A Parent's Heart, God's Heart · Day 2
Matthew 7:7-12 — a devotion
Matthew 7
- 7구하라 그러면 너희에게 주실 것이요 찾으라 그러면 찾을 것이요 문을 두드리라 그러면 너희에게 열릴 것이니Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
- 8구하는 이마다 얻을 것이요 찾는 이가 찾을 것이요 두드리는 이에게 열릴 것이니라For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.
- 9너희 중에 누가 아들이 떡을 달라 하면 돌을 주며Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
- 10생선을 달라 하면 뱀을 줄 사람이 있겠느냐Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?
- 11너희가 악한 자라도 좋은 것으로 자식에게 줄 줄 알거든 하물며 하늘에 계신 너희 아버지께서 구하는 자에게 좋은 것으로 주시지 않겠느냐If ye 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?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!
- 12그러므로 무엇이든지 남에게 대접을 받고자 하는대로 너희도 남을 대접하라 이것이 율법이요 선지자니라Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
KJV and World English Bible — Public Domain · 개역한글 ⓒ Korean Bible Society
Background
Matthew 7 is the final portion of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. On a mountainside in Galilee, Jesus taught His disciples and the crowds what life in the kingdom of God looks like. Chapter 7 continues His teaching on prayer, and after the exhortation to ask, seek, and knock comes the analogy of a parent. To the Jews of that day, a father was the protector and provider of the household. Jesus uses this familiar relationship to explain the heart of God the Father. Concluding the Sermon on the Mount's teaching on prayer, this passage is a key text that shows how good God is as our Father — through the universal relationship between human parents and children.
Reflection questions: 1. When I pray to God and call Him Father, what emotions rise up in my heart? 2. If there is something I have recently hesitated to ask God for, what is the reason? 3. Recall the "good things" God has given you, and offer a prayer of thanks for those gifts.
Today's reflection
Jesus draws on a very everyday example. What parent would give a stone to a child who asks for bread? What parent would hand over a snake when their child asks for a fish? Of course, none. Jesus starts from this obvious truth and reveals the heart of God.
The logic Jesus uses here is captured in the phrase "how much more." If even imperfect human parents want to give good things to their children, how much more will the perfect heavenly Father give good things? This is not a simple comparison but an absolute confidence in God's goodness. God is not one who mechanically hands over whatever we ask; with a parent's heart, He discerns what is truly good for us and gives it.
This word takes away our fear about prayer. Have you ever felt your prayers were lacking, or that you weren't qualified? Jesus says God is our Father. You don't need special qualifications to ask your father for something — you just need the relationship. God is a Father who delights to give good things to those who ask. Come to God honestly today with the heart of a child. He is waiting for your prayers.
In the app
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