The Narrow Gate
Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? Matthew 7:10 · Berean Standard Bible
Or if your child asked for a fish, would you give them a snake? No parent would do that.
Jesus is building His case that a good father gives good things, and your heavenly Father is the best Father of all.
Jesus, driving the point home.
This second example makes it even clearer: God would never trick you or harm you when you come to Him in need.
A second illustration intensifies the absurdity: no father gives a serpent (ophis) when asked for a fish (ichthys), reinforcing God's trustworthy character.
Fish was a staple food around the Sea of Galilee; a snake could resemble certain eels, making the substitution conceivable but grotesque.
Jesus, continuing His fatherhood analogy.
The escalation from stone/bread to snake/fish heightens the argument that God's responses to prayer are always good.
8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
11So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
12In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.
Read all of Matthew 7 — Judge not, ask boldly, and choose the hard road. Jesus closes his great sermon with a storm that separates the wise from the foolish.
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