Matthew 7:1-12 and Luke 11:5-13
Today’s reading schedule takes us through the first 12 verses in Matthew’s 7th chapter, but my comments in the second link below include Mt. 7:13-14, FYI, so you might want to read a couple more verses.
Ask, seek, knock. Three levels of request, going from the lesser to the greater. Asking suggests merely making a request. Seeking means really going after something. And knocking is the most imperative – here I am with my request. Please answer me! So when we pray, are we asking, seeking, or knocking? Maybe it depends on what we’re praying for. But far too often I’m guessing that I am merely asking when I should be knocking!!
See also: March 16 / Matt. 7:1-6; March 18 / Matt. 7:7-14; March 25 / Luke 11:5-13
Persistence… I like your point about the intensity levels implied in ask, seek, knock. Sometimes I don’t even get to the ask level. It seems that this persistence is not in terms of changing God’s mind as in keeping us/me on focus. Is my request/plea something I really want? if so, I need to keep going back to God. Perhaps He will change MY mind, or most important, will the request/plea bring me closer to Him.
Mt 7:6 — Pearls… the beautiful, grace-filled Word of wisdom. This parable seems to be about who, when, and how. As St. Francis says, we should always be sharing the Gospel, using words if necessary. So how are we sharing? With everyone, but not in the same way with everyone. “Pearls of wisdom” may not be the best way for some because it drives them away. Our behavior, our kindness, our demeanor, our thankfulness despite annoyances and problems – these can speak loudly, perhaps better than words. This can be a “seed” of thought about what being a Christian means.
That’s an interesting perspective on “ask…seek…knock”. I have always just seen those as three different types of request, and hadn’t thought of them as three “levels” of request. Definitely something to chew on.
On another note… Much of what Jesus says in Mt. 7:9-11 and Luke 11:11-13 has less to do with “how things work” and more to do with “Who God is” — that is, His character, His heart. God is not mean and miserly, a grumpy old man made in our image. He is a wise, generous, and loving Father Who gives good gifts to his children. The examples Jesus gives here point us toward that truth and counteract the lies we have believed since the Serpent first spoke with Eve. (See Genesis 3, where the Serpent implied that God was holding out on Eve, that God did not want Man to be like Him.) Denigrating God’s character is at the core of the Fall and our sinful nature. Restoring the truth of God’s character is at the core of the Gospel.
So should we take Jesus’ words to mean that we can expect God to give us whatever we ask for? Happily, no. And again the answer lies in God’s character. We have a tremendous capacity for foolishness and to desire things that are not good for us. But God loves us and does not desire to see us destroy ourselves. So (to turn Jesus’ examples upside down a bit) when a foolish child asks for a scorpion, a loving father may well give an egg, or if the child asks for a serpent, the father may well provide a fish.
So, Who is God really? And what do I really believe about Him deep down and day-to-day? Do I blame Him for all the ills in the world? Or do I trust that He remains a truly loving Father? Do I think that He has somehow slipped off His throne and is surprised by current events? Or do I recognize that He remains ever Sovereign? Is He a “big” God Who is busy controlling the entire universe but aloof from me, or is He an even “bigger” God Who is mindful of every detail? How we truly answer such questions shapes not just our outlook on life, but our lives themselves.
I like your points about ask, seek, knock also and the intensity level! Where am I at any given time or prayer with my intensity? I can certainly do better. That’s probably one of Jesus’ points in these verses.
There’s another image of knocking I recall from some years ago. Any of you that came from St. John’s Church in Versailles may recall a stained glass window in the front of the church, right above the altar. An image of Jesus knocking on a doorway. I’ve carried that image around for many years as it depicts Jesus knocking on the doorway to me or to my heart. I’ve always loved that image, very personal to me. But with the readings today and Fred’s description of intensity, I’m taking away a bit more from that image that I hadn’t thought of… it’s the intensity Jesus is wanting me. He’s not just asking or seeking, but going all-out (knocking) in His persistent desire for me/us. We matter that much to Him. A great way to think about the depth of His love for us!
I just wanted to report to you what our Lord is doing with and through this group this year – focusing on this “ask, seek, knock” post. I have never posted RTB comments in the past three years that drew so many affirming comments from the rest of you. So while I speak of that post in the first person, it is my intent to glorify the Lord in all the rest that I say in this note.
After reading the selections in two translations and reading through my comments from 2019, nothing in particular had struck me anew. So I turned to the third translation that I read most days, this one the ESV on my computer. Again nothing really hit me, but I saw those three words and I typed them in – “Ask, seek, knock” – not knowing what I would do with them. I then went back to that ESV translation to re-read the Matthew passage when it hit me – the intensity behind those three words: asking nicely, seeking intently, knocking fervently. Folks, I believe with all my heart that the amplification of each of those three words was the Holy Spirit speaking to and through me. And I believe He is alive and well in all that we are doing this year!!
I commend you as a group for the efforts you have undertaken this year to be so active in posting your comments. It fills my heart to see all of us reading, pondering, waiting, trusting – then acting as the Holy Spirit leads. Thank you! And please keep it up for a glorious 2021!!
As another of ‘God’s echoes’, we have just watched this past Sunday’s service. The opening video was stunning, and Kerry’s sermon, indeed, brought to mind Jesus knocking at the door (thanks Bruce for reminding me of that stained glass window). Through us, He wants to reach the unreached; from us, He wants greater commitment. Our readings and such powerful visual and verbal ministrations, as we have had this week, make me want to do more; to support the spread of the Gospel, to read more of the Gospel, and to be more of the kind of person Jesus showed us to be, while He was here on earth.