Matthew 7:7

[johnnycatholic7]

My sister was asking me a few questions about Matthew 7:7 that truthfully I could not answer for her. I was looking for some help.

Here is what she is asking about it:

"‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 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 7:7

So is the Bible not lying here? I mean I pray every night for there to be a cure for cancer. And it says right here in the Bible that all I have to do is ask and I shall receive. So why has God not answered my prayers as he promised he would in the Bible?"

She is asking why she prays for certain things but never receives.

She has been asking me a few other questions that I need some help with…

"Also, don’t you think it’s none of our business to be punishing murderers and child molesters? Does the Bible not say that God has a plan for everyone…that he knows when and how everyone will die? If this is so, then the murderers are simply going right a long with God’s plan. I mean if it were not for them…people wouldn’t die at their proper times. Right? So really it’s no business of ours to be punishing someone who is only carrying out God’s plan.

Another thing…why does God disperse his ‘blessings’ so unevenly? Why is a wealthy family so ‘blessed’ while there are millions of children living in poverty who are not ‘blessed’?

One more thing. According to the Bible, we should sell all of our possessions and spend our lives helping the poor knowing that in doing this God will take care of us. If this is true why are so many Christians not doing this? Why haven’t you moved out/sold the cars/quit your jobs to do what Jesus has said? Oh yeah because everyone knows that God would not actually take care of us. It’s up to us and our ‘free will.’ But as I mentioned earlier God already has a plan in place making it seem impossible for us to have any free will whatsoever. "

Any help would be appreciated

 

[katiebelle08]

My sister was asking me a few questions about Matthew 7:7 that truthfully I could not answer for her. I was looking for some help.

Here is what she is asking about it:

"‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 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 7:7

So is the Bible not lying here? I mean I pray every night for there to be a cure for cancer. And it says right here in the Bible that all I have to do is ask and I shall receive. So why has God not answered my prayers as he promised he would in the Bible?"

She is asking why she prays for certain things but never receives.

She has been asking me a few other questions that I need some help with…

"Also, don’t you think it’s none of our business to be punishing murderers and child molesters? Does the Bible not say that God has a plan for everyone…that he knows when and how everyone will die? If this is so, then the murderers are simply going right a long with God’s plan. I mean if it were not for them…people wouldn’t die at their proper times. Right? So really it’s no business of ours to be punishing someone who is only carrying out God’s plan.

Another thing…why does God disperse his ‘blessings’ so unevenly? Why is a wealthy family so ‘blessed’ while there are millions of children living in poverty who are not ‘blessed’?

One more thing. According to the Bible, we should sell all of our possessions and spend our lives helping the poor knowing that in doing this God will take care of us. If this is true why are so many Christians not doing this? Why haven’t you moved out/sold the cars/quit your jobs to do what Jesus has said? Oh yeah because everyone knows that God would not actually take care of us. It’s up to us and our ‘free will.’ But as I mentioned earlier God already has a plan in place making it seem impossible for us to have any free will whatsoever. "

Any help would be appreciated

When we read the Bible it is hard for us to not take it so literal. Although yes, God does heal and works and worked miracles. But not every little thing we ask for will be granted. Because God has a plan for everyone. I know it is hard to understand but His will, will be done. Even though cancer can and is very painful and hard for us to understand why God would allow it, he has a plan and a reason. We as Christ’s disciples need to try and just cope and go along with it. The cool thing about God is we just have to have faith we can’t always cure everything. I know how painful death is. I lost my best friend to cancer almost 2 years ago, in September. But I have to remember that God has a plan and there was a greater reason for his death. Hope that helps, at least a little.

As far as your other question. I think you may be taking Jesus’ words a little to literal. In today’s society we just can’t drop our jobs and live on the streets. Although we could interpret this as sell our extra pocessions, give clothes to the needy and live with just the essentials to survive. Without looking like we are fasting, or praying in public. We don’t want to look like the hypocrites.

 

[Cachonga]

I would suggest an examination of James 4 (“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend [it] on your pleasures.” James 4:3 NAS for example). We need to be sure we are asking with correct motives. As far as praying for a cure for cancer, I don’t see anywhere in scripture where anyone prayed for a global cure for a disease (such as leprosy). However, there were individual lepers that were healed by the power of God, so I would say prayers for them were effective.

In regard to punishing murders, child molesters, etc…, I would point out that God has given human governments the authority to ensure the general safety of their people (this does include the death penalty). (This also helps to avoid anarchy.) To take the attitude that “Well, God ordained it. Who can resist it?” is a very fatalistic attitude. Why don’t you let kids play in the streets? After all, if God wants them to reach adulthood, why worry about traffic, right? That’s ridiculous!

