• Download Video
• Download Audio
• Print
• Email
• Save As PDF

A Deeper Appreciation of God As Father

Text: Matthew 7: 7- 11

The doctrine of God as Father was not a new doctrine to the disciples of Jesus. However, having said that, it does not follow that the disciples already had a strong and vibrant relationship with the Father. If we understand the religious milieu in the days of Jesus well, we would note that a formal or ritualistic understanding of prayer existed, rather than a warm and intimate relationship with God.

It was the latter that Jesus sought to encourage His disciples to cultivate. The formal, cut and dried religion practiced by the Pharisees and Sadducees, was a far cry from the teachings that Jesus espoused. Thus He sought to teach His disciples how to pray at a deeper and more intimate level, though He risked being misunderstood.

“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?”
Matthew 7:9-10

In order to help His disciples understand God as Father better, Jesus sought to draw an analogy using an earthly father as the point of His illustration. There would of course be some wicked fathers who would not fit the norm. Jesus was not speaking of those who do not deserve to be called “father” in the first place. In normal circumstances, any average father would have a loving disposition towards his son. Would the hungry son be turned away by a good father? Would a good father taunt his own flesh and blood by giving him something unsuitable? The point of the illustration that Jesus gave was obvious! Of course not! No father worth his name would even do unthinkable things such as giving stones and serpents to a hungry son who asked for simple bread and fish. The elements asked for, even the poorest father would be able to comply with easily.

How wonderful a Teacher Jesus was! Surely this lesson on prayer would be easily comprehended by even the slowest disciple? Could anybody misunderstand what Jesus meant here? Not if we understand the point of this illustration. The son did not ask for foolish things. The son was not asking for the impossible. The son was not taking advantage of the fact that he had a loving father who would do his utmost to meet the needs of his son. In the same manner, the true child of God would never try to take advantage of the promises contained in the Scriptures.

APPRECIATING THE GRACIOUS HEART OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER

Jesus went on to make an important statement concerning the Heavenly Father.

“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!”
Matthew 7:11

How well did people really know about God the Father? It would appear from this text that Jesus doubted that many people knew the Father very well at all! A number of thoughts may be derived from this text!

1. A limited appreciation of God as Father

This is the first obvious implication of this text. People thought better of themselves than of God. If they, as sinful human beings, could provide good things for their children, why would they not think that God as Father would do the same?

2. A limited relationship with God as Father

For Jesus to have delivered this rebuke, must suggest that people had at best a limited relationship with God! How could they fail to understand that God, as Father would not lag behind in providing for His children?

3. A limited prayer-life

Jesus sought to encourage people to pray. This in itself would suggest that their prayer-life needed to be boosted. Jesus who knew all hearts, saw that many had but a very limited prayer-life. Many had not prayed much. Hence, a gentle rebuke in this text would not be amiss.

4. A limited faith-relationship

Prayer and faith in God are inter-related. We may also add another thought. Prayer, faith and knowledge of God are inter-woven. Where one is lacking, prayer would also be wanting. As we seek to comprehend what Jesus was seeking to teach His disciples, we cannot help but realize that a deep and meaningful faith-relationship with God was missing.

CORRECTING DEFECTS

Jesus pointed out the many defects in the lives of His hearers. Their lack of understanding of God, and hence affecting their prayer-life, was obvious! There were serious defects in their theology of God as Father. Would they now be challenged to address and correct these defects? Two important thoughts must be considered.

1. Enter into prayer-relationship with God as Father

Knowledge is vital. However, the mere acquisition of knowledge without practice would avail nothing! Jesus challenged His hearers to enter into a deep and meaningful relationship with God as Father. Every effort must be made to seek God in prayer. The listener must do his part in asking, in seeking and in knocking as the case may be!

2. Letting the doctrine of God as Father prevail

The doctrine of God as Father is a precious one indeed! However, this doctrine must not be relegated to an obscure place, in the back of the mind. The doctrine of God as Father should be allowed to prevail and stand in the forefront. When that happens, then would one’s prayer-life be that much more enhanced!