| Matthew 7:11 | |
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← 7:10 7:12 → | |
 "The Sermon of Jesus on the mount". Fresco by Franz Xaver Kirchebner in the Parish church of St. Ulrich in Gröden-it:Ortisei (late 18th century). | |
| Book | Gospel of Matthew |
| Christian Bible part | New Testament |
Matthew 7:11 is the eleventh verse of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse summarizes the preceding metaphors in favour of prayer.
In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
The World English Bible translates the passage as:
The Novum Testamentum Graece text is:
For a collection of other versions see BibleHub Matthew 7:11
The previous two verses presented a pair of observations which showed how a human father would not callously mistreat his own child. This verse extends the same observations to God's response to prayer. If a flawed human father looks out for his own child, then there is no reason to doubt that the perfectly good God will not have the best interest of his followers in heart.
According to this verse, Jesus calls his hearers Greek : Πονηροὶ, poneroi, "evil". Jesus was here speaking to his disciples, and others who had chosen to follow him, far from the most reprehensible part of society. The text is unambiguous, the word here translated as evil is the same one routinely used to describe Satan himself. Heinrich Meyer suggests that the meaning is that his hearers, "as compared with God, are morally evil". [1] and Harold Fowler also suggests that Jesus might simply mean that all humans are evil when compared to the perfection of God. [2]
Jesus here presents no arguments for man's evil nature: he appears to take it as a "given". This is true throughout the New Testament, the essentially evil nature of humanity is simply assumed. Theologian Eduard Schweizer notes that this passage is somewhat hopeful, as even the inherently evil man will in some situations almost always do good. [3]
God will give good things to those who ask him. In Luke's Gospel, the parallel text has God giving the Holy Spirit to those who ask, [4] but David Hill suggests that Matthew's wording is likely to have been closer to the original. [5] The reference to good things might be linked to the idea that God will only give good gifts, that if you ask for something that will end up harming you God will not provide it. Ulrich Luz disagrees with this view, and argues that this reading would contradict the thrust of this group of verses. [6]
Chrysostom: This He said not detracting from human nature, nor confessing the whole human race to be evil; but He calls paternal love evil when compared with His own goodness. Such is the superabundance of His love towards men. [7]
Pseudo-Chrysostom: Because in comparison of God who is preeminently good, all men seem to be evil, as all light shows dark when compared with the sun. [7]
Jerome: Or perhaps he called the Apostles evil, in their person condemning the whole human race, whose heart is set to evil from his infancy, as we read in Genesis. Nor is it any wonder that He should call this generation evil, (Gen. 8:22.) as the Apostle also speaks, Seeing the days are evil. [7]
Augustine: Or; He calls evil (Eph. 5:16.) those who are lovers of this age; whence also the good things which they give are to be called good according to their sense who esteem them as good; nay, even in the nature of things they are goods, that is, temporal goods, and such as pertain to this weak life. [7]
Augustine: For that good thing which makes men good is God. Gold and silver are good things not as making you good, but as with them you may do good. If then we be evil, yet as having a Father who is good let us not remain ever evil. [7]
Augustine: If then we being evil, know how to give that which is asked of us, how much more is it to be hoped that God will give us good things when we ask Him? [7]
Pseudo-Chrysostom: He says good things, because God does not give all things to them that ask Him, but only good things. [7]
Glossa Ordinaria: For from God we receive only such things as are good, of what kind soever they may seem to us when we receive them; for all things work together for good to His beloved. [7]
Saint Remigius: And be it known that where Matthew says, He shall give good things, Luke has, shall give his Holy Spirit. (Luke 11:13.) But this ought not to seem contrary, because all the good things which man receives from God, are given by the grace of the Holy Spirit. [7]
Matthew 6:9 is the ninth verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse is the opening of the Lord's Prayer, one of the best known parts of the entire New Testament.
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Matthew 5:11 is the eleventh verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. It is the ninth verse of the Sermon on the Mount. Some consider this verse to be the beginning of the last Beatitude, but most disagree. They see it as more of an expansion on the eighth and final Beatitude in the previous verse.
Matthew 5:12 is the twelfth verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. It is the tenth verse of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse is generally seen as part of an expansion of the eight Beatitude, others see it as the second half of the ninth Beatitude, a small group feel it is the tenth Beatitude and thus brings to a close a second Decalogue.
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Matthew 5:45 is the forty-fifth verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This is the third verse of the final antithesis, that on the commandment: "Love thy neighbour as thyself". Jesus here explains why one must love one's enemies.
Matthew 6:1 is the first verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse begins the discussion of how even good deeds can be done for the wrong reasons.
Matthew 6:5 is the fifth verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse opens discussion on the proper procedure for praying.
Matthew 6:8 is the eighth verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse continues the discussion on the proper procedure for praying.
Matthew 6:14–15 are the fourteenth and fifteenth verses of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. These verses come just after the Lord's Prayer and explain one of the statements in that prayer.
Matthew 6:25 is the twenty-fifth verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse shifts the discussion from one of money to one of worry.
Matthew 6:31 and Matthew 6:32 are the thirty-first and thirty-second verses of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse continues the discussion of worry about material provisions.
Matthew 6:33 is the thirty-third verse of the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse continues the discussion of worry about material provisions.
Matthew 7:6 is the sixth verse of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount.
Matthew 7:7–8 are the seventh and eighth verses of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. These verses begin an important metaphor generally believed to be about prayer.
Matthew 7:9 is the ninth verse of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse presents the first of a pair of metaphors explaining the benefits of prayer.
Matthew 7:12 is the twelfth verse of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This well known verse presents what has become known as the Golden Rule.
Matthew 7:21 is the twenty-first verse of the seventh chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount. This verse continues Jesus' warning against false prophets.
Matthew 8:10 is the tenth verse of the eighth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. This verse continues the miracle story of healing the centurion's servant, the second of a series of miracles in Matthew.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.| Preceded by Matthew 7:10 | Gospel of Matthew Chapter 7 | Succeeded by Matthew 7:12 |
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