God disperses His blessings as He sees fit! Generally speaking, we all enjoy the sunshine and the rain, as well as the crops from the earth. However, God has, for His own reasons, allowed some countries to suffer want. This is definitely a much bigger discussion!

Where are we told to sell everything and spend our lives helping the poor? I notice the early church had many people who sold posessions and brought the money to the Church, and they lived in a very close community. Be that as it may, I have seen no “command” to follow their example (in fact, I would suggest that the example of Ananias and Saphira is a good indication that this is NOT required!).

 

[Ginger2]

My sister was asking me a few questions about Matthew 7:7 that truthfully I could not answer for her. I was looking for some help.

Here is what she is asking about it:

"‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. …’ - Matthew 7:7

So is the Bible not lying here? I mean I pray every night for there to be a cure for cancer. And it says right here in the Bible that all I have to do is ask and I shall receive. So why has God not answered my prayers as he promised he would in the Bible?"

She is asking why she prays for certain things but never receives.

It can be difficult to understand why God allows bad things to happen to “good” people.

First, Cancer, as well as all other illnesses, are indirectly caused by freewill.

Adam & Eve lived in paradise. Their was no sickness, nothing to be afraid, and they were immortal.

There was only one commandment which was necessary for God to allow them freewill. “Thou shalt not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat from it, you will surely die.”

Adam and Eve made a freewill choice to disobey God. Their choice resulted in a domino effect for all the bad things we experience in this world today.

Second, God warned there would be consequences. For God to removed those consequences, whether good or bad, would make God a liar.

Genesis 2:17 “but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat in dying you will surely die.”

Third, God does hear our prayers and answers them. God can see into the future and knows whether what we ask for will ultimately be good or bad for us and the consequences it will have on others. God does not give you an answer that is not ultimately good for us.

Think about this… which is more important? Your temporary physical existence on this Earth? Or your eternal soul?

Hebrews 9:27 Indeed, just as people are destined to die once and after that to be judged,

Flesh and blood cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven. It is certain according to Scriptures that our fleshy bodies, the shell that holds the living seed, which we call our spirit, will die and the spirit will live on.

1 Cor 15:35-44

But someone may say, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come back?”
You fool! What you sow is not brought to life unless it dies.
And what you sow is not the body that is to be but a bare kernel of wheat, perhaps, or of some other kind;
but God gives it a body as he chooses, and to each of the seeds its own body…
…There are both heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the brightness of the heavenly is one kind and that of the earthly another.
The brightness of the sun is one kind, the brightness of the moon another, and the brightness of the stars another. For star differs from star in brightness.
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown corruptible; it is raised incorruptible.
It is sown dishonorable; it is raised glorious. It is sown weak; it is raised powerful.
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual one.

While it is very hard to see a loved one die, it is not the end, but a new and better beginning. If we cured cancer, people will still die. But God is not to blame - we are. (see point 1)

Ginger

 

[Carlan]

My sister was asking me a few questions about Matthew 7:7 that truthfully I could not answer for her. I was looking for some help.

Here is what she is asking about it:

"‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 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 7:7

So is the Bible not lying here? I mean I pray every night for there to be a cure for cancer. And it says right here in the Bible that all I have to do is ask and I shall receive. So why has God not answered my prayers as he promised he would in the Bible?"

She is asking why she prays for certain things but never receives.

She has been asking me a few other questions that I need some help with…

"Also, don’t you think it’s none of our business to be punishing murderers and child molesters? Does the Bible not say that God has a plan for everyone…that he knows when and how everyone will die? If this is so, then the murderers are simply going right a long with God’s plan. I mean if it were not for them…people wouldn’t die at their proper times. Right? So really it’s no business of ours to be punishing someone who is only carrying out God’s plan.

Another thing…why does God disperse his ‘blessings’ so unevenly? Why is a wealthy family so ‘blessed’ while there are millions of children living in poverty who are not ‘blessed’?

