What does it mean that God gives good gifts (Matthew 7:11)?

If in verse 6 the ungodly are seen to be in no state to receive the things of God, for they do not ask; we, on the other hand, are encouraged to ask and receive. This dependent, concerned state of soul is that which the Father delights to answer. Each of these stages becomes more insistent, "ask," "seek" and "knock"' Such reality of exercise is precious to God, and there is no doubt of a favorable answer: "it shall be given," "ye shall find," "it shall be opened. Let us remember however that it is the "holy things" and "pearls" that are to be our prime desire.

Verse 8 insists that everyone who asks receives, etc. This is manifestly seen in the prospering of souls who are in earnest. The Lord does not say or infer that we shall get everything that our fleshly nature desires. James 4:3 effectively reproves that suggestion. Still, earthly fathers are concerned for their children's needs, usually. If a child asks bread, will he be given a stone? or if a fish, will he be given a serpent? No father is likely to be so callous as this. The stone is useless, but the serpent is dangerous. On the other hand, if a child asked for a serpent, what father would give it to him? Why would we ever think of asking for what is useless or harmful?

Though our own very nature is contaminated by sin, yet we know enough to give good things to our children. How much more should we expect our Father, who loves us perfectly and who knows perfectly what is good for us, to give good things to those who ask Him.

None of the disciples could know these things until their Lord and master had accomplished His work of redemption. The Lord mentions the evil of the human heart to stress the difference between the love of the kindest of human fathers and the perfect love of God. If even imperfect and naturally evil men like to fulfil requests of their children, how much more will God, the great giver, do so! Every good gift and every perfect gift comes from him, who gives liberally to all men and does not upbraid (James 1).

But if we are to be givers, we must first receive, and of this verses 7-11 speak. To receive we must draw near to God — asking, seeking, knocking. A response from our Father is certain. If we ask for necessary things we shall get them, for He will not give us instead something worthless like a stone, or injurious like a serpent. We may rest assured that He will give us "good things," for His Fatherhood is of heaven. His standard therefore will not fall below that of earthly fatherhood. We may apply Isaiah 55:9 to this, and say that as the heavens are higher than the earth so are His Fatherly thoughts higher than our thoughts. We of necessity cannot come up to His standard. Hence in verse 12 the Lord did not then demand of His disciples a standard above that set by the law and the prophets.

Verses 9-10: '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?' The Lord Jesus uses an illustration which everybody can understand. He speaks of the normal relation between a son and his father which is marked by love and confidence. The son is in trouble and asks his father for bread or a fish, that is things necessary for daily living. He does not demand as the son in Luke 15:12 did. Neither does he ask amiss, that is to fulfil his fleshly lusts (about which James 4:3 warns us). No, he asks his father trustingly and without doubting, for what he is really in need. The Lord teaches in such a way that the father's answer to the son's request is 'yes'. He will not disappoint his son's confidence by giving him a stone instead of a bread, neither will he endanger him by giving a serpent instead of a fish.

Verse 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?' This is the application of the illustration in regard to the relation between the disciples and God.

The Lord also encourages His disciples through the affection which is implanted in a parent's heart. If their Father makes His sun rise on evil and good, and sends rain on just and unjust, how does He feel toward His sons? His love surely goes out to them in every request that is for their good, and withholds only what their foolishness asked that must do them harm. Hence He says, Or what man of you, whom his son shall ask for a loaf, will he give him a stone? and if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? Who would not repudiate such mockery of a son's hunger? Thence He draws the conclusive words for their hearts, If ye then, being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father that is in the heavens give good things to those that ask Him?

(3) And now the heart of God is declared as the ready and bounteous Giver, whose fullness cannot be exhausted, whose word to His people ever is, "Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it." There is no limit except the limit that little faith may put, or the guard on God's side (which is not limit) that the gift be good. And the Lord double clasps His exhortations with assurances that every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." What a door is, in fact, opened for us here, and what possibility of blessing is here unfolded! How rich may we all be, if we only will be! and what free leave we have to covet the best things! And yet the apostle's words could find application in the fresh early days in which they were written: "Ye have not, because ye ask not; ye ask and have not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts!" (James 4:2-3). Think of such an answer to the royal invitation here! what must man's heart be, that can answer so?

