Sunday 22nd September
Read Matthew 7:9-12
“‘Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 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 gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (NIVUK)
Often the comparison between the reports of Jesus’ words in the various gospels helps to understand the various contexts in which Jesus spoke. Consider the equivalent passage in Luke, delivered in response to the disciples’ request of Jesus to teach them to pray.
Jesus teaches them the Lord’s prayer, presents a parable on persistence in prayer revealed through ‘shameless audacity’, then encourages them to ask, seek and knock. Then we read…
“‘Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 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 the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’” (Luke 11:11-13) (NIVUK)
Besides replacing bread and rocks with eggs and scorpions (?!) Luke spells out for us that the ‘good gifts’ promised in response to earnestly seeking is the Holy Spirit. Though Matthew leaves it more open for us, and likely intends to include the food and clothing that the ‘Father knows we need’, there is little doubt that pursuing God with all our hearts, seeking His righteousness, and fixing our wills and desires upon Him is at the heart of Jesus’ words. God Himself is the promised reward for those who seek Him. More than enough indeed…
