[This sermon is one of a series entitled "Sermon on the Mount, Concentrating on the Beatitudes," which is being preached on Sunday mornings by Pastor Tim Senter.]
Last week we talked about asking, seeking and knocking. We saw “asking” in Matthew 7:7 (sermon here) tied to the changes our hearts must make to glorify the Lord in our lives and in our spirits. We found “seeking” to be a Christian’s desire to change for Christ where he would actively and purposefully pursue purity. Finally, when we looked at “knocking” we found that the door on which we knock may not be ready for us to enter. This develops for a number of reasons. First we may need to go back to ask and seek again – we need to change. Second, we may need to be patient on the Lord and wait for His timing and preparation. Third, we may find we walk through the door not only to help others, but also to further sanctify ourselves. We should recognize that there is no promise to change what is on the other side of the door. The promise is that the door will be opened. There is no promise tied to what will be revealed.
On the heels of this direction and hope for change, we find specific examples as to why asking results in receiving, seeking results in finding and knocking results in opening. Jesus tells us of the motivation of the Father in dealing with the changes we must undergo. We are encouraged that we too should have this motivation – to change and to care for others in their need to change.
In Matthew 7:9 we find Jesus using a little irony to make his point. This is not the only time this is used in scripture by our Savior. We find other examples of this in Luke 6:39 where Jesus makes the point that the blind cannot lead the blind. We also find this in a rather convicting passage, later in Luke 6, verse 46. Jesus says, “And why call me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Ironically, many of us refer to Jesus as “the Lord” Jesus Christ but we struggle to implement His teachings in our lives. Jesus uses irony, therefore, to depict many of the most serious tenets of Christianity – namely submission, obedience to Him and to the Word of God.
I found the following illustration very interesting. Although it applies somewhat to last week, and probably more specifically to another message, its application is universal enough to apply even here.
Wallace E. Johnson once said,
“I always keep on a card in my billfold the following verses and refer to them frequently: Ask and it shall be given you: seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened (Matt 7:7-8).
“These verses are among God’s greatest promises. Yet, they are a little one-sided. They indicate a philosophy of receiving but not of giving. One day as my wife, Alma, and I were seeking God’s guidance for a personal problem, I came across the following verse which has since been a daily reminder to me of what my responsibility as a business is to God: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).
“Since then I have measured my actions against the phrase: A workman that needeth not be ashamed.”
Mr. Johnson was the President of Holiday Inns from its inception (began in his plumbing shed in 1953), until he became Vice President Emeritus in 1979.
I find this applicable today because without proper application, the verses from last week do appear to be one sided. We are looking for things for ourselves, even though they are changes in the heart. We also appear to be looking for these changes only so we can knock on a door of opportunity. When we look at our scriptures for this week, we find an illustration of why we have these great promises. In Mr. Johnson’s case, he found a dedication to properly understand and divide the word of God to address a personal problem. In our case, we should find a dedication to properly apply the changes in our hearts such that we can give others the best that Christ in us has to offer.
Looking therefore at our scriptures today, we first find a focus upon fatherhood that gives life-sustaining bread to a beloved son. We then find meat given to nourish us for growth and sanctification. Finally, we look at good gifts. These are gifts that even the sinner knows are truly good. They also know what would be considered evil. First, consider bread.
I. Bread not Stones (Verse 9)
One aspect of this message we must first address is the metaphors. We should define them. What does the man represent, who is the son, what is the bread and what is the stone? There are commentaries that explain the father in our passage today as our Father in Heaven. The problem is that the first verse directly addresses the men present at the time of the teaching. It states, “what man is there among you” where the word for “man” is specifically “anthropos” in the nominative. The subject of the verse, the focus of the action is the very men that Jesus addresses before him. We might try to assign Jesus’ comments directly to the Pharisees present, but that too seems too specific for the context here. It seems more appropriately applicable to those present in general. I could say to you here, which of you men in this sanctuary would give your son a rock if he requested bread?