One more thing. According to the Bible, we should sell all of our possessions and spend our lives helping the poor knowing that in doing this God will take care of us. If this is true why are so many Christians not doing this? Why haven’t you moved out/sold the cars/quit your jobs to do what Jesus has said? Oh yeah because everyone knows that God would not actually take care of us. It’s up to us and our ‘free will.’ But as I mentioned earlier God already has a plan in place making it seem impossible for us to have any free will whatsoever. "

Any help would be appreciated

Hello Johnny,Welcome. Christianity with out the cross is not true if you don't see'Good Friday' and what Christ did for us then.For without the cross there would be no crown. Without the cross there would not have been the resurrection. Jesus suffered on the cross for our resurrection. We must not close our eyes to His sufferings, some forms of Christianity can't look at Jesus on the cross, only the joy of His resurrection. The servant is not better than the master. Jesus suffered death on the cross for our sins so that we could be saved for the Father. Who are we to turn away from suffering in our life. I ask God for the grace to embrace it with Jesus when it comes into my life.We don't understand sometimes why there is so much devistating suffering in life,but if we have faith and trust God,when we go to be with forever,we will understand all here below, Hope this helps with your Sis, God bless you both,:)Carlan

 

[Peter_Dawson]

My sister was asking me a few questions about Matthew 7:7 that truthfully I could not answer for her. I was looking for some help.

Here is what she is asking about it:

"‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 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 7:7

So is the Bible not lying here? I mean I pray every night for there to be a cure for cancer. And it says right here in the Bible that all I have to do is ask and I shall receive. So why has God not answered my prayers as he promised he would in the Bible?"

She is asking why she prays for certain things but never receives.

Prayers are always answered. Always. But not necessarily in the way you expect.

God frequently answers prayers today in the past. So, sincere prayers for eliminating cancer may have been answered beginning years ago when discoveries such as the Pill/Breast Cancer connection was made, when Katie Couric was moved to support efforts to prevent colon cancer, and so on.

Insincere prayers may be responded to with a smack in the face. For example, let’s say someone by implication prays, “God, I have looked at the imperfect, cancer-afflicted world, and you are clearly stupid to have let this occur! What an idiot you are! Fix it! Why delay a second, you moron?”

God, in response, permits that person to be afflicted with cancer, to force that person to come to terms with their insincerity.

Or, God might permit a loved one to be afflicted with cancer, so that family will drop to their knees and pray more on everything, or so that they will achieve deeper understanding. For example, is it possible that deadly cancer saves a person’s soul by killing him slowly enough to get ready for judgment?

 

[Ginger2]

"Also, don’t you think it’s none of our business to be punishing murderers and child molesters? Does the Bible not say that God has a plan for everyone…that he knows when and how everyone will die? If this is so, then the murderers are simply going right a long with God’s plan. I mean if it were not for them…people wouldn’t die at their proper times. Right? So really it’s no business of ours to be punishing someone who is only carrying out God’s plan.

There is so much wrong with the above ideas, I don’t even know where to start.

Knowing what to do and not doing it is as much as sin as doing something bad. (Eze 3:18) Of course it is our business to punish criminals and set up deterrents to crime.

Knowing when each person will die is not the same as setting the date and planning the means to their ends. God works with our freewill. He knows the future, and allows us to make our bad choices. Despite this, in the end God’s plan for eternity will be accomplished.

I always find it ironic when people have bad things happen they refuse to take responsibility for their actions.

Human beings insisted on being gods to themselves, but when things go wrong, do they admit they failed? No they blame God.

If we follow God’s Word we are at much less risk, but I see people drinking and driving - hurt or killing themselves and others, and the others ask “What kind of God would allow this to happen?”

Ginger

 

[Ginger2]

"**

One more thing. According to the Bible, we should sell all of our possessions and spend our lives helping the poor knowing that in doing this God will take care of us. If this is true why are so many Christians not doing this? Why haven’t you moved out/sold the cars/quit your jobs to do what Jesus has said? Oh yeah because everyone knows that God would not actually take care of us. **"

Maybe you should read the Bible and discover what it really says, instead of what you think it says.

You have taken one verse out of content and missed the point entirely. The Bible does not say we must sell everything and quit our jobs. I think Matthew quit his job, But Peter and Simon continued fishing for a living.

BTW,
I met a couple who sold all they had to go to South America as missionaries. They felt called to do so. There are people who sell all to follow Christ. When and if they return, they will come home with nothing but faith and the clothes on their backs. Then there are people who are directed to use what they have to help others and God blesses them with more riches to continue to help.

Ginger

 

[Huiou_Theou]

So is the Bible not lying here? I mean I pray every night for there to be a cure for cancer. And it says right here in the Bible that all I have to do is ask and I shall receive. So why has God not answered my prayers as he promised he would in the Bible?"

