Start LovingStart LovingMathew 7: 7 to 12Mathew 7: 7 to 12

I – INTRODUCTION to the topic and contextual background

• In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ gives the standards for Kingdom citizens. Since the start of Chapter 5, He has given us the standards related to self, morality, religion, money and possessions and in here the standard for Human relationships.

• This passage (Verse 7 to 12) forms the positive side of Jesus summary of the principles that lead to right human relations. To love others in a way that God wants us to requires first that we do not self righteously criticize others. Yet love is much more than doing something negative. The mere absence of hatred does not constitute love.

• The positive side of love is the active side. This side is the true measure of love. The key verse in this section is verse 12, which is often referred to as the Golden Rule. Jesus gives us three reasons for obeying the command to love others as ourselves.

II – Why we should obey the command of Jesus Christ to love others

A.) God’s PROMISE to us demands that we love others

“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.” – vs. 7 and 8

- This is one of our Lord’s greatest promise to those that belong to Him. Because of this Promise we can feel free to fully love others because of the promise he made here.

- What Jesus is saying here is that if you want wisdom to help a sinning brother and how to discern who are the apostate, ask, seek and knock and the Heavenly Father will give you wisdom.

Contrary to popular believe, this verse is not a blank check and should be taken into proper context. However since God promises to take care of believers this verses could also apply to asking other things from Him aside from that discussed in the context. There are requisites that need to be fulfilled:

1.) The promise is given only to believers as suggested by the context

2.) The one who claims the promise must live in obedience to His Father (1 John 3:22)

3.) The motive in asking should be right (James 4:3)

4.) We must be submissive to his will. (1 John 5:14)

5.) Our request to the Lord must not be passive but persevering as suggested by the present imperative tenses in the Greek. (Keep on asking, seeking and knocking)

We also see the progression of intensity in the three verbs. From simple asking to the more aggressive seeking and knocking. Whatever of His will we know to do, we should be doing. (Illus: Exodus 14:15, Genesis 24:27, Acts 16:6 to 9)

B.) God’s PATTERN for us demands that we love others.

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If 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?” vs. 9 - 11

- These verses continue to point to and illustrate the golden rule in verse 12. We are to love as others because this is a part of God’s pattern for Kingdom citizens.

- If we claim to be God’s children, God’s nature should be reflected in our lives. Jesus shows us here how the love of our heavenly Father is like. Such love should be followed by us.

C.) God’s PURPOSE for us demands that we love others.

“Therefore 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.” (vs.12)

- The implication of verses 7 to 11 is made explicit in verse 12. The perfect love of the Heavenly Father is most reflected in His children when they treat others as they themselves which to be treated. How we treat others is not to be determined by how we expect them to treat us or how we think they should treat us, but by how we want them to treat us.

- Contrary to worldly standards which views the golden rule as protecting your self interest, Jesus is teaching here how we are to love people. (Mathew 22:36 – 40, John 13:34-35)