This is clearly an illustration in commonsense to show us how we must go about asking, seeking and knocking. This illustration is meant to show us how commonsensical it is to ask God for help when helping other people. It is based upon the teaching we have just heard dealing with our hearts and the change needed in them to give to others. If we look at this scripture, then through the eyes of our teacher as He looks upon the multitude, we find the man is you and me having been given wisdom from our Father in heaven, after we asked Him and sought His counsel in the process of helping another. This is a Christian who can and will give loving assistance from the word of God when the door is opened that is being knocked upon. Therefore, man is a believer. Which one of you Christians would issue cold cruelty in answer to a request for life-sustaining counsel when someone’s heart is hurt, broken, torn or confused?
Who is the son, the one asking for bread? We could say it is the one asking for sustenance or life giving spiritual food or assistance. Whether beam or mote, this person has an issue that we are not supposed to judge, but to help solve. This is the son, a believer, asking for the bread of life and enlightenment or nourishment. Therefore, the bread is the life sustaining Word of God and a stone represents a hardened response to a needy request.
Christ tells us that, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt 4:4). Scripture also says that Jesus is the living Word of God (Jn 1:14). When Jesus quoted this scripture to Satan at the temptation, He did so knowing how hateful Satan would be not only to Him, but to all who might trust in Christ for salvation. Satan regularly gives us stones instead of bread. This hateful and temptuous act of Satan has a parallel to what Christ is teaching us here. Jesus needed bread. He hungered. Satan gave Him stones. What man would do that? A man controlled by the wickedness of Satan bent upon destroying the Kingdom of God. A man attacking the very image of God (Gen 9:6). What man would give bread to feed when nourishment is needed? A loving and caring one who wants to help a fellow Christian gives bread, not stones.
If we ask for our hearts to change and seek that change, then we knock on the door and are invited in, we have been given bread to feed those on the other side when they ask for sustenance. Many times this bread is the change our own hearts have gone through before we go through the opened door. If you fathers will give bread and not stones to your children to eat, how much more life giving sustenance do you think your heavenly Father will give you? If your children come to you with questions concerning life, do you throw them away or dismiss them and their questions as a nuisance to you? On the other hand, do you try to answer their questions? Do you seek answers to their questions in the scripture and share that with them?
The eternal bread of life that resides in you is far more nourishing to a spiritually suffering individual than any stone the world has to offer their soul. This is how important asking, seeking and knocking is. We must ask for enlightenment and seek it in the Word – the bread to give to others. The bread that exists in Christians can be shared. We often do not know how to share the wisdom of Christ, and we often do not know the actual wisdom that He gives to us for others. The answers to those things come in asking and seeking. Regardless, the loaves of bread we have give new hope and life to the soul that is in need. Custer makes this point as well:
“Every normal father will provide food for his hungry children. Is God something less than a good father? No, He is a supremely great heavenly Father, who can provide all things for His dear children. But the timing and the nature of the gifts must be left in His hands. Sometimes His children ask for cake when they really need spinach! The vitamins are more important that the flavor.”[i]
If a loved one asks for food to feed their bodies, we give them food. What mother does not say, “Eat your vegetables”? The most loving mothers make sure their children eat those foods that are best for them and shun as much junk food as possible. Regardless, the most careless mother knows what is best for their child whether they force the child to do what is right or not. Equally, fathers know what is good for children, whether they provide it or not. If our God is a God of love, He will always do the most perfect and loving thing for us even if it is to give us spinach when we do not like it. This bread is not a morsel, not just a piece, not a slice, or any such thing – but a whole loaf. God gives what our lives need in abundance, not piecemeal.
It may be appropriate now to point out the continuing effect of asking, seeking and knocking. We mentioned this briefly last week but only in conjunction with the door not opening. Scripture uses words that indicate persistence. We continue to ask, seek and knock until the door is opened to us. Where we do see Christian brothers or sisters in need, we must ask for and seek a resolution. We continue to gently (meekly, humbly) knock on the door and wait for it to open.
