What is the meaning of Matthew 7:9?

Which of you

Jesus turns directly to His listeners, inviting every hearer to place himself in the scenario. He assumes shared moral instincts:

• Luke 11:11 parallels the same appeal, “What father among you…”.

• Romans 2:14-15 notes that God’s moral law is written on human hearts, giving all people an innate sense of right and wrong.

By opening this way, the Lord anchors His teaching in everyday experience, reminding us the Word is not abstract but rooted in real life.

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if his son asks

The request comes from a child, not a stranger. Relationship is key:

• Psalm 103:13—“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.”

• Galatians 4:6—“Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’”

A son’s request carries an expectation of care; Jesus draws on that certainty to highlight the Father’s readiness to listen.

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for bread

Bread represents the most basic, daily need.

• Matthew 6:11—“Give us today our daily bread.”

• Exodus 16:4 shows God providing manna, confirming that supplying necessities is part of His character.

• John 6:35—Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life,” linking physical provision to the greater spiritual gift of Himself.

When a child asks for bread, he seeks sustenance, not luxury; likewise, God welcomes our honest dependence for everyday needs.

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will give him a stone?

The contrast is jarring to make a point: no loving father would deceive or harm his child by replacing nourishment with something useless or dangerous.

• James 1:17—“Every good and perfect gift is from above.” God’s gifts align with His goodness.

• Matthew 4:3 shows the tempter urging Jesus to turn stones into bread; Jesus resisted, trusting the Father’s real provision instead of a counterfeit fix.

If human parents know better than to pull such a cruel stunt, how much more can we trust our heavenly Father never to bait-and-switch when we pray?

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summary

Matthew 7:9 uses a simple family picture to assure us that God answers prayer with genuine goodness. By appealing to universal parental instincts, Jesus emphasizes the literal reliability of the Father’s care: if flawed human parents supply real bread, the perfect God will certainly meet the needs of His children, never substituting empty or harmful responses.