Boy Asks for an Egg and Is Offered a Scorpionby CBPepper
7:10Matthew 7:10
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
A father whose child asks for a fish or for food does not mock or deceive him by giving a serpent or something harmful in its place. As even imperfect and sinful parents know how to give good gifts to their children, much more surely will the Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him. The good things He promises are above all the Holy Spirit, given abundantly to every needy soul who desires and seeks the things of God. He withholds no good thing, but decides what is for the petitioner's good, and when what is asked would hurt He withholds it and gives instead what is good and healthful. Therefore those who need are to come as little children in simple, confiding trust, asking individually and directly for what He has promised, believing they receive it and persevering without doubt.
Setting and Picture
The verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount, which was given especially to the disciples while the gathered multitude also heard it. That sermon disappoints hope of worldly greatness and undoes false education by giving a right conception of Christ's kingdom and of His own character. It sets forth the conditions of entrance into the kingdom of God without making a direct attack on error, leaving the hearers to draw their own conclusions as to its nature. It lays down foundation principles of the kingdom of God that are no less important now than to the multitude on the hillside. The verse belongs to the far-reaching principles taught in that sermon, principles that must be impressed on the heart because the state of the heart regulates the life and character.
The picture is a father answering his son or child who asks for a fish or for food. A loving father does not answer that request with something harmful in its place, and a requested fish is not replaced with a serpent. He does not give what would harm or deceive the child, nor does he mock, deceive, or disappoint him. The contrast between the good thing asked and the harmful thing withheld illustrates that God gives good things to those who ask Him. It supports confidence in coming to God in prayer and asking for good things, with His children to ask in living faith and depend on Him as little children.
Heavenly Father's Goodness
The picture is of a loving father answering a child who asks for food: he does not mock, deceive or disappoint him by putting something harmful in place of what was asked, and a fish requested is not replaced with a serpent. As that earthly father does not answer with harm, so God does not answer those who ask Him with something harmful, but as a good Father gives good things and good gifts to those who ask Him. He does not answer a sincere request for what is good by giving evil instead, and this supports confidence in coming to Him in prayer and asking for good things. His children are to ask in living faith and depend on Him as little children, trusting His promise rather than treating feelings as the measure of faith, for He knows their helplessness and lack of righteousness and will help and supply what they lack.
Though men are evil, imperfect and sinful, they know how to give good gifts to their children, and much more surely will the Father in heaven give good things and good gifts to those who ask Him. Even an imperfect human father gives good things to his child, so the heavenly Father is far more ready to answer those who ask. His care is more merciful, tender, patient and loving than that of any earthly parent. He sustains the same tender relation to believers that a father sustains to his children, and regards all members of His earthly family, whatever their age, learning, rank, riches or honor, as no more than little children.
Christ's teaching here contradicts human maxims and traditions taught as God's commandments, sweeps away Satan's misrepresentations of God, and reveals God not as a stern judge incapable of compassion, mercy and love but as a Father in true paternal relation to men. It restores confidence in His love, reveals His character as paternal love, and leads men to know Him as Father and to address Him in sincerity as Our Father. Christ Himself gave this lesson to people in sorrow and affliction to teach them to come for help with confidence that they would not seek in vain. His whole earthly life, filled with deeds of mercy and compassion toward the sufferers who thronged Him even when He was weary and needed rest, proves the willingness of the Father to give good things to those who ask.
God stands behind His promises, withholds no good thing, does not restrict asking to certain things but blesses according to the riches of His grace. As a good Father He decides what is for the petitioner's good. When a child asks for something that would hurt him, like a loving earthly parent He withholds what was asked and gives instead what is good and healthful for him. Every honest prayer offered in faith from an honest heart is heard and answered with the blessing needed, often when most needed and beyond expectation. In giving Jesus Christ He has already given all heaven, withholding nothing that He can give, so the promise is to be repeated in full confidence and taken as more sure and valuable than any human word, a barricade of infallible promise so that the wicked one cannot touch the trusting soul, to be received with wholehearted thanks.
Good Gifts Given
The good things promised to those who ask are the Holy Spirit, for whom people are to thirst as they seek godliness. No spiritual condition bars anyone from asking, for the only condition is to desire and seek the things of God. The promise therefore leaves no reason for doubt or hesitation.
God is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. He does not deny His children this gift, but as One who is good and righteous He gives blessings abundantly according to the riches of His grace. He does not restrict asking to certain things, and His willingness rests on the definite Thus saith the Lord that belongs to every individual, not to conference presidents alone, so each one is to wait upon the Lord individually and seek Him for efficiency and help rather than depending on man.
