Scripture Daily

Context No. 3656 of 4322 · Matthew

Context · Reflection

Matthew 7:6-12: in context

6“Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. 7“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 9Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent? 11If you then, being 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! 12Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

Jesus gives a threefold encouragement to persistent prayer: ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. God invites us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking, and promises that everyone who asks receives.

And Jesus grounds this in the fatherly goodness of God. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, would hand him a stone? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Our confidence in prayer rests not on our own worthiness but on the good heart of our Father, who delights to give good things to his children, far more readily than even a flawed human parent. And then comes the great summary of the law: whatever you wish others would do to you, do also to them. Trust the good Father who gives, and treat others as you would want to be treated.

Do I pray with confidence in the good heart of my Father, who delights to give good things to those who ask, and do I treat others as I would want to be treated?

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