06.15.08
Instruction to Those Who Enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:7-23)
- Instruction to Those Who Enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:7-23)
- Instruction to Those Who Enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:7-23) [Part 2]
- Instruction to Those Who Enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:7-23) [Part 2]
- Instruction to Those Who Enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:7-23)
- Instruction to Those Who Enter the Kingdom (Matthew 7:7-23) [Part 2]
In spite of the rejection of His message by the Pharisees, Jesus could anticipate some would receive His word. Because of this, He turns His focus in the sermon to those who wanted to meet God’s high standards for entrance into the kingdom. There are a number of important areas that are touched on.
1 – Prayer (Matt. 7:7-11)
An earlier rejection of the Pharisaic practice of prayer now leads way to how it should be done. What is the true nature of prayer? One area is that of perseverance in prayer. Look at verse 7 and 8 in the Amplified Bible
7 Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened. AMP
A result of persistent praying is that a believer will receive what is sought. Why is that? God’s nature. Think of yourselves and your families. What father – who has the responsibility to provide for his children – will mock them when a need is presented? The same goes with the faithfulness of God. God, our Father, will not allow Himself to deny needs presented to Him by His children.
However, let me add this, as eloquently put in The Life Application Commentary -
Believers, however, must not take Jesus’ words as a blank check; prayer is not a magical way to obtain whatever we want. Jesus had already explained some conditions on this promise: His followers were to show mercy and forgiveness to others (5:7; 6:12), avoid praying in order to get attention (6:5-6), and be willing to persevere in prayer. Our requests must be in harmony with God’s will (”your will be done,” 6:10), accepting His will above our desires.
(from The Life Application Commentary Series copyright (C) 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 by the Livingstone Corporation. Produced with permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.)
And that’s the rub, isn’t it. When it comes down to it, when we pray, are we in our will or God’s will? Are we persistent in our prayers? Is it really a need, or are our prayers a bunch of wants?
