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?
If ye then, being evil - evil though ye be.
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? In Matthew 7:11, it is "give good gifts to them that ask Him:" here, at a riper stage of His teaching, and to His disciples apart from the multitude, He says "the Holy Spirit;" to teach us that this, the Gift of gifts, descending on the Church through Christ, comprehends all "good gifts."
For Remarks on the subjects embraced in this section, see those at Matthew 6:2-15, at the close of that section; and at Matthew 7:7-11, at the close of that section.