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Explanation for:
Matthew
7
:
9
Or what man is there among you, of whom if his son shall ask bread, will he reach him a stone?
13
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{"arr":[{"author-name":"Jerome of Stridon","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88dcd3432c6dd41375498_Jerome%20of%20Stridon.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"He who once prohibited the pursuit of worldly desires now directs us toward what we should earnestly desire. For if it is true that to the one who asks will be given, and to the one who seeks will find, and to the one who knocks will have the door opened, then the individual who does not receive, does not find, and does not have revealed to them is the one who does not ask, seek, and knock as they ought to. Therefore, they will be brought to the threshold of Christ, concerning whom it is said, Behold the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter in (Psalm 117:20). When we pass through this gate, the hidden riches found in Christ Jesus, in whom is all wisdom, will be made known to us."},{"author-name":"John Chrysostom","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88ea76859f9f8e2ffd3ee_John%20Chrysostom.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":4,"exegesis-text":"If you frequently perform this act in front of others, you may come across as stern and harsh; however, you anger God more by neglecting to do it. If you persistently seek His assistance, you will undoubtedly obtain what you desire, even if it may not arrive promptly. The reason the door remains shut is to encourage your perseverance; the reason He doesn't respond to your plea right away is to motivate you to persist. Therefore, keep asking, and you will certainly receive. In case you wonder, \\"What if I ask and do not receive?\\" - the Savior provides you with a parable and offers further assurances through relatable human examples, guiding you toward the hope of receiving, demonstrating through this teaching not just what you should request, but also why. Among you, who is a father that, when his child requests bread, would offer him a stone instead? If you find yourself not receiving, it may be because you are asking for something unsuitable. Being a child does not guarantee that you will receive; in fact, asking for inappropriate things may hinder your chances of receiving. Instead, direct your requests toward spiritual matters, and you will certainly find success. Consider Solomon, who, when he sought what was rightfully his, received it swiftly. Thus, there are two principles for those who pray: first, ask with sincerity; second, seek what is justly yours. The Savior notes that you, as fathers, anticipate your children's petitions; you deny them inessential requests but grant them when they seek what is beneficial. Therefore, when you bring forth your supplications, do not leave until you have received what you seek; do not depart until you have found what you need. Do not delay your efforts until the door is opened. If you approach with the conviction, \\"I will not relent until I receive,\\" you are assured to obtain what you ask, provided that it is appropriate for Him to give. What is that? It is to seek all spiritual gifts, to ask for the forgiveness of our sins, and to extend that forgiveness to others while raising pure hands free from anger and doubt (1 Tim. 2:8). If you ask in this manner, you will receive. Yet, sometimes our requests seem trivial, more aligned with those who are inebriated rather than sober. You may question why your requests for spiritual matters are not granted. It might be that you either do not knock with earnestness, have rendered yourself unworthy of what you ask, or have given up asking too soon. You may ask, \\"Why did the Savior not specify what we should request?\\" However, He has previously addressed everything and explained why one should approach God. Therefore, do not claim, \\"I came and did not receive.\\" You will never be denied by God, who loves you far beyond the affection of any earthly father, as His goodness greatly surpasses all that is evil."},{"author-name":"Augustine of Hippo","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88950a5c988a4fc06c7ae_Augustine%20of%20Hippo.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":5,"exegesis-text":"If you, despite your sinful nature, are able to provide good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father generously bestow blessings upon those who seek His assistance. However, how do the wicked perform righteous acts? Christ referred to the wicked as those engrossed in worldly affairs and as sinners. The benevolent actions they undertake, viewed through their perspective, may be considered good since they perform them with good intentions. Yet, these acts, while beneficial in essence, are fleeting and tied to our frail existence. Anyone who is wicked and gives such gifts does not do so from their own merit; for the Lord owns the earth and everything in it, the Creator of heaven, earth, the sea, and all that dwells in them. Thus, we have strong confidence that God will grant us the blessings we request, and He cannot mislead us by providing something different when we seek His help. Although we may be flawed, we have faith that He will fulfill our requests. After all, we do not deceive our children, and any good we share is not really ours but a reflection of God’s grace."