"THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT"
Asking, Seeking, Knocking (Mt 7:7-11)
INTRODUCTION
- In Mt 7:1-12, we are examining the "righteousness of the kingdom"
in respect to MAN'S RELATIONSHIP TO MAN...
- Three subjects are discussed by Jesus in this section:
- Judging Others - Mt 7:1-6
- Asking, Seeking, Knocking - Mt 7:7-11
- The Golden Rule - Mt 7:12
- In Jesus' comments on JUDGING OTHERS, we found Him telling us:
- To abstain from judging others, yet also to determine who are
"hogs" and "dogs"
- Not to be hypercritical, yet to be critical
- To be humble and patient, yet not to "cast our pearls before
swine"
- How can we have the wisdom to judge properly in these matters?
- Jm 1:5-8 tells us that wisdom comes from God through prayer
- So it is not surprising that in conjunction with the matter of
judging others Jesus discusses an important principle that relates
especially to prayer...
[What is Jesus teaching us in this section on "Asking, Seeking,
and Knocking"...?]
- THE PRINCIPLE BEING TAUGHT IS THAT OF "PERSEVERANCE" (7-8)
- IMPLIED IN THE "CONTINUOUS ACTION" OF THE GREEK PRESENT TENSE
-- Literally, Jesus is saying:
- "keep on asking" and it will be given to you
- "keep on seeking" and you will find
- "keep on knocking" and it will be opened to you
- JESUS OFTEN APPLIED THIS PRINCIPLE OF PERSEVERANCE TO "PRAYER"
- In the parable of "The Persistent Friend" - Lk 11:5-8
- In the parable of "The Persistent Widow" - Lk 18:1-8
- THIS PRINCIPLE OF PERSEVERANCE CAN ALSO BE APPLIED IN OTHER AREAS
- Such as "Bible Study"
- Many people give up too soon in their Bible studies
- But those who persevere in their studies are the ones who
benefit from the blessings God's Word provides - cf. Ps
1:1-3; 119:97-104
- Or "Evangelism"
- Many do not bear fruit because they give up too soon
- But we reap what we sow; the more persistent we are in
sowing, the more we will eventually reap
- A MOTIVE FOR PERSEVERING, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO PRAYER (9-11)
- GOD DELIGHTS TO GIVE GOOD THINGS TO HIS CHILDREN...
- To illustrate, Jesus gives a simple argument (from the LESSER
to the GREATER)
- I.e., men give good gifts to their children who ask
- How much more so, will our Father in heaven!
- THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN REGARDS TO PRAYER!
- As Jesus promised to His disciples in Jn 14:13-14; 15:7
- As the apostle John wrote in 1Jn 5:14-15
- And as James wrote in Jm 4:3
CONCLUSION
- So, in all things, let us persistently look to God for the help we
need!
- Especially when it comes to judging others, that we might receive
the wisdom to do so without violating our Lord's teachings against
censorious judging...