Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.” Jesus continued, “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?” and in chapter seven and verse eleven of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples,“how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things” where we read:
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
The verse reads, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, ...” Matthew began with the words, “if you then” or “whether the disciples therefore, accordingly, consequently and these things being so” “being evil” which means “existing as full of labors, annoyances, hardships, toils and of bad nature or condition”, “know how to give” which means “perceive, notice, discern and discover the way to grant, bestow, supply and furnish” “good gifts” or “useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful and happy present and recompenses” “unto your children” which refers to “toward the disciples' offspring”. Jesus presented the condition that the disciples knew the way to “grant and bestow” upon their own “children” “pleasant and happy presents”.
The verse continues, “... how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Matthew added the words, “how much more” or “to what such a greater and further degree” “shall your Father” which refers to “will the disciples' originator and generator who is God” “which is in heaven” or “who is in the region above the sidereal heavens, the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells and other heavenly beings” “give good things” which means “grant, bestow, furnish and supply useful, salutary, pleasant, agreeable, joyful and happy presents and recompenses” “to them that ask him” or “to the the people who beg, crave, desire and require of the Father”? Jesus questioned the disciples whether they knew “the Heavenly Father” would to a much greater decree “grant and bestow” “pleasant and happy” “presents and recompenses” to those who “ask” Him.
When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how Jesus wanted His disciples to know how much God desires to bestow “gifts” upon people. People are not perfect, and yet they give “gifts” to their children all the time. God is perfect, and His ability to provide “presents” goes way beyond people's ability. His greatest “gift” was His Son Jesus Christ who came to the world to die for the sins of every person, and when they receive His as their personal “Savior and Lord”, they have accepted the greatest “present” mankind shall ever receive.
Next time Jesus tells His disciples,“whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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