The father who would not answer a child's request for a fish with a serpent assures sincere seekers that the heavenly Father gives good gifts, including the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to those who ask in faith. Those who sincerely seek that guidance, including the teacher of true wisdom, will not be disappointed and will receive guidance rather than harm. Those who recognize their helplessness without Christ and ask for God's power will have their wants satisfied from His abundant fullness.
God reveals Himself for His own name's sake and gives the assurance of the Holy Spirit to every needy soul, withholding nothing that He can give because in giving Jesus Christ He has already given all heaven. The promise is to be repeated in full confidence as more sure and valuable than any human word, a barricade of infallible promise so that the wicked one cannot touch the trusting soul, to be received with wholehearted thanks. He can be trusted to keep His promises and give divine help needed in trials and temptation, abundant grace when His children ask, His love to those who ask, and power to remain steadfast to those who ask in faith and persevere in seeking. He hears those who come to Him, including the weak and hesitant, and gives strength and guidance rather than harm, drawing near to encourage them through His Word, His promises, and the Holy Spirit.
The verse is a rich and full promise of spiritual nourishment, a heavenly banquet spread before those who feel their great soul need and hunger and thirst after righteousness. By asking and receiving the bread of heaven, good to the soul, the believer grows in grace, gains grace and strength day by day from the Source of all power, with strength for duty and fullness of peace. Prayer is as necessary to the Christian life as food is to the physical life, and to every sincere, earnest prayer an answer will come, though not always just as desired or at the time expected, but always for good in the way and at the time that is for the best good, with prayers offered in loneliness, weariness, and trial answered by God.
Prayer of Trust
The verse calls for coming to God as little children, in simple, childlike, confiding trust, with humility and dependence, trusting His promise and believing that He hears prayer. Feelings are not to be taken as the measure of faith, for He knows human helplessness and lack of righteousness and will help and supply what is lacking. Every member of the family is invited on this ground to come humbly in faith and present petitions, asking simply and faithfully for the blessings needed. To doubt that He will hear is cruel, since He will not deceive or disappoint those who ask.
Believers are to ask individually, simply and directly for what they need and for what He has promised, believing they receive it and persevering in seeking. Prayer is to be humble, trusting and persevering, without the doubt and unbelief that bar the open way. Weak, uncertain faith is thereby rebuked, and simple, unfaltering trust is called for toward One who has every good thing in store for those who walk uprightly. Each person has the same privilege of waiting on the Lord individually and putting petitions before Him for efficiency and help, rather than depending on man.
The promise leaves no reason for doubt or hesitation, for there is no spiritual condition barring any person from asking whose condition is to desire and seek the things of God. It supports confidence in coming to God in prayer and asking for good things, bringing needs to Him earnestly and confidently without fearing that He will tire of being asked. This is reason to ask Him more often and to praise Him, with expectation of receiving.
Every sincere request sent up in faith from an honest heart is heard and answered, unlocking the treasury of heaven for which God holds Himself responsible. He gives His best and choicest gifts to supply great need because He loves to help. No prayer of a true saint sent up in faith from an honest heart is lost.
The answer may not come just as desired or at the time looked for, but it will come in the way and at the time that best meets need and brings good. The blessing is often received when most needed and beyond what was expected, as a loving parent withholds what would hurt and gives instead what is good and healthful. Prayer is as necessary to the Christian life as food is to the physical life, and by asking and receiving the bread of heaven the believer grows in grace, gains strength for duty, and is filled with peace, faith, comfort, hope, cheerfulness and courage.
The verse means God invites people to come and commit their souls to Him, trusting His wisdom and power. The heart is to be opened to His Spirit so that He works through the believer and blesses the labor, bringing faith, peace and comfort. Those who pray are brought to the footstool of mercy and under the bow of promise, placed in right relation to Him where they can be sure of heaven's best gifts. There they commune with God as the source of the strength and power Christ received in His humanity.
Confidence for Life
Those who plead with the heavenly Father for His promises and salvation do not receive a stone or a scorpion or a serpent in return, not something harmful or deceptive or a soul-damning influence. Prayer and spiritual experience sought from God are therefore not mesmerism and not satanic deception, and there is no reason to fear that sincere seeking will be answered with an evil influence. The assurance belongs to those who sincerely seek Him and claim His promises, that He will not give them deception instead of the spiritual good they ask for.
The same fatherly care assures God's servants that He gives what they need to advance His work and to help His people in their work for Him. As an earthly parent would not answer a child's request for food with something harmful, believers can approach the heavenly Father with childlike trust, relying on His promises and believing that He hears prayer. This confidence was applied to asking God to move His people to provide the Nashville workers the means and help they need, to move them to send help for their work.
