Q&A 1393—The meaning of Luke 11:13

Here's the passage, in case anybody isn't familiar with it: ¹¹ “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? ¹³ 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!” (Luke 11:11-13)

I see two possibilities: Post-baptismal strengthening -- as happened in Acts 4, when the disciples prayed and they were filled with the Spirit -- even though they had already received the gift of the Spirit back in Acts 2.

Or else he's using the Spirit as the example of God's greatest gift -- received at conversion. The Greek phrase is anarthrous -- pneûma hágion instead of to pneûma hágion, which slightly favors the first view.

What I don't see is Jesus giving the Holy Spirit to people who aren't prepared to take the obedient step of faith, manifested in repentance and immersion. We come to God on his terms, not ours.