If Any of You Lacks Wisdom (Matthew 7:7-12)

Jesus had just finished telling His followers not to be judgmental but to make proper judgments. He commanded them not to be critical but to be a
critic. We are commanded to “judge not” but we are not to “give dogs” what is holy or “throw your pearls before pigs.” Some don’t see a connection
between these verses and the previous ones. With verses 7-12 these commentators see a break from what Jesus had been teaching and a new
topic is introduced. Others, I believe correctly, see verses 7-12 as providing the answer to the question in the hearts of many disciples. “Now how in
the world am I going to be able to make these distinctions?” So in verses 7-12 Jesus answers their unasked question.

I believe we have a parallel verse in James, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be
given him” (Jas 1:5). In the passage before us Jesus is promising wisdom for making righteous judgment to those who seek her. In and of ourselves
we are incapable of obeying any of Jesus’ commands in this sermon. So the Lord encourages us by promising to provide the wisdom and grace that
we lack.

King Solomon was a young man when he ascended the throne in Israel. To his credit he had the humility to know that he did not possess the
necessary wisdom to rule. “At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, ‘Ask what I shall give you.’ And Solomon
said, ‘You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and
in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.
And now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out
or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for
multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to
govern this your great people?’ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, ‘Because you have asked this, and have not
asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do
according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after
you” (1Ki 3:5-12). God graciously answered Solomon’s prayer for wisdom and we have God’s promise that He will answer our prayer as well. James
promises this in the verse we previously read.

One more item before we get into the text. Even though these verses on prayer and the treatment of others apply directly to need we have for
wisdom in making judgment, the principles have far reaching application. We are to pray for our every need and we are to always treat others the
way we want to be treated.

I.        The exhortation (vv. 7-8; Psa 66:18; Jas 1:6-8; 1Jo 5:14-15)

In these verses Jesus exhorts us to pray, pray and then pray some more. We are to seek, seek and then seek some more. Then we are to knock,
knock and then keep on knocking. Lest we lose heart, the Lord promises that all who ask will receive, all who seek will find and all who knock the
door will be opened. The initial promises are in verse 7 and then for added emphasis they are repeated in verse 8.

Many people do harm to the text by viewing it as a blank check. They say, “Whatever we ask God has promised to give.” We must guard against this
view. This text must be interpreted in the light of the immediate context and in light of the rest of the Bible. “Therefore, what seems like unqualified
promises here are actually restricted by other passages. For example, from Psalm 66:18 we learn that the person praying must have no
unconfessed sin in his life. The Christian must pray in faith (James 1:6-8) and in conformity with the will of God (1 John 5:14-15)” (Believer’s Bible
Commentary, William MacDonald, edited by Arthur Farstad, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Copyright 1995, 1992, 1990, 1989 by William
McDonald).

II.        The examples (vv. 9-11; Mat 6:11-13, 33; Luk 11:5-13; Jas 1:17)

In verses 9 through 11 Jesus gives several examples arguing from the lesser to the greater. Let me sum up what He is teaching. If evil parents, by
nature, want the best for their children does it not make sense that the good God wants only what is best for His children? I also can’t help but think
James had this text in mind when he wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom
there is no variation or shadow due to change” (Jas 1:17).

If we review what Jesus has taught up to this point we will remember that He commanded us to pray for the things we need. “Give us this day our
daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Mat 6:11-13).
He also promises that God meets the physical needs of His people, “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will
be added to you” (Mat 6:33).

I believe that spiritual needs are the emphasis in this context; especially the need for wisdom. If we compare Matthew’s account with Luke’s we will
see that clearly. “And he said to them, ‘Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, for a
friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him; and he will answer from within, Do not bother me; the door is now shut,
and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything? I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is
his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, 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 the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you
then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him”
(Luk 11:5-13)!

The Holy Spirit is the One who empowers the Christian. “But it is certainly proper and necessary for us to pray for the Holy Spirit in other ways. We
should pray that we will be teachable by the Holy Spirit, that we will be guided by the Spirit, and that His power will be poured out on us in all our
service for Christ. It is quite possible that when Jesus taught the disciples to ask for the Holy Spirit, He was referring to the power of the Spirit
enabling them to live the other-worldly type of discipleship which He had been teaching in the preceding chapters. By this time, they were probably
feeling how utterly impossible it was for them to meet the tests of discipleship in their own strength. This is, of course, true. The Holy Spirit is the
power that enables one to live the Christian life. So Jesus pictured God as anxious to give this power to those who ask. In the original Greek, verse
13 does not say that God will give the Holy Spirit, but rather He will ‘give Holy Spirit’ (without the article). Professor H. B. Swete pointed out that when
the article is present, it refers to the Person Himself, but when the article is absent, it refers to His gifts or operations on our behalf. So in this
passage, it is not so much a prayer for the Person of the Holy Spirit, but rather for His ministries in our lives” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, William
MacDonald, edited by Arthur Farstad, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Copyright 1995, 1992, 1990, 1989 by William McDonald).

III.        The essence (v.12)

In verse 12 Jesus gives us the essence of the teaching of the law and the prophets concerning our responsibility to others. In this context we would
judge others as we would want to be judged. However, I believe, like the verses on prayer, the application is wider than judgment only. We are to
apply this verse in all matters.

“This is the so-called “Golden Rule,” one of the most misunderstood statements in the Bible. This statement is not the sum total of Christian truth, nor
is it God’s plan of redemption. We should no more build our theology on the Golden Rule than we should build our astronomy on ‘Twinkle, Twinkle
Little Star.’ This great truth is a principle that ought to govern our attitudes toward others. It only applies to believers, and it must be practiced in
every area of life. The person who practices the Golden Rule refuses to say or do anything that would harm himself or others. If our judging of others
is not governed by this principle, we will become proud and critical, and our own spiritual character will degenerate. Practicing the Golden Rule
releases the love of God in our lives and enables us to help others, even those who want to hurt us. But remember that practicing the Golden Rule
means paying a price. If we want God’s best for ourselves and others, but others resist God’s will, then they will oppose us. We are salt, and salt
stings the open wound. We are light, and light exposes dirt” (Wiersbe Bible Commentary: New Testament, Published by David C. Cook, 4050 Lee
Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO).

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by
permission. All rights reserved.
*Over the years we have received notes and calls from many concerned readers alerting us that we had used the word “weakly” instead of “weekly.” Would you
believe that this is not an oversight or mistake? The Weakly Sermon is Pastor Jay’s best, howbeit weak, effort to explain the great truths of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Our only prayer is that our God would be pleased to use this “weak” work for His glory. It is our prayer that The Weakly Sermon would be of benefit in your
Christian walk.
*Weakly Sermon