January 16, 2020 - There is a section from chapter 7 of the Gospel of Matthew that I would like you think to about this morning. You might notice that verses 7-11 are often lumped together in our Bible translations. You might also know that verse 7 is one of the more popular proposed proof texts for what is known as prosperity gospel. I mean if we isolate this verse by itself one can see that being a valid interpretation, but this verse is not isolated, and it is not by itself. One must read this with the previous verses in mind and then you’ll see that this certainly ties in with the Sermon on the Mount.
By the time we get to this verse we have been struck by the Law of God and have been told by Christ how much we have broken it. We judge with logs in our eyes, we sometimes pray in public to get the attention of others around us, we lust, and so on. We are shown that we are sinners in need of someone who has truly fulfilled the Law, Jesus Christ. We understand this but yet we still struggle. Even a single bend to the plan we ourselves have laid out to get our daily bread can drive us mad.
Christ does not point to ourselves as the primary solution but points to our heavenly father and tells us to ask. He shall give us our daily needs, he will help us with our lust, he will help us with our anger, he will help us with our unrighteous anger. Christians, our heavenly father gives good things to those who ask him. The chief gift being the blood of the lamb slain for us, Jesus Christ, who through him we are forgiven.
Wynter is an Elder at Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church. Find out more at MariposaChurch.org or email him at wynter@mariposachurch.org. Visit Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church on Facebook.
Pastor’s Corner is a column from Pastor Wynter Sturtevant III of the Mariposa Reformed Baptist Church.
The Church has moved locations, services are now held at the Bootjack Stompers Hall (located at 4662 Morman Bar Crossing) across from the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.
Time of service is still 10:00 A.M. on Sunday.
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