Matthew 7:10

Berean Standard Bible

Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

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Who asks for fish and finds a snake instead?

Our Father’s love gives only what is kind.

His heart responds to every need we’ve pled,

With gifts of grace to soothe the seeking mind.

No venom coils where nourishment is sought,

His hand extends what truly satisfies.

In every prayer, His goodness is not bought,

But freely flows from heaven’s boundless skies.

Trust Him whose gifts reflect His holy care,

No harm He sends, but blessings pure and true.

With faith, approach; His love beyond compare,

Provides the fish to feed and carry you.

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The verse Matthew 7:10, “Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?” continues Jesus’ teaching on prayer in the Sermon on the Mount, reinforcing the assurance of God’s fatherly goodness introduced in the preceding verse. Following the rhetorical question about a parent giving a stone instead of bread, this verse employs another vivid image to emphasize that God, as a loving Father, responds to His children’s requests with gifts that are good and life-giving, never harmful or deceitful. The contrast between a fish—a nourishing, desirable gift—and a serpent—a dangerous, harmful creature—underscores the trustworthiness of God’s provision. To fully grasp the depth of this verse, we must explore its context within the Sermon, its theological significance, and its practical implications for believers striving to live as disciples in God’s kingdom.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlines the character and conduct of those who belong to the kingdom of God, emphasizing a righteousness that flows from a transformed heart. The teaching in Matthew 7:7-11, which includes verse 10, shifts focus from human relationships—addressed in earlier teachings on judgment and discernment—to the believer’s relationship with God. After commanding his listeners to ask, seek, and knock with the promise of receiving, finding, and having doors opened, Jesus illustrates God’s responsiveness through comparisons to human parental care. Matthew 7:10, paired with verse 9, uses rhetorical questions to appeal to common human experience: just as a parent would not give something harmful or useless when a child asks for sustenance, God, the perfect Father, gives good gifts to those who ask. The verse is closely tied to verse 11, where Jesus concludes that if flawed human parents give good things, how much more will the heavenly Father give to His children. This context frames Matthew 7:10 as a powerful affirmation of God’s reliability and love.

The imagery in Matthew 7:10 is deliberate and striking. A fish, like bread in the previous verse, was a staple in the diet of first-century Judea, especially in regions like Galilee, where fishing was a way of life. It represents a basic, life-sustaining need, something wholesome and desirable. A serpent, by contrast, evokes danger and harm, possibly alluding to the deceptive serpent in Genesis or the broader biblical imagery of snakes as threats. The rhetorical question assumes an obvious answer: no loving parent would give a serpent when their child asks for a fish. The absurdity of such an act highlights the reliability of human parents, despite their flaws, and sets the stage for Jesus’ point about God’s infinitely greater goodness. The use of “he” and “his son” personalizes the analogy, emphasizing the intimate, relational nature of God’s care, akin to a father responding to his child’s needs.

Theologically, Matthew 7:10 reveals the character of God as a trustworthy and benevolent Father. The contrast between a fish and a serpent underscores His commitment to give what is good and life-giving, never harmful or deceptive. This aligns with the broader biblical narrative, where God is portrayed as a provider who meets His people’s needs—from manna in the wilderness to the ultimate gift of His Son, the bread of life. The verse reflects the covenant relationship between God and His people, where He invites them to call on Him and promises to respond with care. In the context of the Sermon, the promise is tied to seeking God’s kingdom and righteousness, suggesting that God’s answers are shaped by His redemptive purposes, not human whims. The imagery of a fish also carries echoes of Jesus’ ministry, where fish feature in miracles like the feeding of the multitude, pointing to His role as the one who satisfies the deepest needs of the soul.

For Jesus’ first-century audience, this teaching would have been profoundly comforting. Living under Roman occupation, many faced daily struggles—hunger, poverty, oppression—that made dependence on God’s provision a pressing reality. The image of a child asking for a fish would have resonated in a culture where fish were a dietary staple, symbolizing sustenance and abundance. Jesus’ assurance that God would not give a serpent countered fears that their prayers might be answered with harm or neglect, offering hope that their heavenly Father was attentive to their cries. The teaching also challenged religious assumptions of the time, where access to God was often mediated through temple rituals or priestly intercession. Jesus’ emphasis on God as a Father who responds directly to His children’s requests was a radical affirmation of His nearness, inviting all to approach Him with confidence.

