His Word Today

¹⁷ “So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:17–19 (ESV)

This week, we are focusing on the importance of holding to biblical truth and being aware of false teachers. It would be pleasant to think that false teachers are outside the local church. Unfortunately, that is not the case. False teachers exist within the church; always have and always will until the Lord’s return.

By their fruits we can know the true nature of false teachers. Believers in Christ must be on guard today by taking each thought captive to the obedience of Christ through Scripture (2 Cor. 10:4-6).

Jesus taught that one may distinguish between good and false prophets (teachers) not only by the content of their teaching but also by the fruit of their lives. Healthy prophets of God bear good fruit. This would refer to the fruit of the Spirit. “²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV)

Conversely, a false prophet bears bad fruit. They gratify the desires of the flesh. ^16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5:16–21 (ESV)

Recently, in the aftermath of the violent death of a young man by five police officers, one local pastor stated from the pulpit that the solution to such violence was for the church to understand the gospel “is justification by faith and social justice.” At best, this is error. At worst, it is heresy, which is a deviation from the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is justification by faith alone.

Justification is a legal declaration. God declares the sinner just on the basis of grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (Romans 3:21-26; 4:1-5; 5:1-5; Philippians 3:3-9).

“This legal or forensic term (justification) comes from the Greek word for “righteous” and means “to declare righteous.” This verdict includes: pardon from the guilt and penalty of sin, and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to the believer’s account, which provides for the positive righteousness man needs to be accepted by God. God declares a sinner righteous solely on the basis of the merits of Christ’s righteousness. God imputed a believer’s sin to Christ’s account in his sacrificial death (Isa. 53:4–5; 1 Pet. 2:24), and he imputes Christ’s perfect obedience to God’s law to Christians (cf. Rom. 5:19; 1 Cor. 1:30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9). The sinner receives this gift of God’s grace by faith alone (Rom. 3:22, 25; 4:1–25),” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

“The most crucial question facing anyone is ‘How can I be right with God?’ The answer to that question is the central issue that keeps the various professing expressions of Christianity apart; it is justification by grace alone, received through faith alone, mediated to believing sinners through Christ alone, and recorded as final authority in the Scriptures alone,” states Dr. Bruce Bickel.

False prophets and teachers will always seek to add something, anything, to justification by faith alone. Be on your guard against the bad fruit of false prophets.

Soli deo Gloria!  

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15–16 (ESV)

“Tolerance toward people is a good and biblical virtue, but tolerance toward false teaching is sin. The teaching of a false prophet cannot withstand scrutiny under the divine light of Scripture.” – John MacArthur

“The mark of the false prophet or teacher is self-serving unfaithfulness to God and His truth. It may be that he says what he shouldn’t; but it is far more likely that he will err by failing to say what he should. He will gloss over all the tough questions and issues as did the false prophets in the Old Testament who went around saying, “Peace, peace,” when there was no peace (Jer. 6:14).” J.I. Packer  

“The apostles of Satan are not saloon-keepers and white-slave traffickers, but are for the most part ordained ministers.” – A.W. Pink

This week, we are focusing on the importance of holding to biblical truth and being aware of false teachers. It would be pleasant to think that false teachers are outside the local church. Unfortunately that is not the case. False teachers exist within the church; always have and always will until the Lord’s return. Therefore, those who hold to biblical truth must be on guard.

Today’s text begins with these cautionary words from Jesus; “Beware of false prophets.” Jesus then invoked a familiar biblical illustration. “…who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves”

Jesus then instructed His disciples how they could recognize false teachers. “You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?”

To recognize (ἐπιγινώσκω; epiginosko) is a future middle indicative verb. This means that to understand and know false teachers is an activity all believers in Christ must personally engage. It is not just a discipline for the present, but also for the future. The church must always be on guard against error and heresy.

Fruits (καρπός; karpos) are the activities and results of false teachers. It is what they personally accomplish or produce. They personally own their heresy and they delight in it.

Jesus then posed a rhetorical question. “Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” The answer is no. Neither can any good come from false teachers. They are like thorns and thistles that inflict pain and discomfort. They are not like grapes and figs that are nourishing.

“Recognizing prophetic impostors is not always easy, but Jesus says the fruit of their teaching helps us evaluate our instructors (vv. 15–16a). Some buckthorn bushes in Palestine produce black berries that look like grapes from a distance, and certain thistles have flowers that appear to be figs. However, a close inspection of both these fruits reveals them for what they really are — things unfit for consumption. Likewise, we must examine the fruits our teachers’ produce in order to determine the nature of the source from which they come (vv. 16b–18),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

By their fruits we can know the true nature of false teachers. Be on your guard today by taking each thought captive to the obedience of Christ through Scripture (2 Cor. 10:4-6).

