(Matt Koerber)
Matthew 7:7-12“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
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We see that Jesus begins to draw the sermon to a close. The final point of application, covered on Sunday in the sermon, will be to call the listeners to a decision. Will they choose to hear his words and obey, or will their lives continue as before?
In this section Jesus gives a summary of his teaching, and a final call to prayer. The short summary in verse 12 is perhaps the most famous single point of the Sermon on the Mount. Known as the “golden rule”, Jesus gives us a general principle to undergird our ethical dealing with others. We can accurately summarize this as, “treat people as you want to be treated.” Jesus says that this is actually a pretty good summary of the ethical concerns found in the entirety of the Old Testament (“Law and Prophets.”) The world would be a better place if more people heeded this teaching.
And yet, this is no simply act. Most people will nod and agree that the golden rule is wise. Certainly, Christians will acknowledge that everything that Jesus has taught in this sermon is wise and good and true. But… doing it? That is another matter. We have countless ways to circumvent the golden rule and justify our own desires. And even when we accurately perceive the correct action, we are often slow to take it.
Perhaps that is why the conclusion to the sermon also includes another invitation to prayer. Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (v.7:7) If we are going to try to follow this teaching in our daily life, we will not be able to do it in our own strength. We need God’s help. We need to ask. But, again… we are often slow to ask. Sometimes this is because we know deep down that asking involves a type of surrender. Admitting we can’t do it, puts us at God’s mercy. A wonderful place that kills our pride and humbles us.
Jesus addresses our slowness to pray by reminding us of God’s promises and character. He does not belabor human weakness or shame us for our hesitation. Instead he turns the spotlight onto God. Twice he repeats the promise that God will answer when we pray – first in verse 7, then again in verse 8. He underscores this to encourage us to trust ourselves to God. Then he reminds us that God’s character is part of the equation. He is our Heavenly Father. As such, he is much better at parenting that human fathers. And so, Jesus presents the argument from the lesser to the greater. Even human fathers, who are corrupted by sin – Jesus calls them “evil”… even human fathers give their kids food. It is not normal fatherly behavior to give your kid a rock when they ask you to pass the bread, or to hand them a snake when they really need a fish sandwich. Of course, there are wicked and diabolical fathers out there who defy all semblance of typical behavior. But normally speaking, corrupt, sinful, human fathers still give good gifts to their kids. And, arguing from the lesser to the greater, “how much more” will your Heavenly Father give you good gifts when you ask.
Meditate on this truth. Jesus shows us the character of God. He wants us to know what God is like. So he tells us: God is a loving father who wants to answer your prayers. You can trust him to ask for what you need. He is not trying to trick you or jerk you around. Of course, the journey of prayer is full of twists and turns. God does not always do what we want. But he is always a good father and always working for the benefit of his children. Trust him and ask.