Prayer to God is answered with goodness and not with mockery or deception, for a father does not mock his son by giving a serpent when he asks for a fish. Even men, being evil, know how to give good gifts to their children, so much more surely will the Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him. Those who lack wisdom are therefore to ask God directly and to look to Jesus instead of leaning on human wisdom and human guidance, which is a snare to souls and a broken reed. The promise belongs to every individual and not only to conference presidents, so each one is to wait upon the Lord individually and put petitions before Him, seeking Him for efficiency and help rather than depending on man, on the definite Thus saith the Lord.
Everyone may come to the Father for what is needed, regardless of color or nationality or weakness or wealth, for there is no caste with God. When trials reveal helplessness, believers are to call on God for help as a hungry or thirsty child calls on an earthly father, for God is their helper and has abundant provision for them. He hears earnest prayer and gives the help needed to resist temptation and to overcome sinful habits, and the weak and hesitant can pray with confidence that God will hear and save them.
Christ Himself gave this lesson to people in sorrow and affliction to teach them to come for help with confidence that they would not seek in vain. His whole earthly life, filled with deeds of mercy and compassion toward those who thronged Him even when He was weary and needed rest, proves the willingness of the Father in heaven to give good things to those who ask. God would have seekers hopeful and cheerful, with hearts filled with thanksgiving and praise and joy, looking on the bright side rather than the dark side, talking faith and hope and courage, and holding fast to the hand of divine power. His desire is that the hearts of the humble and contrite who are one with Him should be filled with His joy, and Christ's love received in the heart should likewise shape words and actions toward others in tender, generous care.
Applied to God's servants, the child-and-father image warns them not to offer people harmful or empty teaching when they are hungry for spiritual food. They must give the flock bread rather than a stone, pure spiritual food that leads to Christ and meets its need, what is spiritually nourishing and not what harms or fails to meet need. This instruction on God's faithful giving, that He does not answer those who ask Him with something harmful but gives good things to those who ask, is part of the genuine science of higher education that physicians and ministers should study. It belongs to Jesus' teaching about a willing, gracious heavenly Father who responds to those who call upon Him, encouraging hope and courage in times of difficulty and trust that the Father will not withhold any good thing from those who love Him.
A father whose child asks for a fish or for food does not mock or deceive him by giving a serpent or something harmful in its place. As even imperfect and sinful parents know how to give good gifts to their children, much more surely will the Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him. The good things He promises are above all the Holy Spirit, given abundantly to every needy soul who desires and seeks the things of God. He withholds no good thing, but decides what is for the petitioner's good, and when what is asked would hurt He withholds it and gives instead what is good and healthful. Therefore those who need are to come as little children in simple, confiding trust, asking individually and directly for what He has promised, believing they receive it and persevering without doubt.
Setting and Picture
The verse is part of the Sermon on the Mount, which was given especially to the disciples while the gathered multitude also heard it. That sermon disappoints hope of worldly greatness and undoes false education by giving a right conception of Christ's kingdom and of His own character. It sets forth the conditions of entrance into the kingdom of God without making a direct attack on error, leaving the hearers to draw their own conclusions as to its nature. It lays down foundation principles of the kingdom of God that are no less important now than to the multitude on the hillside. The verse belongs to the far-reaching principles taught in that sermon, principles that must be impressed on the heart because the state of the heart regulates the life and character.
The picture is a father answering his son or child who asks for a fish or for food. A loving father does not answer that request with something harmful in its place, and a requested fish is not replaced with a serpent. He does not give what would harm or deceive the child, nor does he mock, deceive, or disappoint him. The contrast between the good thing asked and the harmful thing withheld illustrates that God gives good things to those who ask Him. It supports confidence in coming to God in prayer and asking for good things, with His children to ask in living faith and depend on Him as little children.
Heavenly Father's Goodness
The picture is of a loving father answering a child who asks for food: he does not mock, deceive or disappoint him by putting something harmful in place of what was asked, and a fish requested is not replaced with a serpent. As that earthly father does not answer with harm, so God does not answer those who ask Him with something harmful, but as a good Father gives good things and good gifts to those who ask Him. He does not answer a sincere request for what is good by giving evil instead, and this supports confidence in coming to Him in prayer and asking for good things. His children are to ask in living faith and depend on Him as little children, trusting His promise rather than treating feelings as the measure of faith, for He knows their helplessness and lack of righteousness and will help and supply what they lack.
