Don’t be flip with the sacred… Matthew 7:6 (MSG)

Good Gifts – Sermon on the Mount Series – Part 13

Go to PART 1  |  PART 2  |  PART 3  |  PART 4  |  PART 5  |  PART 6  |  PART 7  |  PART 8  |  PART 9  |  PART 10  |  PART 11  |  PART 12  |  PART 13  |  PART 14

“Don’t give holy things to dogs. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they will trample them under their feet-and then turn around and attack you! Ask and it will be given to you! Search and you will find! Knock and the door will be opened for you! Everyone who asks receives; everyone who searched finds; everyone who knocks will have the door opened. Don’t you see? Supposing your son asks you for bread-which of you is going to give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, which of you is going to give him a serpent? Well then, if you know how to give good gifts to your children, evil as you are, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:6-11 (N.T. Wright’s “The Kingdom New Testament Translation”).

PRACTICE: ASK, SEEK, KNOCK IN PRAYER.

Despite how the prosperity peddlers might manipulate this passage, it’s not about getting ‘more possessions,’ but rather what power we look to.

As Biblical ethicist Glenn Stassen put it, this teaching “is about the temptation to acquire special privileges by siding with the powerful [Dog/Pig Powers] and ignore their injustice and violence.”

This is such a seductive temptation. We will either give our trust and allegiance to ‘dog’ and ‘pig’ Powers like the Roman Empire, or to the Lord Jesus. But our Lord wants us to know God’s goodness and keep asking, seeking, knocking for more of the Holy Spirit.

How discerning are you about the Powers who ask for our allegiance? How can you put your trust in God who gives good gifts?

PRAYER: Father, we have seen your Son, so we know you give good gifts. So we ask, we seek, we knock, for more of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Contributed and Written by: Jarrod McKenna
Facebook.com/jarrodandmates
Twitter: @jarrodmckenna
Instagram: @jarrodmckenna
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Go to Part 14 – Go Do It »

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