Thursday 05 March 2009

Background

This passage puts a positive light on prayer. It placesconfidence in the believer's ear.

Jesus asks, "Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks forbread, will give a stone?" The answer was, of course, no. Jesus wasillustrating to his listeners that even we "who are evil" know howto give nice things to our loved ones, and in particular, ourchildren. God, who is our father, is good and will therefore giveus greater and better things if we ask for them.

The closing verse of this passage is known as 'The Golden Rule'. Ithad negative connotations in the Judaism of the time - "an eye foran eye and a tooth for a tooth" (Matthew 5:38) - butJesus begins to shed a positive light on it. Jesus tells us that ifwe ask, God will open the door. If we seek God, we will find God."Knock, and the door will be opened for you."

The best way to show God that we are serious about having a placein the kingdom is to "do to others as you would have them do toyou" in the most positive sense of this statement. Do what God asksand what God says.

This is magnified in Jesus' teaching, "for this is the law and theprophets". Jesus fulfilled the Law in the sense that he gave it itsfull meaning. He emphasised its deeper commitment and underlyingprinciples, rather than just acknowledging its existence and placein the Jewish society of the day.

To Ponder

Do you live by the Golden Rule? How could youremind yourself of it when you become tempted to ignore or do harmto others?

Are there any questions you need to ask God?

Do you trust God to answer your prayers?

This Lent time, are you ready to surrender to Godthe answer, in thought, word and deed?