Interpret Matthew 7:7-11

[divided sky]

I'd like to get opinions on what these verses mean, specifically why does Jesus call his hearers evil? How do we know who Jesus said this saying to, who was the audience? I mean the author claims the disciples (and probably others) were hearing the sermon. If so, why does he call them evil?

Also, what does it mean to Christians today?

It's part of the Sermon on the Mount. In the way of background, I don't believe the Sermon on the Mount was one sermon that Jesus gave at some point in his ministry. I believe the sermon is comprised of sayings of Jesus. The author of Matthew put them together as if they were given in a one sermon.

Matthew 7:7-11:

7"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9"Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
10"Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11"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 what is good to those who ask Him!

 

[TexasSky]

I'd like to get opinions on what these verses mean, specifically why does Jesus call his hearers evil? How do we know who Jesus said this saying to, who was the audience? I mean the author claims the disciples (and probably others) were hearing the sermon. If so, why does he call them evil?

Also, what does it mean to Christians today?

It's part of the Sermon on the Mount. In the way of background, I don't believe the Sermon on the Mount was one sermon that Jesus gave at some point in his ministry. I believe the sermon is comprised of sayings of Jesus. The author of Matthew put them together as if they were given in a one sermon.

Matthew 7:7-11:

7"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9"Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
10"Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11"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 what is good to those who ask Him!

We are evil.
We all sin, we all dishonor God.

Beyond that. I believe the Sermon on the Mount is exactly what it says it is. To say it is not automatically cancels out things that are recorded as historical events, like the feeding of the 5,000.

That said, it was not just the 12. It was a huge crowd which followed him, and which camped out on the mountain to hear him speak.

 

[jhonsix]

I'd like to get opinions on what these verses mean, specifically why does Jesus call his hearers evil? How do we know who Jesus said this saying to, who was the audience? I mean the author claims the disciples (and probably others) were hearing the sermon. If so, why does he call them evil?

Also, what does it mean to Christians today?

It's part of the Sermon on the Mount. In the way of background, I don't believe the Sermon on the Mount was one sermon that Jesus gave at some point in his ministry. I believe the sermon is comprised of sayings of Jesus. The author of Matthew put them together as if they were given in a one sermon.

Matthew 7:7-11:

7"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9"Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
10"Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11"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 what is good to those who ask Him!

When i was clild my grandfather used to listen to a radio progrm called "The Shadow" at the beginging of that program the actor playing the shadow would always say "Who knows what evil lurkes in the hearts of men, the shadow knows." Well truth is the shadow did not know anymore than we know, except for our own hearts, but God knows. God says "All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God." What Christ was saying was that if we being evil do good for our own children, how much more will God, who is holy and just, give good things to those who ask Him in faith.

 

[eoe]

I don't know about other people but I am horribly wicked. I am such a terrible sinner that I am even unaware of my own faults.

 

[divided sky]

We are evil.
We all sin, we all dishonor God.

Are you talking here about the doctrine of original sin?

Beyond that. I believe the Sermon on the Mount is exactly what it says it is. To say it is not automatically cancels out things that are recorded as historical events, like the feeding of the 5,000.

That said, it was not just the 12. It was a huge crowd which followed him, and which camped out on the mountain to hear him speak.

I'd prefer not to get into a debate about whether the Sermon on the Mount is historical or not. I don't think it's critical to interpreting these verses. I'm taking these verses as words actual spoken by Jesus. If Jesus said them as part of a long sermon (Sermon on the Mount) or said them at one point during his ministry to his disciples and his other followers doesn't appear to matter, unless I'm missing something.

Even if I don't believe the Sermon of the Mount is historical, as far as it actually being one long sermon preached, doesn't mean I don't think he preached what's in the sermon. Also, not believing the Sermon of the Mount as one long sermon preached by Jesus does not automatically mean other events reported as historical in the Gospels did not happen (e.g. the feeding of the 5000).

 

[divided sky]

What Christ was saying was that if we being evil do good for our own children, how much more will God, who is holy and just, give good things to those who ask Him in faith.

