And if he asks for a fish, will he give him a snake?
This saying is the continuation of the previous one and deepens the same figurative thought, showing God’s good and caring nature. Just as a person would never replace the food his son asks for with something dangerous, so God never gives what is harmful to His child. The “fish” symbolizes spiritual nourishment—God’s grace and truth—and the “snake” symbolizes those illusions and temptations that seem beneficial but bring destruction. Jesus teaches trust: to believe that God’s answer is always good, even if outwardly it differs from our expectations. This saying reminds us that God never rejects those who come to Him, and He shows His love not randomly, but with wisdom—giving what truly cleanses and preserves a person’s soul; in other words, God never refuses sincere requests that at the same time do not oppose His will.