1. The passage is about what one asks for themselves – what God gives to YOU – see the second sentence of chapter 7.
2. The things which are spoken of are not defined in the part you quote – look before and after the passage – Don’t throw your pearls before swine – Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
3. The things spoken of have to do with the relationship and needs between people. The poor ask for food, and someone else feeds them – if one does not feed the poor, God will not poison them – but they may not be fed. (See Matthew 7:2 – the second sentence of the chapter.)
4. No one has the Father as theirs, unless they accept and do the will of the Father (which can be painful as Jesus proved.)

So, one has to ask rightly, with respect to how they themselves measure – and they must not be asking for something which is evil in any way (even if they measure wrongly).

One more thing. According to the Bible, we should sell all of our possessions and spend our lives helping the poor knowing that in doing this God will take care of us. If this is true why are so many Christians not doing this?"

Jesus says to Judas when he complained that the ointment a woman spilled on his feet could have been sold to feed the poor; that “the poor you will always have with you, but me you will not.” It is not every act which must be spent on the poor.
The rich man who Jesus tells to sell everything and follow him means as a disciple and priest – the highest calling for a person who has obeyed the law from his youth. It is not everyone’s calling to be a priest or religious – nor is Jesus walking the earth that one would need to sell their possessions so that they could physically follow him – so not everyone is expected to always sell everything since he is not here in that way.

Judge for yourself what is right and wrong; but do not judge whether someone else is less holy than you. You will be rewarded and accursed according to how you measure.

Peace.

 

[GaryCatholicDad]

I feel for your daughter. Children ask for such inconceivable things as having no pain and suffering/starvation and sadness in the world and it’s hard to watch them. Honestly I have a little thought, really nothing but… Isn’t praying kind of assuming that God might not of done the good your praying for without you wanting it? As if to say that you are responsible for the good or have a responsibility to pray all day for good to be done. If God is truly all good and all knowing, wouldn’t he know what good should be done? And do it whether you ask for it or not. What about the Divine Plan? Was his Divine Plan for you to beg all day? Well maybe, but idk how “divine” I would consider that.

 

[tnd]

From my walk with the Lord and understanding of scripture, that yes, we should pray, however, God answers one of three ways: yes, no or wait. No human being can fully comprehend the mind of an Almighty God per the following scripture: Isaiah 55:9"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Let me just give you a few examples, we all know the road to heaven is a very narrow road and the road to destruction is broad, Matthew 7:13. What if a pastor lives for the Lord many years and incrementally walks the ways of the world, loves money, divorces wife to commit adultery etc…, you get the point. What if, by the Grace of God, this man is on his death bed from cancer and realizes the great error in his ways and humbly repents of his mistakes, though he dies, he is welcomed into heaven. On the other hand, I cannot explain why a 3 or 4 year old dies from natural causes, but it was a small chapter of life that the Lord granted him or her and is welcomed into heaven.

I do know that, on the reverse side, I have prayed for a co-worker’s moms feet because she has a disease or ailment that makes it painful for her to walk. In my honest opinion, I believe the Lord will bring healing to her, but she holds unforgiveness and bitterness in her heart against someone she believe wronged her. Sometimes the physical issues we have with our body is because of spiritual laws being broken, but once forgiveness comes, so does healing.

To answer your other questions regarding the punishment or lack of punishment to murders or child molesters; Ezekiel 18:20 states: “The soul who sins is the one who will die,” also, 1 Corinth. 6:9-11 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
And as replied above, I do believe in the government authorities to put to jail those who have turned against the laws of man.

To answer your third question regarding blessings; what man perceives as blessings are different than what God considers blessings. So of the poorest countries in the world who know Jesus Christ are the most rich in spiritual blessings: peace, love, joy etc… However, in America those who have everything and are rich and the most spirtually bankrupt, they say, which is stated in Revelation 3:17-22 ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."
Also, as a follow up scripture in James 2:5 “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?

And the last part regarding selling one’s possession and spend our lives helping the poor; God does not instruct everyone to sell his possessions. The scripture you are referring to is in Matthew 16:19 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and 'love your neighbor as yourself." “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Scripture says we shall have no other idols, except to put the Lord first. This man went away sad because of his great wealth. Yes he may have obeyed the commandments, but ignored the most important, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest commandment.And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37). He idolized money and it was his God, just the same as if we have any idols and put before Him.

 

[TristanCross]

Matthew 7:7
"‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 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!’

When it says, “Ask, and it will be given you”, everyone likes to take it literally. Of course, God is not going to give you 30 virgins for your pleasure if you ask for it. The things you ask will be given to you if they are in accordance to God’s will.

God bless you.

In Jesus’ Precious Name,
Amen