“If you then, who are 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!”
(Matthew 7:11)
Earlier in this sermon to His disciples, Jesus gave them a model prayer (Matt. 6:9-13). Now He assures them that God welcomes prayer and urges them to come to Him continuously and persistently. This is emphasized by the present tense of the verbs “keep on asking,” “keep on seeking,” and “keep on knocking,” (7:7). Why? Because our Father in heaven (verse 11) delights in giving good gifts (cf. James 1:17) to those who persist in prayer.
Interestingly, in the parallel passage in Luke 11:13, “the Holy Spirit” is substituted for “good things”: “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” All spiritual blessings come to us through the Holy Spirit – the divine source of God’s benevolence. How it must please the Father, as well as His Spirit living in us, when His children pray for daily cleansing, guidance, and spiritual blessings instead of asking for worldly comforts.
A believer’s prayers are God’s delight, in contrast to the prayers of the wicked. “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight,” (Prov. 15:8). “O my dove, that are in the clefts of the rock, in the secret place of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely,” (Song of Solomon 2:14). We are pleased with the requests of our children, though their language is lisped and broken. And so is God, for He is infinitely more indulgent than earthly parents and much more willing to give us good gifts (Matt. 7:11) when we ask Him.
There are many reasons why God delights to secure and comfort His children when we pray. We are His chosen ones; He placed His eternal love on us in Christ, even before the foundation of the world was laid. He bought us with a price – none other than the blood of His only begotten Son, who gave His life for our ransom. He is in covenant with us. He has engaged Himself to be our God and surely, He will be our guard also. And finally, we are vessels of His mercy in whom He desires to demonstrate His grace and love forever.
Nathaniel Vincent said, “If God has done all these things for you as a believer, surely then, He will heed you when you pray to Him; He will give you the good you need, and save you from the evil which makes you run to Him for shelter.”
No decent father gives his son a stone instead of a loaf of bread or a snake instead of a fish. And if an earthly father with his evil nature (being a sinner) delights in giving good gifts to his children, doesn’t it make sense that the righteous heavenly Father will, to a much greater degree, delight in rewarding His children spiritually for their persistent requests?
A Christian’s security is the privilege to pray always with great confidence to the God who hears, with thanksgiving and adoration for all His bountiful blessings. “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32).
- O Lord my God and heavenly Father, blessed be Your Name forever! Set the focus of my heart on You that I may find myself in a context of continual prayer, communion, and thanksgiving through Your Spirit. Help me walk holy before You that my prayers may be heard in the Name of Your Son Jesus Christ.
- O Dear Father, I humbly come before You, asking that Your heavenly Comforter who reveals You and Your will to me, stir my mind and heart to call on You and to celebrate Your Name.
- Lord, may the gift of Your Spirit infuse me with heavenly power, cleanse my heart of material affections, and open the eyes of my understanding that I may know what I should ask for. Help my soul to take hold of the righteousness of Your Son Jesus Christ through the Spirit; and that by the aid of that same Spirit, dismiss whatever He reveals in my life that keeps me from coming to You as I should.
Further References for Matt. 7:11
Ps. 84:11; Matt. 6:9; James 1:17; Gen. 6:5; Ps. 86:5
