Mixed Meat Curry

When our sons were under ten, we took them to a Vietnamese restaurant in Dallas, Texas. The menu had unfamiliar names and somewhat unclear descriptions. One of them was “Mixed Meat Curry.” Thinking it had beef, chicken, and pork, our youngest son ordered it. It was a mixture of internal organs like the heart, liver, tripe, etc. He didn’t eat it.

Within the context of prayer and God’s generosity in answering prayers, Jesus said,

“Which father among you, when his son asks him for a fish, gives him a snake? Or, when he asks for an egg, give him a scorpion?” (Luke 11:11–12)

Scholars have tried to say perhaps the Hebrew, Aramaic, or Greek words for fish and snake and egg and scorpion sounded similar, which was why the Lord chose them. Sadly, they do not sound alike. Or perhaps he was talking about an eel and a fish that looked like an eel (e.g., an eel-tailed catfish). Most likely, however, the Lord chose drastically different elements that no one, not even a foolish or drunken father, would confuse and offer his son!

The audience would have shaken their heads, hit each other’s arms, and laughed out loud. They knew absolutely none of them would be that foolish or mean. Then, the Lord said,

“If you, laboring people (poneroi), know good gifts to give to your children, how much more the heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask them.” (11:13)

I am sure you noticed two differences in my translation compared to standard English translations. First, I’ve translated poneroi as “laboring people” than “evil people.” The base meanings of the word poneroi are “sorrowful,” “unhappy,” “laden with care,” “bringing trouble,” “pitiable,” “poor,” “unfit,” “unattractive,” “bad,” “unlucky,” “unsuccessful,” “politically useless,” “worthless,” and morally reprehensible” (TDNT). Basically, it was the term used by the aristocrats for a plebeian, an ordinary person. Theologically, it had come to mean “evil.” Most likely, however, the Lord wasn’t calling his audience evil, just plebeians, common laborers. If the ordinary day laborers knew how to care for their children and not feed them inedible food, wouldn’t God, the wisest person?

Second, although some of the reliable early manuscripts have “good gifts” (e.g., D, the Western text type), English translations follow another tradition that has the “Holy Spirit” (the Alexandrian text type). Most likely, however, the “Holy Spirit” was a later explanation by theologians who didn’t think God the Father would give people what they asked for. But within the context of prayer (where the Holy Spirit isn’t mentioned), the Lord said, “Ask the Father what you want, and He will give you what he – the wisest – knows that you need.”

I ask for many things, even luxury items (e.g., an upgrade to a business class when flying). But I leave it to the Father to decide if it’s a good gift for me! When he deems it a good gift, he gives me generously (a few times, I’ve been upgraded!). I ask you the same: Ask whatever your heart’s desires are and accept whatever the Father gives as “good gifts” because in him is no maliciousness, and he is wise!