A Stone for Bread Matthew 7:9

Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you”, and He continued,“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened”, and in chapter seven and verse nine of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus asked His disciples,“what man … if his son ask bread … will he give him a stone?” where we read:

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

The verse reads, “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, ...” Matthew began with the words, “or what man” or “who is the person whether male or female” “is there of you” which means “exists among the disciples”, “whom if” or “that whether” “his son ask bread” which means “the disciple's child begs for, craves, desires and requires food composed of flour mixed with water and baked ”. Jesus presented the question as to who among His disciples when their child “asked” for “bread” would do as He is about to mention.

The verse continues, “... will he give him a stone?” Matthew added the words, “will give him” or “will the disciple who has a son grant, bestow, supply and furnish” “a stone” which means “a rock or small stone”? Jesus rhetorically asked His disciples if they would give their “son” a “rock” if he asked for some “bread”.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we notice Jesus' appeal to the basic “good” that a father would do for a “son” who was hungry. Jesus knows the “Heavenly Father” is better than any man, and His illustration demonstrates the care that He has for those who receive Jesus as their personal “Savior and Lord”. God put the desire to care for children within people, and this is only a further example of how wonderful God is toward those who accept His offer of salvation today.

Next time Jesus asks His disciples what happens to a man, “if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.