Though men are evil, imperfect and sinful, they know how to give good gifts to their children, and much more surely will the Father in heaven give good things and good gifts to those who ask Him. Even an imperfect human father gives good things to his child, so the heavenly Father is far more ready to answer those who ask. His care is more merciful, tender, patient and loving than that of any earthly parent. He sustains the same tender relation to believers that a father sustains to his children, and regards all members of His earthly family, whatever their age, learning, rank, riches or honor, as no more than little children.
Christ's teaching here contradicts human maxims and traditions taught as God's commandments, sweeps away Satan's misrepresentations of God, and reveals God not as a stern judge incapable of compassion, mercy and love but as a Father in true paternal relation to men. It restores confidence in His love, reveals His character as paternal love, and leads men to know Him as Father and to address Him in sincerity as Our Father. Christ Himself gave this lesson to people in sorrow and affliction to teach them to come for help with confidence that they would not seek in vain. His whole earthly life, filled with deeds of mercy and compassion toward the sufferers who thronged Him even when He was weary and needed rest, proves the willingness of the Father to give good things to those who ask.
God stands behind His promises, withholds no good thing, does not restrict asking to certain things but blesses according to the riches of His grace. As a good Father He decides what is for the petitioner's good. When a child asks for something that would hurt him, like a loving earthly parent He withholds what was asked and gives instead what is good and healthful for him. Every honest prayer offered in faith from an honest heart is heard and answered with the blessing needed, often when most needed and beyond expectation. In giving Jesus Christ He has already given all heaven, withholding nothing that He can give, so the promise is to be repeated in full confidence and taken as more sure and valuable than any human word, a barricade of infallible promise so that the wicked one cannot touch the trusting soul, to be received with wholehearted thanks.
Good Gifts Given
The good things promised to those who ask are the Holy Spirit, for whom people are to thirst as they seek godliness. No spiritual condition bars anyone from asking, for the only condition is to desire and seek the things of God. The promise therefore leaves no reason for doubt or hesitation.
God is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him than parents are to give good gifts to their children. He does not deny His children this gift, but as One who is good and righteous He gives blessings abundantly according to the riches of His grace. He does not restrict asking to certain things, and His willingness rests on the definite Thus saith the Lord that belongs to every individual, not to conference presidents alone, so each one is to wait upon the Lord individually and seek Him for efficiency and help rather than depending on man.
The father who would not answer a child's request for a fish with a serpent assures sincere seekers that the heavenly Father gives good gifts, including the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to those who ask in faith. Those who sincerely seek that guidance, including the teacher of true wisdom, will not be disappointed and will receive guidance rather than harm. Those who recognize their helplessness without Christ and ask for God's power will have their wants satisfied from His abundant fullness.
God reveals Himself for His own name's sake and gives the assurance of the Holy Spirit to every needy soul, withholding nothing that He can give because in giving Jesus Christ He has already given all heaven. The promise is to be repeated in full confidence as more sure and valuable than any human word, a barricade of infallible promise so that the wicked one cannot touch the trusting soul, to be received with wholehearted thanks. He can be trusted to keep His promises and give divine help needed in trials and temptation, abundant grace when His children ask, His love to those who ask, and power to remain steadfast to those who ask in faith and persevere in seeking. He hears those who come to Him, including the weak and hesitant, and gives strength and guidance rather than harm, drawing near to encourage them through His Word, His promises, and the Holy Spirit.
The verse is a rich and full promise of spiritual nourishment, a heavenly banquet spread before those who feel their great soul need and hunger and thirst after righteousness. By asking and receiving the bread of heaven, good to the soul, the believer grows in grace, gains grace and strength day by day from the Source of all power, with strength for duty and fullness of peace. Prayer is as necessary to the Christian life as food is to the physical life, and to every sincere, earnest prayer an answer will come, though not always just as desired or at the time expected, but always for good in the way and at the time that is for the best good, with prayers offered in loneliness, weariness, and trial answered by God.
Prayer of Trust
The verse calls for coming to God as little children, in simple, childlike, confiding trust, with humility and dependence, trusting His promise and believing that He hears prayer. Feelings are not to be taken as the measure of faith, for He knows human helplessness and lack of righteousness and will help and supply what is lacking. Every member of the family is invited on this ground to come humbly in faith and present petitions, asking simply and faithfully for the blessings needed. To doubt that He will hear is cruel, since He will not deceive or disappoint those who ask.
Believers are to ask individually, simply and directly for what they need and for what He has promised, believing they receive it and persevering in seeking. Prayer is to be humble, trusting and persevering, without the doubt and unbelief that bar the open way. Weak, uncertain faith is thereby rebuked, and simple, unfaltering trust is called for toward One who has every good thing in store for those who walk uprightly. Each person has the same privilege of waiting on the Lord individually and putting petitions before Him for efficiency and help, rather than depending on man.