What loving believer among you, when asked for bread, would give a stone? Christians are always ready to help other Christians. We should go the extra mile for one another. We should seek to give what we can, when we can, to the one who asks for it. In some cases, we Christians being ready to help other Christians should not pursue those opportunities, but wait for them to come to us because brothers and sisters in Christ will ask. This is effectively knocking on the door and not forcing our way in. This can be the beam and the mote issue as well. We should not be so eager as to grab at that speck in another’s eye while we do not consider our own heart first. True believers know they have failures and faults and they will ask for help. Loving believers will be patient and longsuffering. We must wait upon these folks and not judge their actions inappropriately. Be ready with the bread of the word of God, not the stones of judgmentalism and rushing to help when not welcomed. Ask, seek and knock – and when the door is opened to you, be ready with good nourishing bread.
Though we see this commonsensical illustration repeated, there are some significant differences. Where bread provides many nutrients for the body, it does not provide protein for continued strong muscle use. What is the fish and the serpent?
II. Protein not Poison (Verse 10)
Jesus, being God, would know everything there is to know about the body’s proper nourishment. He would also know everything there is to know about a serpent’s poison and disposition. Again, we have to define the metaphors. What does the fish represent? What does the serpent represent?
In many languages, there are specific distinctions between kinds of fish. Certain words are used to indicate fish with scales, fish without scales, fish prepared to eat, fish still alive, etc. In attempts to understand this scripture, some commentators have pointed out that some fish look like serpents (long and slender). We might find this in Barracuda or locally in Wyoming, we find Musky and Pike. Both of these fish have very sharp and large teeth like the serpent’s fangs. Unfortunately, none of these fish exists in the Sea of Galilee. Some fish exist there such as a certain catfish that may appear serpent like, except it has a fin running the length of its body, top and bottom. They also have no teeth. Their dorsal and pectoral fin spines can sting you, though. Still, this fish is not easily substituted or confused for a snake. The fish would also have small scales which are considered unclean. Only fish with large scales were permitted to be eaten or considered “clean” by Jewish Kosher standards. Yet, other commentators have attempted to compare the fish in this verse to an eel. Once again there is a problem of acceptability for consumption. Eels have very tiny or no scales. Fish without scales (eels for instance) are not considered Kosher and would never be requested. The answer must lie elsewhere.
The word used for fish here indicates something far different than a type of fish. It more represents a fish at a certain stage. The word “ichthus” more indicates a fish that is ready and prepared for consumption than it does a type of fish such as a bluegill, sunfish or bass. This fish may already be skinned, filleted and may even be cooked but certainly it is intended for immediate nourishment. The indication here is that the fish is good and intended as such. The opposite is true of the snake, it is bad and intended as an insult or injurious thing.
The snake on the other hand has always represented as cunning and crafty, sly, not at all representative of godly wisdom. Hypocrites are called snakes. The serpent is regarded by the Jews as the devil. Though it could reference poisonous snakes as well, the indication is the same – it is deceitful that one would request something they could readily eat to relieve hunger and receive instead something that is wickedly and thoughtlessly dangerous such as a poisonous viper or asp.
Once again continuing in our instruction, if a loved one requests counsel, they need good nourishment. Give them this good counsel or even loving comfort. Prepare them protein rich fish and serve it to them. Be a loving brother or sister in Christ. We must not shy from these opportunities. Our Father will give us all that is needed to feed our brothers and sisters in Christ. We can give only what we are given; however that is always sufficient and abundant. The counsel that feeds the soul must be practical and applicable as well as directly usable for the individual. This counsel should be ready to consume. We are to give this good counsel, protein like nourishment for the mind and soul to those who seek it.
