Our Sense of Need Regarding Kingdom Living (Matthew 7:7-12)

1. I need help to obey this teaching (vs. 7-11)

a) Jesus spoke earlier on how to pray & what to pray about (6:5-15). This passage deals with why. Kingdom living is demanding & we lack what it takes. He encourages His disciples to pray.

b) “ask/seek/knock”- present (continuous) commands, calling us to persistent prayer. Together they call us to be active in our conversation with God. Asking implies you know what you need but need to request it; Seeking implies effort with searching; knocking implies a door that needs to be open but only God can open it. The results are that everyone who asks of the Heavenly Father receives; those who seek find; and those who knock on closed doors see them open.

c) Illustration: (bread & fish were staple parts of their diet) When a hungry son asks his father for a loaf of bread, the dad will not deceive him by giving him a stone that looks like a small loaf, but will not meet his need. If the son asked for a fish, the dad would not give a snake that might appear like a fish, but be harmful. Jesus argued from the lesser to the greater assuming every human is sinful, but not as evil as each can be. If a parent being evil by nature, still gives what is good/beneficial to his children, how much more shall our Heavenly Father, who is perfectly good, give what is good to those who ask (vs. 8,9,10). Our motivation to pray about our needs is our Heavenly Father is not reluctant, ignorant or devious, but very willing to give what is good/most beneficial for us.

d) Do not miss out by not asking, seeking or knocking.

2. I need clarity on how to treat others (vs. 12)

a) Relating in a healthy, wise way with others is tricky & challenging. Every situation is different. It seems it would take volumes of writing to know how to act or react in different scenarios. A golden rule for relationships would clarify & simplify things.

b) The Golden Rule was stated negatively by others. Rabbi Hillel (⁓AD 20) answered a Gentile who challenges him to summarize the law in the short time he could stand on one leg with, “What is hateful to you, do not do to anyone else. This is the whole law; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it.”

c) Jesus stated it positively, which is far more demanding, but beneficial to understanding kingdom behavior that pleases God. However, you want people to treat/do to you, treat/do unto them. The negative statement allows us to be passive, avoid doing evil, but His positive statement calls us to be active & doing what it good/beneficial to others. How would you want others to act towards you if the roles were reversed?

d) “this is the Law & the Prophets” sandwiches what He began in 5:17-20. This summarizes what is intended in the Law & Prophets concerning our relationships with others.

e) Considering how the golden rule applies in different situations with different people will avoid & resolve many conflicts.