Soli deo Gloria!  

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15–16 (ESV)

“False teachers [are] not made outside Christianity. They are always bred in the church, half in and half out; but eventually they reject the truth and try to seduce others in their attempt to fulfill their self-gratification.” – John MacArthur

“This is the way it always is with false teaching. False teachers cannot force their opinions on anybody. They can only persuade people to adopt their ways of looking at things. And false teaching, of course, often has an attractive veneer. People like new ideas; and false teaching, by definition, trades in new ideas. People also like teaching that might make them feel less guilty about their own sins and failings. And certainly the false teachers of [biblical times and our day hold] out this advantage.” – Douglas Moo

“It would have been well for the church of Christ, if the warnings of the Gospel had been as much studied as its promises.” J.C. Ryle  

This week, we are focusing on the importance of holding to biblical truth and being aware of false teachers. It would be pleasant to think that false teachers are outside the local church. Unfortunately that is not the case. False teachers exist within the church; always have and always will until the Lord’s return. Therefore, those who hold to biblical truth must be on guard.

Today’s text begins with these cautionary words from Jesus; “Beware of false prophets.” Jesus then invoked a familiar biblical illustration. “…who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves”

The phrase who come (ἔρχομαι; erchomai) is a present, middle indicative verb. This means that false personally come to believes in Christ. They pretend to be good. They pretend to be harmless but they are dangerous and destructive. False teacher do not wait for Christ’s disciple to come to them.

Sheep’s clothing (πρόβατον ἔνδυμα; probation endyma) is another way of saying that false teachers act as if they are biblical in their beliefs. However, they are not.

What are they? By nature they are ravenous wolves (ἅρπαξ λύκος; harpax lykos). Wolves are not domestic pets. They are predators. They are destructive and vicious. They take no prisoners. Instead, they destroy.

“The message of false prophets may be attractive and even seem orthodox. The only way to know for sure is to allow time to see ‘their fruits (vv.16-20),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

We will examine the fruits of false teachers next time. Have a blessed day and be on your guard. False teachers are everywhere.

Soli deo Gloria!  

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15–16 (ESV)

“The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man was the idea that somehow he could make himself good enough to deserve to live with an all-holy God.” – Martin Luther

“Error always goes to church because Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, infiltrates the systems of religion, particularly Christianity even true Christianity and plants his seeds of error there and a gullible, witless, uneducated, undiscerning church becomes a victim.” – John MacArthur

“False teaching is often revealed in false living… Following bad doctrine leads to bad practices.” – Douglas Moo 

This week, we are going to focus on the importance of tightly holding to biblical truth and being aware of false teachers. It would be pleasant to think that false teachers are outside the local church. Unfortunately that is not the case. False teachers exist within the church; always have and always will until the Lord’s return. Therefore, those who hold to biblical truth must be on guard.

Today’s text begins with these cautionary words from Jesus; “Beware of false prophets.” Let’s being to unpack these four words.

Beware (προσέχω; prosecho) is a present active imperative verb. This action is to be constantly, actively and obediently followed. It means to pay attention, to take care, to be on the lookout, and to consider carefully.

Believers in Christ are to constantly, actively and obediently pay attention to, to care of, to be on the lookout for and to carefully consider false teachers. False teachers (ψευδοπροφήτης; pseudoprophetes) are preachers of falsehood. They are deceivers ((Matt. 7:15; 24:11, 24; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; Acts 13:6; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1; Rev. 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). False teaching possesses them because they are by nature against biblical truth.

“Following His call for us to pursue the narrow way that leads to salvation (Matt. 7:13–14), Jesus warns us to beware of false prophets (Matthew 7:15–20). Just as there are two ways, one of salvation and another of damnation, so too are there only two kinds of teachers: true ones and false ones. Being able to distinguish these teachers from one another is vital if we want to promote our spiritual well-being. Otherwise, false prophets will lead us to destruction,” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.  

Take time today to consider these quotes of those from church history and also texts from Scripture. Be on your guard for false teachers.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria! 

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15–16 (ESV)

“Whatever is only almost true is quite false, and among the most dangerous of errors, because being so near truth, it is the more likely to lead astray.”    – Henry Ward Beecher

“As Christ is the end of the Law and the Gospel and has within Himself all the treasures of wisdom and understanding, so also is he the mark at which all heretics aim and direct their arrows.” – John Calvin

“We have somehow got hold of the idea that error is only that which is outrageously wrong; and we do not seem to understand that the most dangerous person of all is the one who does not emphasize the right things.” – D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

²⁸ Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood. ²⁹ I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; ³⁰ and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. ³¹ Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. ³² And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:28–32 (ESV)

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. ⁴ Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:1–6 (ESV)

³”Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. ⁴ For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” (Jude 3–4 (ESV)

This week, we are going to focus on the importance of tightly holding to biblical truth and being aware of false teachers. It would be pleasant to think that false teachers are outside the local church. Unfortunately that is not the case. False teachers exist within the church; always have and always will until the Lord’s return. Therefore, those who hold to biblical truth must be on guard.

