Matthew - Concerns of the Kingdom

In today's study from Matthew 7:6-14, our Lord addresses false prophets, receiving good gifts, the golden rule, and the strait gate.

Concerns of the Kingdom

vv.6-14 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.  (7)  Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:  (8)  For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.  (9)  Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  (10)  Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?  (11)  If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?  (12)  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.  (13)  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Remember that this is a Jewish king telling his Jewish disciples about things concerning his kingdom, the kingdom of heaven, which was ultimately rejected, and is yet to be established one day upon his return. In these verses, he spoke to them about False prophets (6); Receiving good gifts (7-11); The golden rule (12); and the strait gate (13-14).

False Prophets (v.6)

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”

The lesson here is that in the kingdom of heaven the Lord’s people are pictured as holy and as pearls and they were not to be subverted by false prophets who were pictured as dogs and swine. These dogs and swine are those who proved to be hostile to the gospel.

The application for the church is that there are many today who are simply blinded by the truth and simplicity of the gospel, and will not respond to its presentation. Paul spoke of these in 2Co 4:4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” That does not mean that we should not share the gospel, but that we need to use discernment when doing so such as looking for prepared hearts.

Asking, Seeking, and Knocking (vv.7-11)

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

The point is that in the kingdom of heaven, good gifts come from the Father in the same way that we, as fathers, give our children what they need (and yet we are evil). Some would say that the pattern, asking, seeking, and knocking, speaks of a progression or intensity in our prayers. It is obvious from the Scriptures that God values persistence (Luk 18:1-6).

Our Lord says that it is to be done by asking, seeking, and knocking.

1. By asking - Actively asking God.

2. By seeking - Actively moving with purpose in that direction.

3. By knocking - Actively trying doors that you believe may be the Lord’s answer.

The lesson here is that if we being evil and know how to give good gifts, how much more will God give to us what we need.

The Golden Rule (v.12)

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

This is what we have come to call the Golden Rule today. It deals primarily with beneficial reciprocation. While I am sure that you have heard this quoted many times, we usually fail to quote the last part of the verse: “for this is the law and the prophets.”

Our Lord is simply saying that if we treated others like we want to be treated; we would, by default, by obeying the laws in regards to our relationships with others as mentioned in the law and the prophets (e.g., the Ten Commandments).

The Strait Gate (vv.13-14)

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

Of course, staying in context demands that the interpretation be that most do not keep the law and the prophets and treat others that they would like to be treated. And apparently, this can be said of the majority of people. Remember that the gospels is still Old Testament.

The lesson for you and I is that the majority is not always right. Historically, that is certainly the case. Pilate ruled by the mob, by the majority, and was wrong. Opinion polls, therefore, are not the way to run a country or our own personal lives.

Dr. Adrian Rodgers used to say, “I would rather be in the minority and be right, than in the majority and be wrong.” He also said that, “While Noah went into the ark in the minority; he came out in the majority.”

The wrong gate is wide and contrary to popular opinion, most people are going through that one. The right gate is strait and few are going into that one. Contrary to popular opinion, God is very exclusive as to who he will let into heaven. 

Joh 14:6 “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”