The promise leaves no reason for doubt or hesitation, for there is no spiritual condition barring any person from asking whose condition is to desire and seek the things of God. It supports confidence in coming to God in prayer and asking for good things, bringing needs to Him earnestly and confidently without fearing that He will tire of being asked. This is reason to ask Him more often and to praise Him, with expectation of receiving.
Every sincere request sent up in faith from an honest heart is heard and answered, unlocking the treasury of heaven for which God holds Himself responsible. He gives His best and choicest gifts to supply great need because He loves to help. No prayer of a true saint sent up in faith from an honest heart is lost.
The answer may not come just as desired or at the time looked for, but it will come in the way and at the time that best meets need and brings good. The blessing is often received when most needed and beyond what was expected, as a loving parent withholds what would hurt and gives instead what is good and healthful. Prayer is as necessary to the Christian life as food is to the physical life, and by asking and receiving the bread of heaven the believer grows in grace, gains strength for duty, and is filled with peace, faith, comfort, hope, cheerfulness and courage.
The verse means God invites people to come and commit their souls to Him, trusting His wisdom and power. The heart is to be opened to His Spirit so that He works through the believer and blesses the labor, bringing faith, peace and comfort. Those who pray are brought to the footstool of mercy and under the bow of promise, placed in right relation to Him where they can be sure of heaven's best gifts. There they commune with God as the source of the strength and power Christ received in His humanity.
Confidence for Life
Those who plead with the heavenly Father for His promises and salvation do not receive a stone or a scorpion or a serpent in return, not something harmful or deceptive or a soul-damning influence. Prayer and spiritual experience sought from God are therefore not mesmerism and not satanic deception, and there is no reason to fear that sincere seeking will be answered with an evil influence. The assurance belongs to those who sincerely seek Him and claim His promises, that He will not give them deception instead of the spiritual good they ask for.
The same fatherly care assures God's servants that He gives what they need to advance His work and to help His people in their work for Him. As an earthly parent would not answer a child's request for food with something harmful, believers can approach the heavenly Father with childlike trust, relying on His promises and believing that He hears prayer. This confidence was applied to asking God to move His people to provide the Nashville workers the means and help they need, to move them to send help for their work.
Prayer to God is answered with goodness and not with mockery or deception, for a father does not mock his son by giving a serpent when he asks for a fish. Even men, being evil, know how to give good gifts to their children, so much more surely will the Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him. Those who lack wisdom are therefore to ask God directly and to look to Jesus instead of leaning on human wisdom and human guidance, which is a snare to souls and a broken reed. The promise belongs to every individual and not only to conference presidents, so each one is to wait upon the Lord individually and put petitions before Him, seeking Him for efficiency and help rather than depending on man, on the definite Thus saith the Lord.
Everyone may come to the Father for what is needed, regardless of color or nationality or weakness or wealth, for there is no caste with God. When trials reveal helplessness, believers are to call on God for help as a hungry or thirsty child calls on an earthly father, for God is their helper and has abundant provision for them. He hears earnest prayer and gives the help needed to resist temptation and to overcome sinful habits, and the weak and hesitant can pray with confidence that God will hear and save them.
Christ Himself gave this lesson to people in sorrow and affliction to teach them to come for help with confidence that they would not seek in vain. His whole earthly life, filled with deeds of mercy and compassion toward those who thronged Him even when He was weary and needed rest, proves the willingness of the Father in heaven to give good things to those who ask. God would have seekers hopeful and cheerful, with hearts filled with thanksgiving and praise and joy, looking on the bright side rather than the dark side, talking faith and hope and courage, and holding fast to the hand of divine power. His desire is that the hearts of the humble and contrite who are one with Him should be filled with His joy, and Christ's love received in the heart should likewise shape words and actions toward others in tender, generous care.
Applied to God's servants, the child-and-father image warns them not to offer people harmful or empty teaching when they are hungry for spiritual food. They must give the flock bread rather than a stone, pure spiritual food that leads to Christ and meets its need, what is spiritually nourishing and not what harms or fails to meet need. This instruction on God's faithful giving, that He does not answer those who ask Him with something harmful but gives good things to those who ask, is part of the genuine science of higher education that physicians and ministers should study. It belongs to Jesus' teaching about a willing, gracious heavenly Father who responds to those who call upon Him, encouraging hope and courage in times of difficulty and trust that the Father will not withhold any good thing from those who love Him.