Charles Spurgeon Commentary Matthew 7:9-12

"Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for this is the law and the prophets." — Matthew 7:9-12 (ASV)

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

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them for this is the law and the prophets.

Is there a connection between this conduct on our part and answers to our prayer? Undoubtedly, this is so, from the position of the text. If we will never grant the requests of those who need our help, in cases where we should expect to be helped ourselves, how can we go to God with any confidence and ask him to help us? I do not doubt that many a man has received no answer to his prayer because that prayer has come from a heart hard and untender, which would not permit him to grant the requests of others. O child of God, do to others as you would that they should do to you, then you can go to your God in prayer with the confidence that he will hear and answer you!