But why did Jesus call his disciples and other followers (and presumably future generations of Christians) evil? What does he mean when he calls his disciples and followers (and future Christians) evil? You quoted a verse from Romans but that's Paul's preaching, not Jesus. I want to know what Jesus meant when he called them evil.

 

[divided sky]

I don't know about other people but I am horribly wicked. I am such a terrible sinner that I am even unaware of my own faults.

So, was Jesus saying his disciples and others were horribly wicked and such terrible sinners they were unaware of their own faults?

 

[doc8645]

Hi divided sky;

I've found it almost impossible to study and address these detailed type of questions without the help of a good concordance like strong's due to the differences in language and useage.

The word evil used was 4190=poneros-A derivative of 4192=(ponos-pain) hurtful, proportional in effect or influence, and thus differing from 2556=(kakos-worthless, wicked) which refers rather to essential character, as well as from 4550=(sapros-bad, corrupt) which indicates degeneracy from original virtue.

So utilizing that formula I figured Jesus was just saying that due to circumstances we are in effect or influence just inherently evil as a statement not as any kind of judgement or accusation against his audience, just my opinion, God bless.

doc8645

 

[major_minor]

[BIBLE]Matt 7:7-11
7Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and ye will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For every man who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9Or what man is there of you, who, if his son may ask for bread, will give him a stone, 10and if he may ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11If ye therefore, being evil, know to give good gifts to your children, how much more your Father in the heavens will give good things to those who ask him? [/BIBLE]

vs 7- This was preceded with the thought of "seek FIRST the Kingdom of God" That in mind, if you "seek" God in ALL things, you will find, and if you enter or "knock" for oppertunity, it shall be opened.

vs8-sames as above, provided you follow Christ. It is NOT "nameit, claim it, get it".

vs9 & 10-self explanatory.

vs 11- If we have sin in us, which ALL do, then we have evil in us for we are not perfect, for we, unlike Jesus ,are NOT without sin. (They that are living and seeking God, and dying to the flesh daily) They will be blessed by God for their obediance and faithfulness.

 

[FallingWaters]

I'd like to get opinions on what these verses mean, specifically why does Jesus call his hearers evil? How do we know who Jesus said this saying to, who was the audience? I mean the author claims the disciples (and probably others) were hearing the sermon. If so, why does he call them evil?

Also, what does it mean to Christians today?

10"Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11"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 what is good to those who ask Him!

Up to that time, all humans were unregenerate; no one had been born again yet. In that sense they were evil; they were not new creatures in Christ yet.

All humans are born with the sin nature.
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?

In comparison to the All-Holy God, we are evil. We are imperfect, and He is perfect in Holiness.

I have never taken Jesus' words as an insult. I know that compared to God, I am evil, even though I am a new creature in Christ. It's more of a poetic phrase, I guess. I don't take it to mean that Jesus thinks I'm evil and there is no good in me, and I'm not worth loving. No. I know that Jesus loves me, and fills me with His grace, so I can be pleasing to Him and the Father.

 

[sbbqb7n16]

...In comparison to the All-Holy God, we are evil...

Beat me to it!


"Then I said,
'Woe is me, for I am ruined!
Because I am a man of unclean lips
and I live among a people of unclean lips;
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of Hosts."

-Isaiah 6:5

 

[Adstar]

I'd like to get opinions on what these verses mean, specifically why does Jesus call his hearers evil? How do we know who Jesus said this saying to, who was the audience? I mean the author claims the disciples (and probably others) were hearing the sermon. If so, why does he call them evil?

Also, what does it mean to Christians today?

It's part of the Sermon on the Mount. In the way of background, I don't believe the Sermon on the Mount was one sermon that Jesus gave at some point in his ministry. I believe the sermon is comprised of sayings of Jesus. The author of Matthew put them together as if they were given in a one sermon.

Matthew 7:7-11:

7"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8"For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
9"Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?
10"Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11"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 what is good to those who ask Him!

He was saying that we are sinners. And we are. We are not good but even though we are not good we still know how to give to our childeren.

All Praise The Ancient Of God