of…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
What great things the world speaks to thee, and roars them behind thy back to make thee look behind! O unclean world, why clamourest thou! Why attempt to turn him away! Thou wouldest detain him when thou art…
Read the whole comment - Cyril of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Now from the example just given he concludes, If then ye being evil, (i. e. having a mind capable of wickedness, and not uniform and settled in good, as God,) know how to give good gifts; how much more shall your…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on Luke
Or, he calls the lovers of the world evil, who give those things which they judge good according to their sense, which are also good in their nature, and are useful to aid imperfect life. Hence he adds, Know how to…
Read the whole comment - Athanasius of AlexandriaCatena Aurea on Luke
Now unless the Holy Spirit were of the substance of God, Who alone is good, He would by no means be called good, since our Lord refused to be called good, inasmuch as He was made man.
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
Therefore, O covetous man, what seekest thou? or if thou seekest any thing else, what will suffice thee to whom the Lord is not sufficient?
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Cross-references · 4
Cited together in Origen on Luke 11:9–13 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Rabanus Maurus on Matthew 7:9–11 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Rabanus Maurus on Matthew 7:9–11 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Rabanus Maurus on Matthew 7:9–11 (Catena Aurea).