In a modern context, Matthew 7:10 speaks powerfully to a world marked by uncertainty and spiritual hunger. The imagery of a child asking for a fish resonates with universal human needs—provision, security, hope—in an age where people often turn to material wealth, technology, or self-reliance for answers. Jesus’ rhetorical question challenges the skepticism that God might be indifferent or untrustworthy, assuring believers that He is a Father who gives good gifts, never harmful ones. The promise is not about fulfilling every desire but about trusting God to provide what is truly needed, often in ways that align with His kingdom purposes. In a culture that values instant gratification, the call to approach God with faith, trusting His response, counters the despair of those who feel unheard and the impatience of those who demand immediate answers.

Practically, this verse calls believers to a life of confident prayer. The assurance that God will not give a serpent when asked for a fish encourages boldness in bringing all needs before Him—whether for physical provision, emotional healing, or spiritual guidance. This might mean praying for resources to meet daily needs, wisdom in a complex situation, or strength in a trial, trusting that God’s response will be life-giving, not harmful. The verse also invites reflection on what constitutes a “fish”—the true needs of the heart and soul—versus a “serpent,” the deceptive desires that lead to harm. Believers are called to align their prayers with God’s kingdom, seeking His will and trusting His wisdom. This requires persistence, as the preceding verses on asking, seeking, and knocking suggest, and a willingness to accept God’s answers, whether they come as provision, redirection, or deeper faith.

The communal implications of this teaching are significant. The church is called to be a community that models trust in God’s fatherly care, encouraging one another to pray with confidence and to support each other in times of need. This involves creating spaces where believers can share their requests openly, pray together for God’s provision, and celebrate His answers, whether immediate or delayed. The church can also teach new believers to approach God as a loving Father, fostering a culture of prayer that reflects faith in His goodness. Such a community stands as a witness to a world that seeks sustenance in vain, showing that true provision comes from the God who gives life-giving gifts to those who ask.

Ultimately, Matthew 7:10 is a call to trust in the character of God. It invites believers to approach Him as a Father who delights to respond, confident that He will not give a serpent when they ask for a fish. It challenges them to align their requests with His kingdom, to trust His wisdom in answering, and to rest in His love. By living out this principle, believers reflect the nature of a God who is generous, attentive, and faithful, pointing others to the One who meets every need according to His perfect will. This verse is not just a promise about prayer but an invitation to a relationship of intimacy, dependence, and trust with the Father who loves His children beyond measure.

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Grace and peace to you, beloved saints, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, whose love is boundless and whose provision flows from a heart of infinite goodness. I write to you, not with the transient wisdom of this age, but with the truth of the gospel that stirs the soul and anchors the heart in divine assurance. My spirit is moved by the Holy Spirit to exhort you with the words of our Savior, spoken in the Sermon on the Mount, where He asks, “Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?” This piercing question, radiant with the promise of God’s fatherly care, calls us to trust in His generosity, to approach Him with confidence, and to rest in His provision that is always life-giving and never harmful. May you hear this call and be transformed, that your lives may shine as a testimony to the Father who delights to give good gifts to His children.

Consider, dear brothers and sisters, the profound assurance woven into this teaching. With the simple imagery of a child asking for a fish and a parent’s response, Jesus unveils the heart of a God who is not indifferent or deceitful but a loving Father who responds with what is good. The question—would any parent give a serpent when their child asks for a fish?—carries an answer so evident it awakens the heart: no loving parent would offer something harmful in place of what sustains life. If human parents, flawed and finite, know to give nourishing gifts, how much more will our heavenly Father, perfect in love and infinite in wisdom, provide what is life-giving to those who ask? This is the gospel at work: it invites us to come boldly before God, trusting that He will not give a serpent when we seek a fish, but will meet our needs with His abundant grace.

