Matthew 7:7-12 Therefore
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 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? Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (NKJV).
I’ve heard from many pastors that when the word “therefore” is found in Scripture, we need to find what it is there for. In this case, it comes directly after the discussion of getting answers from God—ask, seek, knock. We are told in this passage that if we ask correctly, seek fervently, and knock expectantly, we will receive from God what we ask. “Therefore” comes right after we are told that our God in heaven gives good things to us. There is no transition between the discussion of receiving from God and the Golden Rule—Do unto others as you would like them to do to you, except for the word, “therefore.” “Therefore” means as a result of the preceding. So as a result of God giving good gifts to His children, we are to treat others well—do unto them as we would like them to do for or to us.
I never noticed that before. They seemed to be two separate ideas, two different thoughts. But, no, they are not separate thoughts. They are combined by the word “therefore”—give unto others because God gives us good gifts. That makes the Golden Rule more imperative. It is important that we treat others well. After all, God expects us to do that. God gives because He loves us, and He wants us to treat others well because we are acting in His love. In John 13:34,35, Jesus tells us “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (NIV). The Golden Rule, asking seeking, and knocking, and being known as followers of Jesus are all completely involved in who God is. God is love, and those who love Him are to just naturally show love to others. So let’s “just naturally” show love to everyone. Yep, everyone!
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