Matthew 7:9

Matthew 7:9

Jesus pairs a common daily life scenario with a critique of faulty assumptions about God. “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” He uses a father–child image that would be instantly recognizable. In the ancient world, stone could resemble bread in shape and size, making the riddle more pointed. The rhetorical question underscores a basic expectation of parental care: a good parent meets the child’s needs rather than causing harm. The immediate context is a contrast to a possible misreading of God as capricious or punitive; instead, Jesus appeals to the natural moral sense of the audience. The verse sets up the following contrasts about good gifts (bread vs stone) and the Father’s goodwill toward those who ask.

This verse reinforces the reliability of divine benevolence in ordinary terms. It also deepens the Father–child analogy, showing that God’s care is consistent with our best parental instincts. The “stone” image is a caution against misreading God as cruel; He gives what is life-sustaining. This aligns with biblical themes of providence and the goodness of God in ordinary needs. The verse invites readers to trust God’s definitions of “bread”—what sustains, nourishes, and preserves life—over immediate, tangible appearances.

Apply by examining what you ask for: Are your requests aligned with what truly sustains life and faith? When facing a hunger for provision, relationship, or purpose, test whether the root desire aligns with God’s character. If a meal is at stake, a job, or guidance, pursue it with practical steps while entrusting the outcome to God. Use discernment to avoid shaping God’s generosity into a stone-like substitute for your needs. In parenting, modeling this verse means balancing gentle care with honest limits—helping children understand that not every desire is good to grant immediately, but always with intent to nourish.

Cross-References: Luke 11:11-13; James 1:17; Psalm 81:10-12; Isaiah 55:2; 2 Corinthians 9:8