Matthew 7:9-11

[9] Or what man there of whom his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? [10] Or he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? [11] If then, evil, know how to give good gifts children, how much more Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

What is the context of Matthew 7:9-11?

Ask, and It Will Be Given (Matthew 7:7-11 true)
Effective Prayer (Matthew 7:7-11 true)
Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking (Matthew 7:7-12 true)
The Sermon on the Mount: Ask, Seek, Knock (Matthew 7:7-12 true)
Ask, Seek, Knock .( D .) (Matthew 7:7-12 true)
Ask, Search, Knock (Matthew 7:7-12 true)
Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking (Matthew 7:7-12 true)
Prayer and the Golden Rule (Matthew 7:7-12 true)

What does Matthew 7:9-11 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

In Matthew 7:9-10 Jesus put the matter of Matthew 7:7-8 in two other ways. Even though parents are evil (i.e, self-centered sinners) they do not typically give their children disappointing or dangerous counterfeits in response to requests for what is wholesome and nutritious. Much more will the heavenly Father who is pure goodness give gifts that are truly good to His children who request them (cf. Jeremiah 29:13; Luke 11:11-13; James 1:5-8). This is another a fortiori argument (cf. Matthew 6:26). Jesus" disciples are in view as the children praying here (cf. Matthew 5:45). The good things they request have direct connection with the kingdom, things such as ability to follow God faithfully in spite of opposition (cf. Acts 4:29). God has ordained that we ask for the good gifts we need because this is the way He trains us, not because He is unaware or unconcerned about our needs (cf. Matthew 6:8).

"What is fundamentally at stake is man"s picture of God. God must not be thought of as a reluctant stranger who can be cajoled or bullied into bestowing his gifts ( Matthew 6:7-8), as a malicious tyrant who takes vicious glee in the tricks he plays ( Matthew 7:9-10), or even as an indulgent grandfather who provides everything requested of him. He is the heavenly Father, the God of the kingdom, who graciously and willingly bestows the good gifts of the kingdom in answer to prayer." ^[1]