Matthew 7:9 - Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
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What does "Matthew 7:9" mean?
This verse, Matthew 7:9, is part of a larger passage (Matthew 7:7-11) where Jesus is teaching about the importance of prayer. The verse itself is a rhetorical question using a very relatable analogy to illustrate a point about God's willingness to answer prayer.
Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Or who is there among you..." Jesus is addressing a crowd of people, appealing to their common sense and experience as parents.
"...who, if his son asks him for bread..." Bread was a staple food, a basic necessity for survival. The son is asking for something essential.
"...will give him a stone?" A stone resembles bread in appearance (especially loaves of the time), but is utterly useless for nourishment. It's not only unhelpful, but potentially harmful.
The Meaning and Implication:
Jesus' point is this: Even imperfect, human parents wouldn't cruelly or nonsensically give their child something useless or harmful when the child asks for something essential. Parents, driven by love, will try to provide for their children's needs.
Therefore, if earthly parents, who are flawed, act with such care and generosity, how much MORE generous and willing to provide for our needs is God, who is perfectly good and loving?
The analogy is intended to encourage:
Confidence in Prayer: God is not a stingy or cruel being who delights in withholding good things from us.
Persistence in Prayer: Because God wants to bless us, we should keep asking, seeking, and knocking.
Trust in God's Goodness: Even when we don't receive exactly what we ask for, we can trust that God will give us what is truly good for us.
In essence, the verse is a powerful affirmation of God's benevolent nature and his willingness to answer the prayers of those who seek him. He isn't a distant, uncaring deity, but a loving Father who is eager to provide for his children.
Matthew 7:9 - Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
What does "Matthew 7:9" mean?
This verse, Matthew 7:9, is part of a larger passage (Matthew 7:7-11) where Jesus is teaching about the importance of prayer. The verse itself is a rhetorical question using a very relatable analogy to illustrate a point about God's willingness to answer prayer.
Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"Or who is there among you..." Jesus is addressing a crowd of people, appealing to their common sense and experience as parents.
"...who, if his son asks him for bread..." Bread was a staple food, a basic necessity for survival. The son is asking for something essential.
"...will give him a stone?" A stone resembles bread in appearance (especially loaves of the time), but is utterly useless for nourishment. It's not only unhelpful, but potentially harmful.
The Meaning and Implication:
Jesus' point is this: Even imperfect, human parents wouldn't cruelly or nonsensically give their child something useless or harmful when the child asks for something essential. Parents, driven by love, will try to provide for their children's needs.
Therefore, if earthly parents, who are flawed, act with such care and generosity, how much MORE generous and willing to provide for our needs is God, who is perfectly good and loving?
The analogy is intended to encourage:
Confidence in Prayer: God is not a stingy or cruel being who delights in withholding good things from us.
Persistence in Prayer: Because God wants to bless us, we should keep asking, seeking, and knocking.
Trust in God's Goodness: Even when we don't receive exactly what we ask for, we can trust that God will give us what is truly good for us.
In essence, the verse is a powerful affirmation of God's benevolent nature and his willingness to answer the prayers of those who seek him. He isn't a distant, uncaring deity, but a loving Father who is eager to provide for his children.