March 27
“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who 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!”
-Matthew 7:7-11
(please read through the passage 3 times using the practice of lectio divina)
Reflection
This section may contain three commands, but they can be considered one command expressed in three ways. In this section, the Father is implicitly presented as the one who gives to those who ask (Matt 6:8), the one whose kingdom and righteousness is to be sought (6:33; see also 13:44–45), and the one who opens kingdom’s door to those who knock (5:20; 7:21; 18:3; 19:23–24; 23:13).
Throughout the Sermon, God is consistently presented as the Father in heaven; and one of his characteristics highlighted in the Sermon is his compassion and affection expressed through his provisions (7:9–11). The high mortality rate of children in ancient times was the reason many fathers refused to show affection to their children, although parental affection was still considered part of basic human instinct and responsibility. This kind of compassion is a reflection of God’s goodness which further assures the followers of Jesus that there is no need to worry about this life because he will provide (6:31–32), and that storing up treasures in heaven through sincere charity will not go unrewarded (6:1–4). Thus, the “Golden Rule” is an appropriate conclusion for his command to ask, seek, and knock.
Uytanlet, Samson L.. Matthew: A Pastoral and Contextual Commentary (Asia Bible Commentary Series). Langham Creative Projects.
Action (Engage)
For those of us who have thought that we should “ask, seek, and knock” for whatever we desire, Uytanlet’s observation that God’s desire is to give us the kingdom, might change the way we see this verse. It is possible that the kingdom is what we most want?
Have you found ways to “ask, seek, and knock” for relationships and wisdom across racial boundaries? If not, is there something you could still do this weekend to love across racial lines?
