Matthew 7:7 – 11 NKJV
7 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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If 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!”
No doubt many have read the words above many times, or at least heard them referenced in one form or another. While I believe the entire Bible is God’s letter of love to mankind, we should pay special attention to the words in red. He said some absolutely amazing things. With diamond precision, His insight into humanity and the human condition slice past all superficiality and facade. They plunge directly to the heart.
He wasn’t flippant or careless with words. Unlike many bloviating pundits and philosophers, every word He spoke was intentional and with specific purpose. He was here on a mission: to save Mankind and give us hope beyond that which we could see, feel, and experience here on Earth. Every single word that poured from his lips was focused on that goal.
Tucked away here in Matthew 7, is a little a little surprise for us. He brings up Dads and speaks very highly of of us. We will revisit that fully in a bit.
First, let’s focus on the context. Matthew 7 is smack dab in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus speech here on the Mount is probably the greatest sermon ever preached.
In rapid fire style, Jesus covers a myriad of topics. Relationships, false prophets, the poor, justice, honesty, prayer, and much more.
If you look closely, you will notice that He is actually revealing the Age of Grace that He was about to, by His Death and Resurrection, launch upon the spiritually slumbering world. No longer would the lifeless rigid letter of the law dictate every corner our our lives. No longer would the impersonal stale Jewish religion suffice.
No, true cleansing and forgiveness of sin was about to be made available by His life, death, and resurrection.
With that would come not only great responsibility, but also great power. No longer just adhering to ancient laws and stipulations, but power to truly fulfill the greatest of all commandments:
“Love the Lord God, and love your neighbor as your self.”
The Law never enabled humans to fully meet those commands. But the Son of God was about to disrupt all of history and perform a feat no amount of law keeping could ever accomplish: the transformation of the human heart.
Somewhere about the middle of the sermon of all sermons, Jesus issues a challenge to those who could hear him, not only then, but also all throughout the millennia of time.
Ask, trust, believe, He says.
Seek the One True living God and see if He will not answer. See if He will not respond. It was as if Jesus wanted to fully reveal the work that God had sent Him to complete, but He couldn’t let all the details out of the bag just yet.
Then, right in the middle of His monumental challenge, He brings you into the conversation, Dad. Not only does He bring you in, He actually brags on you a little.
Allow me to paraphrase verse 9-10 and alter them just slightly:
“What Dad, when his kids are hungry and asking for a cheeseburger, will give them a stone sandwich? What Dad out there will give his thirsty daughter a glass of motor oil when she asks for a Pepsi?
Even though you are sometimes lazy, maybe don’t make much money, or not the best dad at times, you still make sure your kids have what they need, right?
How much more will your Heavenly be attentive to your needs? Don’t you think One as loving and merciful and full of compassion, as He is, will take care of you when you have a need?”
I know many dads struggle with providing for their families. I know there are things you would like to buy for your kids. There are trips you would like to take them on and places you would love for them to see.
But all that aside, every man’s deepest desire is to provide for his family’s basic needs: food, clothing, shelter, love. The things that really matter.
Men, you know what I am talking about. We are programmed with innate desire to support and provide for our families. How many times have you worked long hours, given up your own wants, and done what ever it takes to make sure they are taken care of. It is our duty. Our calling. And we love it. And those horrible times when we fall short, we feel like absolute failures. Ugh, and that hurts.
So think carefully about what Jesus is saying. Jesus knows your heart, guys. He is comparing your desire to provide for your family with how our Heavenly Father desires to meet our needs.
Except for one important difference. We are human. We have a limited capacity to love. We are bound by our selfishness and humanity. We are evil, He says.
He is not.
Actually, He is just the opposite. Take a look at this:
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
While we were breaking His law, while we were ignoring His love, while we were shoving away His mercy, while we were His enemies, He laid down His very life for you and I.
His love, so pure, so perfect, and so holy, far out strips any love we could possibly have for our children. Multiply the compassion and affection your heart holds for your children to the highest power and you will barely be scratching the surface of how your Heavenly Father feels about you.
Think about that, Dad. As much as you love your kids, God’s love toward us is light years beyond the capacity of even the most unselfish and loving dad.
To me, that is simply amazing.
Now, with that in mind, reconsider the challenge of Jesus that results in what I would like to call The Dad’s Blessing.
Go ahead, Jesus says. Ask. Seek. Knock. Believe. And be prepared for Him to blow your mind with blessings beyond your comprehension.
That is an offer I can’t find in myself to refuse. And I hope you take advantage of it as well.
Take a moment and share one of those blessings that blow your mind below. I know you have many to share.