The appeal is backed with persuasive argument derived from affection subsisting even in earthly relationships. If we call God Father, do we expect to find Him less than such a title implies, even among men? Is not this, in fact, however real, only a feeble suggestion of what God is as Father? It necessarily would be, even if men were unfallen; but "if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more" ― there, indeed, is a calculation for faith to make ― "how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good gifts to them that ask Him?"

If you have got worldly, or into a state of spiritual sleepiness — Christians are apt to get like that — it may be that some trouble comes; but you have got out of touch, out of communion with the Lord. What are you to do then "Ah! the only thing to do is to make confession on your knees before God. There must be that before anything else, and after that you can get the help you need. If there is nothing of that kind in the way you can come like a child to its father. "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?" If we think of the best of earthly parents, how much more should we think of "Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think!"

And first of all let us ask ourselves solemnly the question, Are we in the enjoyment of this precious relationship, formed by divine sovereign grace, of "sons of God"? It is this which the Spirit of God makes known to us, and gives us to realize; for it is by "the Spirit of His Son sent forth into our hearts that we cry, Abba, Father." If we are not habitually dealing with God as our Father, the state of our souls will be most seriously defective. We now know the Father, whose ways are always perfect as a Father toward us. If it be the place of a Father to care for, provide for, comfort, deliver, and bless His children, this He does perfectly for us; as our blessed Lord said: "If ye" (with all your love, forethought, diligence, and care) "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?" Do we know, I ask, the habit of taking every thing from our Father, and referring every thing to Him, being assured that "A father's hand will never cause His child a needless tear"? Surely the divine love that has thus called us into this near relationship would have us practically enter upon it and enjoy it; for what can so encourage our hearts in time of difficulty, comfort us in sorrow, or enable us to rest in the day of adversity, like the sense of the loving and true God being our Father. This, too, will always warrant our expectation from Him; for "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

And this is what man needs. He must have a new fountain of life within. And every one that asks receives. I do not say that a man knows what to ask for. Most of us have turned to God, and have cried for mercy, and for forgiveness of sins. But God does not confine Himself to our requests. He gives what He sees we need. He gives according to His wisdom, and according to the love of His heart. In Luke 11 we read, "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?" There is affection enough in the heart of man to cause him to respond to the cry of need from the lips of a child; but there is more than affection needed, there is wisdom required, so that a good gift may be given. Parents do not always give everything their children may ask. They are not inattentive to their requests, but they study what will be suitable and good to give. So the Lord adds, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God." One believing is a different creature from what he was before. When you believe, there is the witness of your own spirit that you are changed. But the matter is of such supreme importance that it is not enough to have that witness, therefore "the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit." He gives and maintains in us the sense of this relationship into which we have been brought; that we are in very deed and truth children of God. He is our Father, loving us and caring for us. Many people have never got beyond "Almighty God." That was very comforting to Abraham, but we are brought into the family of God. A young convert may be very ignorant of the truth, but in his simplicity he very soon cries, "Abba, Father." And this is very beautiful. Somehow he naturally addresses the Father; it is the Spirit leading him unconsciously. Nothing delights Him more than for us to fully believe that He is our Father. And so "the Spirit beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God." Do we really believe that tonight? Everyone must see that if this is true there is in it an unmeasurable amount of blessing. Children of God. We have received this witness of the Spirit teaching and enabling us to cry, "Abba, Father." The love of God flows to us in all this, and should be enjoyed by us. What a claim this gives us, you see, upon His love, His care, His watchful eye. "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." Good things! all manner of good things! God will never give a bad thing to one of His children, you may rely upon that. Always good. Alas! how often we allow unbelief to keep us from opening our mouths wide to Him. It is "a supreme privilege to be allowed to come to Him as our Father with our wants.