Theologically, this verse reveals the character of God as a generous and trustworthy Father, whose love surpasses all human understanding. The contrast between a fish—a nourishing, desirable gift—and a serpent—a symbol of danger and harm—underscores His commitment to provide what sustains, not what destroys. He is not a God who toys with His children or answers with malice, but One who delights to respond according to His perfect will. This promise is rooted in the covenant relationship between God and His people, where He invites us to call on Him and assures us of His care. It points to the cross, where Christ, the bread of life, was given to meet our deepest need—salvation from sin. The assurance that God gives life-giving gifts reflects His sovereignty and wisdom, ensuring that His responses align with His kingdom purposes, often surpassing our expectations.

For Jesus’ first audience, this teaching would have been a beacon of hope in a world of scarcity and uncertainty. Living under Roman oppression, many faced daily struggles—hunger, poverty, and spiritual longing—that made dependence on God’s provision a pressing reality. The image of a child asking for a fish would have resonated deeply in a culture where fish were a staple, symbolizing sustenance and abundance. Jesus’ assurance that God would not give a serpent countered fears that their prayers might be answered with harm or neglect, offering hope that their heavenly Father was attentive to their cries. This teaching also challenged religious assumptions of the time, where access to God was often mediated through temple rituals. Jesus’ emphasis on God as a Father who responds directly to His children’s requests was a radical affirmation of His nearness, inviting all to approach Him with confidence.

In our world today, the relevance of this teaching shines brightly. We live in an age of anxiety, where people seek provision in material wealth, technology, or self-reliance, often doubting that God cares or hears. Jesus’ words cut through this noise, assuring us that our heavenly Father is trustworthy, ready to give fish, not serpents, to those who ask. The promise is not a guarantee of every desire fulfilled but a call to trust God’s wisdom in providing what is truly needed—life-giving gifts, not harmful ones. In a culture that craves instant gratification, this teaching challenges us to approach God with faith, trusting His timing and His answers, even when they differ from our expectations. The imagery of a parent and child invites all to come to God, regardless of status or merit, confident that His love is greater than any human parent’s.

Practically, this teaching calls us to a life of confident prayer. Bring your needs before God with boldness—whether for daily provision, healing in relationships, or strength in trials—trusting that He will not give a serpent when you ask for a fish. This might mean praying for resources to meet financial needs, wisdom in a complex situation, or peace in a season of grief, confident that God’s response will be life-giving, even if it comes in unexpected ways. Reflect on what constitutes a “fish”—the true needs of your heart and soul—versus a “serpent,” the deceptive desires that lead to harm. Align your prayers with God’s kingdom, seeking His will and righteousness above all, as Jesus taught earlier in the Sermon. Persevere in prayer, as the call to ask, seek, and knock suggests, trusting that God’s answers are shaped by His love and wisdom.

The church, beloved, is called to be a community that models trust in God’s fatherly care. Create spaces where believers can share their requests openly, pray together for God’s provision, and celebrate His answers, whether immediate or delayed. Encourage one another to approach God with confidence, supporting those who face unanswered prayers with love and hope. Equip new believers to pray as children of a loving Father, teaching them that His responses are always good. Let your churches be places where the hungry find sustenance, where the weary find rest, and where the gospel shines forth as a beacon of hope. Your witness is not in self-reliance but in dependence on God, showing a world that seeks in vain that true provision comes from the One who gives life-giving gifts.

I am mindful of the challenges you face. Some of you pray in the face of unmet needs, wrestling with doubt or disappointment when answers seem delayed. Others live in a world that dismisses prayer as futile, pressing you to rely on your own strength. Yet take heart, for the God who invites you to ask for a fish is the same God who gave His Son for you. Lean into His Spirit, who intercedes for you with groanings too deep for words. Trust that He is at work, even when answers tarry, providing fish, not serpents, according to His perfect will. Let your lives be a testimony to the power of prayer, showing a world that despairs that there is a Father who hears, a Savior who saves, and a kingdom where every need is met in Christ.

