The Father’s Attitude
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
Matthew 7:11 (CSB)
The Bible speaks to the attitude of love that extends from the Father to His children. When Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Mount, He mentions the attitude of the Father toward His children, which manifests itself as the expression of God’s goodness. The Father does not desire evil for His own but desires what is good for them.
An evil father gives his children good gifts. The use of evil identifies the unbelieving father and the believing father plagued by the flesh. The sinful nature is what the term evil is to identify. The point comes that one who is consumed by the world, one who is plagued by the threat of materialism, the one hindered by the ways of humanity provide good gifts for their children. This concept seems normal to a parent. Parents want to provide good things for their children. This becomes the basis for understanding how much greater the Lord desires to do the same in a greater manner.
How much more will the heavenly Father give good things to His children? Jesus wants to draw a comparison. He wants the audience to recognize that if this statement is understood by people who are sinful, then how much more true it is for the heavenly, holy, perfect Father? His desire to provide for His children comes from His attitude of compassion, care, and perfect love. He wants to bless His children and pour out great blessings upon them according to His will. The key to understanding this truth is to know that God blesses based in His perfect nature, knowledge, power, and will. Just because we asked doesn’t mean we receive, but when we ask in accordance and harmony with the Lord, then we have a wonderful giving Father ready to respond.
The use of this comparison is a normal use of first century literature that emphasizes the attitude of the Father. If the first statement is true about an earthly father plagued by sin, then how much better is the gifts of the good heavenly Father? The Father’s attitude shows His love, compassion, and care for His creation and children.
QUESTIONS
Can you describe a moment in your life when you experienced the fatherly attitude of God the Father?
How would you describe the fatherly attitude of the Father to someone who thinks God is uncompassionate and uncaring?