Take time today to consider these quotes of those from church history and also texts from Scripture.

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria! 

¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 ESV).

This statement by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount parallels Luke 13:22-24. Luke records, “²² Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. ²³ Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” (Luke 13:22-24 ESV).

Enter (εἰσέρχομαι; eiserchomai) is an active imperative verb. Jesus is giving a command for individuals to go into a particular entry way into heaven. Jesus called it the narrow gate. Narrow (στενός; steno) means a restricted or strait gate. Gate (πύλη pylē) is an entrance or passage. The grammar of these two words indicates that the narrow, or strait, gate, or entrance, is the only way into the God’s kingdom.

The reason for this exclusive entry way into a covenant relationship with God has to do with destination. Jesus said, “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” The road to hell is wide and spacious. Consequently, those who are on this road and approaching the gates of hell are many. They are from all walks of life. Their destination is destruction (ἀπώλεια; apōleia) or waste.

Contrastingly, Jesus taught, “But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”  The destination for the few is life (ζωή; zōē).

“Both the narrow gate and the wide gate are assumed to provide the entrance to God’s kingdom. Two ways are offered to people. The narrow gate is by faith, only through Christ, constricted and precise. It represents true salvation in God’s way that leads to life eternal. The wide gate includes all religions of works and self-righteousness, with no single way (cf. Acts 4:12), but it leads to hell, not heaven,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

John’s Gospel indicates that Jesus is not only the gate unto salvation (John 10:1-10) He also is the only way (John 14:1-6).

“You live in a culture that tells you every single day that the most important virtue you have is to be broad minded, and the most politically incorrect thing is to be narrow minded and have narrow views. There is only one way to God? Jesus is the only way? How narrow is that? According to our culture, we are to embrace pluralism and relativism. No one has an exclusive claim to truth—that is way too narrow minded,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“I regularly hear language in the church where people describe themselves as “broad evangelicals.” Did you hear that? “I’m a broad evangelical.” A broad evangelical is an oxymoron. If you are evangelical, if you really believe the gospel, then you have chosen the narrow path, and you have said: “This way and none other. One Christ, no more. Jesus is the monogenēs, the only begotten of the Father. All the rest are thieves and robbers.”

There are two gates and two roads. Which one are you on as you travel through this life? Your answer is a matter of life and death.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹² “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12 (ESV)

“I cannot remember a time when the Golden Rule was not my motto and precept, the torch that guided my footsteps.” James Cash Penney

“Let everyone regulate his conduct… by the golden rule of doing to others as in similar circumstances we would have them do to us, and the path of duty will be clear before him.” William Wilberforce

“In nearly every religion I am aware of, there is a variation of the golden rule. And even for the non-religious, it is a tenet of people who believe in humanistic principles.” Hillary Clinton

“I believe in the Golden Rule – The Man with the Gold…Rules.” Mr. T

People in all walks of life have an opinion of what is called The Golden Rule. Politicians, entertainers, and those in business ascribe to follow these words from Jesus; or a variation of the same. We may scratch our heads in wonder when we consider the life, and lifestyle, of these quoted individuals. We may question if they truly understand Jesus’ words. Regardless if they understand, they do have an opinion on today’s text.

The principle of reciprocation, giving in return, was often phrased negatively in the ancient world. Jesus made it a positive declaration. Believers in Christ are to proactively do for others what they would like others to do for them. There is no guarantee that others will respond in like manner, and Jesus never promised that this would happen. What He did say was that this behavior by believers fulfilled the spirit and teaching of the Old Testament of how God’s covenant people should live.

The Apostle Paul had similar sentiments in his epistles to the church in Ephesus and the Rome. Consider the following texts.

Ephesians 4:31–32 (ESV) – “³¹ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. ³² Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  

Romans 12:14–21 (ESV) – “¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Also consider what the Apostle Peter wrote to the exiled Christians. The following text is from his first epistle.

1 Peter 3:8–9 (ESV) – “⁸ Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. ⁹ Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”

I urge you to also recall what Jesus previously said in the Sermon on the Mount. It compliments today’s text.

Matthew 5:43–45 (ESV) says, “⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”

These are not moralistic principles based upon man’s works righteousness. Jesus’ words, and those by the apostles, reflect the ethic of godly people who God the Father has declared righteous by grace alone, through faith alone, in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone. May people see this golden ethic in each of us.

Soli deo Gloria!  

⁹ “Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? ¹¹ If you then, who are 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 7:9-11 ESV).