The serpent therefore is deceptive counsel focused upon guiding someone to destruction or even poisoning and hurting them in some way. A Christian counselor who may recommend reading secular book is a perfect example. Only the Word of God promises not to return void, but to do that which it is intended (Is 55:11). We are not supposed to give false guidance or personal thoughts that could lead a believer down a false road to destruction. We are not to bite back at them for their problem either. The asp and viper bite simply when annoyed. We should not treat our brothers and sisters to the biting comments of the viper or asp, but give them good nourishing food from the very word of God to digest in their souls.
III. Common sense and good gifts (Verse 11)
The Lord moves to directly involve all of the people present on the mount. The “you” indicating “you and me” is a nominative. You people, being evil as you are, know how to give good gifts. “Good” here refers back to the bread and fish. We provide our children good, healthy food because we want the best for them. This is simply a statement expecting affirmation. We can almost hear the crowd mumble to themselves, “that just makes sense, we all do that.” There are other things in this verse too that point to basic commonsensical knowledge.
A very interesting word used here is the word we find translated “know.” Once again, this is not head knowledge or school taught wisdom. This is our word “oida” or our heart, our spiritual knowledge and intuition. You know in your heart how to give good gifts, even though you are evil to the core.
The capacity for good gifts is within you just as much as the evil that dominates there. We know what is right inherently, just as we are inherently evil in our being. We know what is good, just as we know what is bad and have a predisposition to do that bad thing.
If we know what good gifts we are supposed to give to our children, even though we are inclined to do evil, how much more is our heavenly Father, who is only inclined to do good, going to give good things to us when we request them? What a wonderful promise this presents then, when we place these things into perspective.
Our Father in Heaven can only give good things to us for His service. He will never give us a serpent’s tongue, or the poisonous, venomous words of a viper or asp. Our Father in Heaven will never give stones to those who need bread. He would never attempt to deceive us or trick us into doing His will, but would always lead us to the truths in His word for our lives to fulfill His will.
If we ask, seek and knock, God will always give us what we need, even if it is broccoli when we want potatoes and gravy. Ladies and gentlemen, God is good as much as He is light and love (Ps 73:1; 1 Jn 1:5; 4:8). God loves to give us good things that enlighten our hearts to His understanding. In Matthew 15:16-20 Jesus is explaining the parable of the blind leading the blind and falling into the pit. He tells Peter that it is not what goes in man’s mouth and heart that is the problem, but what comes out again that creates problems. God can give you all the wisdom of the world, but if you do not ask His assistance and truly seek His truth to implement that wisdom, then when you knock on the door you will give stones and snakes to those that open to you.
Knowing this now, it should not surprise us to know that the parallel passage in Luke (11:13) talks not of “good gifts,” which we might easily misconstrue as some material possession, be it food, clothing or Hot Wheels cars. Instead, Luke uses the words “Holy Spirit.” How much more will the children of God receive from your heavenly Father the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him in support of children in need on earth? It is not a gift of food that is discussed here, any more than it was simple prayer in last week’s study. This is a serious spiritual change that is going to be imparted upon the believer for a specific purpose, to a specific end and to help another believer also engage in a serious spiritual change.
The parallel passage in Luke also uses an egg and scorpion in a parallel to verse 10 above. Again, the best way to understand this is that one is plainly acceptable, while the other (wholly different) is simply wicked, evil, poisonous and quite thoughtless in application. One provides for being fed well and is reasonable – it is the egg of a hen. The word specifically means this type of egg not an egg of a snake or any other, but one which is edible. The other is not only inedible, but without credibility, likeness or function to that which is requested. One might say, “Can I have some food,” to which the evil one responds, “Here is toxic waste, but it will work.”
Give your loved ones in Christ the best you can by first seeking God’s strength and guidance in providing counsel, assistance or just Christian love and support. Regardless of what is requested, ask, seek and knock on the door and use the bread and fish you have been given to feed the soul of your brothers and sisters in Christ.
[i] Stewart Custer, The Gospel of the King: A Commentary on Matthew (Greenville: BJU Press, 2005), 110.
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