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. . . what man is there among you, when his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he shall ask for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! (NASB) Matthew 7:9-11 His proof that a holy God gives us good gifts is that even earthly fathers
who are sinners provide good things to their children. God gives good
gifts. He does not give us snakes, stones, or scorpions (Luke 11:11-13).
This is a key lesson because there are times we ask for things that are
not the best for us. Paul the apostle is an excellent example of this
when he says,
Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” (NASB) 2 Cor. 12:8-9 Paul had a “thorn in the flesh” and he asked God to remove
it. But God did not remove it because He wanted the best for Paul - spiritual
growth.
Heart of the Message! The heart of Jesus’ message,
the reason for verses 7-11, is discovered in verse 12. Jesus has been
building to verse 12. His message about asking, seeking, knocking and
the example of the father not giving stones instead of bread is explained
in verse 12,
Therefore, however you want people to treat you, so treat them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (NASB) Matthew 7:12 It is the Golden Rule. How do earthly fathers treat their sons? How
does God treat us?
Conclusion. Christ’s Golden Rule
is not a magic rule that promises the favor we show others will be returned
to us. The Golden Rule does not guarantee anything in return. Jesus’ Golden
Rule is one sided. We are to give good gifts even if we receive nothing
in return. Jesus’ Golden Rule assumes our good gifts are holy gifts
when He refers to the Law and Prophets.
Non-Christians like the Golden Rule. They may quote it,
but they cannot fulfill it and neither can we. God is love. Every Christian
needs to walk in the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5;16-22) in order to show Jesus’ love
to other Christians and non-Christians.
So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. (NASB) Gal. 6:10 Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to make our hearts love like our Lord’s
heart (Rom. 5:5)! |
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| Sermon on the Mount | |||||