Today’s text is in the immediate context of Jesus’ teaching on asking, seeking and knocking in prayer to God the Father. Believers in Christ are to persistently ask God for strength and conviction to not hypocritically judge people and to discern when to leave people who mock and reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus promised that God the Father would answer our prayers (asking, seeking and knocking) when we desire to be godly men and women of the kingdom of God.

Jesus gave reasons why the believer in Christ can trust His words concerning prayer. It is because God the Father’s loving character. He is ready, willing and able to give good things to His spiritual children. Jesus used a series of rhetorical questions to assure us that God hears us when we pray.

Jesus’ questions concerned the way an earthly father behaves. “Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?” While there are exceptions to the rule, most parents give their children the former and not the latter.

The same can be said in Jesus’ next statement. ^“Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?” No loving earthly father is going to give his son a snake instead of a fish.

Jesus then summarized His questions with an argument from the lesser to the greater. “If you then, who are 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!”

“The simple argument contains vital lessons about people and about Jesus. First, when Jesus says, ‘If you then, who are evil…’ (ESV), he assumes, as the whole Bible does, that all humans are sinful,” explains commentator Daniel M. Doriani. “We are members of a race of sinners. We are radically selfish, inclined to rebel against God and to do evil toward our fellow man.”  

“But Jesus says that even sinful people can do what is right. Their hearts may be dark, but parents still care tenderly for their children. If human parents crippled by evil, still treat their children well, then God, who is good, will certainly give good gifts to his children.”

Soli deo Gloria!

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 the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7–8 (ESV)

“When we pray, we must not let it come to: Fie (disgust) upon thee; but certainly hold and believe, that we are already heard in that for which we pray, with faith in Christ. Therefore the ancients ably defined prayer an Accensus mentis ad Deum, a climbing up of the heart unto God.” – Martin Luther

Jesus has already spoken some familiar words in His Sermon on the Mount. Today’s text reveals more familiar phrases. The concept of asking, seeking and knocking coincides with the previous section known as the Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:7-13). Today’s text is filled with cause and effect statements.

To ask (αἰτέω; aiteo) is a present active imperative verb. In other words, it is an active, continuous command from Jesus to do something. Believers in Christ are to keep on asking God for what they need. Perhaps this persistence involves all prayers, or specifically one.

It is an order to request, and in some contexts to demand, something from God ((Matt. 7:7; 27:20; Luke 23:23; John 16:24; Acts 3:2; Col. 1:9; James 1:5; 4:2; 1 Peter 3:15). It is a further clarification on the seriousness of prayer.

The corresponding promise to asking is that it will be given to you. The phrase it will be given (δίδωμι; didomi) is a future, passive verb. The one praying will receive what is asked. At the very least, this means that the one asking will receive an answer to their request. At the very most it means that the prayer must be in conformity to God’s will (I John 5:13-15).

To seek (ζητέω; zeteo) is a second present, active imperative verb. It means to try and find, to learn where something is, and to desire information. Jesus’ promise is that the one seeking an answer from God will actively find it (εὑρίσκω; heurisko) in the future.

To knock (κρούω; krouo) is also a present, active imperative verb. It means to hit or whack on a gate or door (Matt. 7:7, 8; Luke 11:9, 10; 12:36; 13:25; Acts 12:13, 16; Rev. 3:20). The result is that either the gate or door will be opened (ἀνοίγω; anoigo). This is a future passive verb.

Jesus then gave an overarching promise. “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” What a blessed series of promises from the Lord. However, the promise comes with a corresponding responsibility; persistence in prayer.

Additionally, we must understand these verses on prayer, and the respective promises, cannot be divorced from their immediate context. To do so is to fail to appropriately interpret the text. Context determines meaning.

“We still often find it hard to show mercy even when we know the Lord’s character. We still need wisdom to distinguish between those who will mock the Gospel and those who will not trample upon the good news (Matthew 7:1-6). Moreover, we are in desperate need of God’s help in order that we might live up to the high calling throughout the Sermon on the Mount to be salt and light (5:13–16), obey the law of Christ in heart and deed (vv. 21–48), abstain from hypocrisy (6:1–18), and serve the Lord wholeheartedly (vv. 19–34),” explains Dr. Sinclair Ferguson.

“This need is the reason why our Savior returns to the subject of prayer in today’s passage. Living in conformity to His way is impossible if we attempt to do it in our own power. But if we persevere in prayer, seeking to be empowered by the Spirit to obey Christ with gladness, God will enable us to be faithful to His call (7:7–8).”

May we ask, seek and knock persistently for God to give us the strength and conviction to not hypocritically judge people and to discern when to leave people who mock and reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus promised that He would answer our prayers (asking, seeking and knocking) when we desire to be godly men and women of the kingdom of God.

Soli deo Gloria!