THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Matt. 5, 6, 7 (44)

January 5, 2019

27-11-18

Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts” 

“COMMIT THY WAY UNTO THE LORD…HE SHALL BRING IT TO PASS.” Ps. 37:5, Matt. 7:7-11.

Broadus John A says, “To avoid censoriousness, and yet not cast pearls before swine, ask, and it shall be given you. To refrain from worldly anxieties, because of trusting in God (Matt. 6:19-34) ask, and it shall be given you. To eschew ostentation and all self-seeking in good works, (Matt. 6:1-18) ask, and it shall be given you…To indeed be the salt of the earth and the light of the world, (Matt. 5:13-16) ask, it shall be given you. To find blessings in trials of life, (Matt. 5:5-12) ask, and it shall be given you. If we do not possess God’s spiritual blessings, it must be because we do not ask. One may be truly industrious man, and yet poor in temporal things but one cannot be a truly praying man, and yet poor in spiritual things”.

  1. Matt. 7:7-8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”
    1. It is a difficult task to avoid the extremes pointed out in Matt. 7:1-6. When we find it hard to carry out these biblical injunctions, then ask God for direction, just as in Jas. 1:5 tells us to ask for wisdom to pass through trials patiently and joyfully. Pro. 3:5-7.
    2. The text is also covering all the teachings previously covered in Matt. 5, and 6 as stated in the introduction above.
    3. “Ask, seek, and knock”. The words are practically equivalent, the repetition being made for the sake of emphasis. Mathew Henry put it this way, “Pray pray often pray with sincerity and seriousness pray, and pray again make conscience of prayer, and be constant in it, make a business of prayer, and earnest in it. Ask, as a beggar asks alms” 
    4. The Lord is making all efforts to be sure we pray, and the prayers that will be answered are subject to certain conditions as in Jas. 4:1-7, 1Jn. 5;14
    5. We should be persistent in prayers. Lk. 18:1-8, Heb. 5:7
  2. Matt. 7:9-11 “Or what man is there of you whom if his son ask bread, will he give a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to the them that ask him?” Lk.11:5-13, Mk. 10:46-49, Jer. 20:11-13, 2Thess. 1:6, Heb. 10:35-37
    1. We have a loving and heavenly father that cares. He is a perfect, and faithful. Matt. 5:44-45, Ps. 145:8-9; 65:9-13; 104:10-23, 27-28, Act. 14:17
    2. Come as children. Ps. 84:11-12, Jn. 1:11-12, Gal. 4:1-7 1Jn. 3:1, Rom. 8:32, Gal. 3:29.
    3. God is appeased. Col. 1:20-22, Num. 16:46-48. We have the “throne of grace” and the “mercy seat” with “Christ’s blood” “in heaven” Heb. 9: 3-5, 11-12, 24-26; Heb. 4:16
    4. We have a compass