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Mat_7:11. Πονηροὶ ὄντες ] although ye, as compared with God, are morally evil.[427] Comp. Mat_19:17. Even Kuinoel has given up the false rendering, niggardly (in conformity with Pro_23:6; Sir_14:5).
οἴδατε διδόναι ] not soletis dare (Maldonatus, Wetstein, Kuinoel), but ye know, understand, how to give (1Ti_3:5, and see note on Php_4:12), not as referring, however, to the disposition (de Wette, Fritzsche), which in so doing is rather presupposed, but appropriately pointing to the thoughtful nature of paternal love, which, in spite of the πονηρία , understands how to render possible the giving of good gifts to children.
δόματα ἀγαθά ] wholesome gifts, in contrast to the stone and the serpent. For the second ἀγαθά , Luk_11:13 has πνεῦμα ἅγιον —a later substitution of the particular for the general. For the inference a minori ad majus, comp. Isa_49:15.
[427] Chrysostom appropriately says: ταῦτα δὲ ἔλεγεν οὐ διαβάλλων τὴν ἀνθρωπίνην φύσιν , οὐδὲ κακίζων τὸ γένος , ἀλλὰ πρὸς ἀντιδιαστολὴν τῆς ἀγαθότητος τῆς αὐτοῦ (of God) τὴν φιλοστοργίαν τὴν πατρικὴν πονηρίαν καλῶν . It is not original sin, but the historical manifestation of the sin of all men, which is spoken of, of which, however, original sin is the internal, natural root. Comp. Mat_15:19; Joh_3:6.