Matt 7:7-12 – “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!  12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”  NKJV

Matthew Chapter 7 is a most interesting chapter in the Bible offering some powerful instructions from our Lord, Jesus Christ.  In the first six verses He deals with our relationship with others and then shifts gears, so it seems, to God’s invitation for us to bring our petitions before Him with the assurance that He hears and He responds to our requests.

Let me ask, “Are the first six verses connected to these of our text?”  Obviously, the context is important and it is also important to note that no scripture is of private interpretation nor stands alone, so yes they are connected in principle if not directly linked.  So, when the directive or invitation to PRAYER or PETITION is given with the promise of God’s answer can we conclude that being hypocritical and failing in the realm of the first six verses disqualifies our hope in the next six?  Let me ask it this way, “Is our hope of God hearing and answering our prayers conditional on our obedience to His word, precepts, and principles in relations to other people?”  The broad answer I would give is, yes and while you chew on that and even formulate your disagreement and argument let’s consider the offering from our Lord in these verses.  The directive is:

• Request and God Hears and Provides.

ASK is certainly petition and tells us that if we ask, He will give us that for which we ask.  But does God indiscriminately grant every request in the fashion and for the purpose we asked?  We know from the rest of the Bible especially the New Testament the answer is no.  That gives weight to my previous suggestions about the connections.  In 1 John 5:14-15 we find a very interesting and powerful statement or promise.  We read, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked.” If we ask according to His will, He hears and if he hears or accepts the prayer He grants the petition.  Again, remember the directive in the first six verses and our following the precepts and principles of God and the condition of our hearts.

SEEK goes beyond simple petition but moves toward intercession and then full blown intercession in KNOCK which is a persistent and insistent petition and intercession.  This is a determined prayer that is so focused on the situation that nothing short of the answer will deter the heart.

• Then Notice, the Contrast or Comparison of Charity or Love of Man for His Children and the Heart of God. 

God opens our understanding to know that He wants to grant our petition.  He wants to bestow on us His good gifts.  Remember what Jesus said in Luke 12:32, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  The heart of God is to grant our petitions but the heart of God is also holy and the condition of our hearts always comes into focus.

Before you misunderstand, if one person receives what they ask and another does not it is not a definitive indication that one is righteous and the other is not.  For truly, God sends the rain on the just and unjust alike.  What I am saying is simply, if we want to have confidence that our petitions are being heard of God then we need to focus on not just doing right but being right with him and with our fellowman.  There are times in the providence of God that our petitions are not granted in a positive manner or according to the desires of our hearts.  If we walk in right relationship with Him we can be confident that He hears us and will do that which is in our best interest and that of the kingdom.

God bless you as you continue on the journey of this wonderful day!