As I close, my prayer is that you would know the joy of trusting in God’s goodness, approaching Him with confidence, and resting in His provision. May the Spirit empower you to pray with boldness, to seek His will with zeal, and to trust His answers with faith. Let your lives proclaim the beauty of a God who gives good gifts, who hears every cry, and who loves beyond measure. To Him who is able to do far more than we ask or imagine, to the only God our Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, now and forever. Amen.

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O God of infinite mercy and boundless generosity, whose love sustains all creation and whose provision flows from a heart of perfect goodness, we come before Your throne in reverent awe, humbled by Your majesty and transformed by Your grace. You are the Father who knows our every need, the Creator who holds all things in Your hands, and the Redeemer who sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to be the bread of life for a world in need. In His words, You have spoken a truth that ignites our faith, asking, “Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?” In the light of this divine assurance, we pour out our hearts in prayer, seeking Your Spirit’s guidance to trust Your goodness, to approach You with boldness, and to rest in Your life-giving provision that never fails.

Forgive us, O Father, for the times we have doubted Your care, fearing that You might give us a serpent when we ask for a fish. We confess that we have sometimes approached You with hesitation, questioning Your willingness to hear or Your wisdom to provide what is good. Our anxieties have clouded our faith, our impatience has dulled our trust, and our self-reliance has turned us to the fleeting solutions of this world. Cleanse us, we pray, from the sin of distrust that keeps us from Your throne of grace. By Your Spirit, renew our hearts, that we may come to You as children to a loving Father, confident that You will not give what harms but will provide what sustains, according to Your perfect will.

We praise You, Lord, for Your character as a generous Father, whose love surpasses all human understanding and whose gifts are always life-giving. The imagery of a fish, a source of nourishment, and a serpent, a symbol of harm, reveals Your heart—You are a God who delights to give what is good, not what destroys. Your gospel unveils Your goodness, showing through Christ’s death and resurrection that You are a Father who provides the ultimate gift: salvation through Your Son, the bread of life. Your promise assures us that You will not answer our cries with harm but with provision that nourishes body and soul. Grant us, by Your mercy, the faith to trust Your provision, the boldness to ask for what sustains, and the patience to receive Your good gifts in Your perfect time.

In this moment, we bring before You the needs that press upon our hearts—provision for our daily sustenance, healing for our wounds, wisdom for our decisions, and strength for our trials. We ask for Your kingdom to come, for Your will to be done in our lives and in the world around us. We seek Your guidance, longing to discern what is truly a fish—Your truth, Your presence, Your righteousness—and to turn from the serpents of this world that deceive and harm. We trust that You will not give us what destroys but will provide what brings life, whether it be peace in a storm, provision in scarcity, or hope in despair. Teach us to pray with confidence, to align our requests with Your kingdom, and to rest in Your promise that Your gifts are always good.

We pray for Your church, the body of Christ, called to be a community that trusts in Your fatherly care. Unite us in our dependence on You, that we may ask together for Your provision, support one another in times of need, and celebrate Your answers with gratitude. Raise up among us those who model a life of trust, who encourage the doubtful to approach You with boldness, and who teach new believers to pray as children of a loving Father. Let our churches be places where the hungry find sustenance, where the weary find rest, and where the gospel shines forth as a beacon of hope. May our witness proclaim to a world that seeks in vain that true provision comes from You, the God who gives life-giving gifts to those who ask.

O Father, we long for the day when Your kingdom will come in fullness, when every need will be met in Your presence, when every heart will feast on the abundance of Your glory. Until that day, sustain us by Your Spirit. Fill us with the confidence to ask for a fish, the faith to trust Your provision, and the gratitude to receive Your good gifts. Let our lives proclaim the beauty of Your gospel, showing a world that despairs that there is a Father who hears, a Savior who saves, and a kingdom where every need is met in Christ. We ask all this in the name of Jesus, our Redeemer, who taught us to trust Your goodness, who became our bread of life, and who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.