},{"author-name":"Theophylact of Bulgaria","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8989296bafed9104677d7_Theophylact%20of%20Bulgaria.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":11,"exegesis-text":"In this passage, the Lord instructs us to seek beneficial gifts. He observes that parents respond to their children's requests for practical needs, like bread and fish, and similarly, we should pursue spiritual rather than earthly desires."},{"author-name":"Euthymios Zigabenos","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":11,"exegesis-text":"Once more, he draws upon a reality of human existence, using an illustration to encourage the listener to have faith in his words. The one who requests must be a child, seeking what is fitting for a father to bestow and for a child to accept."},{"author-name":"Dimitri of Rostov","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88b083687b06aec81fcf3_Dimitri%20of%20Rostov.png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":17,"exegesis-text":"\\"Who among you, He inquired, would give his son a stone when he asks for bread? Or if he requests a fish, would he offer him a snake? If you, being sinful, can provide good gifts for your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?\\" (Matthew 7:9-11). This illustrates how He persuades and reassures us through comparisons and His divine benevolence. Here, He describes a father approached by his children, highlighting the profound nature of prayer. To further emphasize its significance, He mentions a certain judge who is unyielding and lacks the fear of God or regard for people; even if He had introduced a compassionate judge, it would have still demonstrated the effectiveness of prayer. For God’s compassion is incomparably greater than that of the most benevolent human being. Yet, He illustrates His point with an unfeeling judge, who was impervious to mercy, neither moved by reverence for God nor by respect for humanity, but eventually was swayed by the persistent cries of a widow seeking justice. When she approached him and implored him to grant her reprisal, the unjust judge eventually remarked: \\"Though I do not fear God, nor regard man, yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her\\" (Luke 18:4, 5). What more can we infer about God, who is endlessly merciful and ready to show compassion, always encouraging us to come to Him in prayer? \\"Listen,\\" proclaims the Lord, \\"to what the unjust judge says. Will God not bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you that He will see that they get justice, and quickly\\" (Luke 18:6-8). \\"Prayer possesses a power that transcends the natural order,\\" John Chrysostom asserts. Prayer, devoid of weaponry, triumphs over both seen and unseen adversaries. It can even restrain the hand of the Almighty, who might otherwise bring judgment upon sinners. Through prayer, chains were loosed from the holy Apostle Peter, and the prison doors were flung open, guiding him safely past all the guards, as noted by St. Luke. By prayer, the feet of St. Paul were freed from shackles, and the prison's inner door pulled open: \\"At midnight, Paul and Silas prayed, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed\\" (Acts 16:25, 26). \\n\\nThrough prayer, Joshua commanded the sun to stay in its course as the men of Israel conquered their foes with God's assistance, who listened to human pleas. By prayer, King Hezekiah reversed the sun's path ten degrees. Elijah, through prayer, sealed the heavens and later opened them again, and brought fire down from heaven upon the altar. Through prayer, the three young men remained unharmed amid the flames. The Israelites triumphed over formidable foes like the Canaanites, Hittites, and others, not primarily through weapons—which they lacked when they left Egypt—but through prayer: \\"When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed\\" (Exodus 17:11). David defeated the mighty Goliath and other adversaries \\"through prayer, not any other instrument,\\" as St. Chrysostom explains. The walls of Jericho fell during Joshua's time \\"when the priests sounded the trumpets... and the people shouted with a great shout, and the walls fell down flat\\" (Hebrews 11:30). \\n\\nPrayer serves as both a shield and a weapon in spiritual warfare. It strengthens the weak against the strong and empowers those frail in spirit against the brave, as exemplified by Judith; she entered enemy lines unarmed, and three days later, emboldened by prayer, decapitated Holofernes with his own sword. Deborah commanded the forces against the Midianites, and Jael slayed the commander Sisera. Who can fully convey the might and impact of sincere prayer against tangible foes? Such a discussion requires more than a single day. The spiritually unseen enemies that torment our souls are even more formidable but can also be vanquished through prayer, as our Savior affirmed: \\"This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting\\" (Matthew 17:21). By this, He indicated that this particular adversary cannot be conquered by any other means than through earnest prayer and fasting. \\n\\nTo illustrate the strength of prayer further, it not only surpasses the laws of nature and serves as an indomitable shield against both visible and invisible foes but also restrains the hand of God, poised to enact judgment. It may be challenging to accept this notion, yet such occurrences are chronicled in the Holy Scriptures. When Israel turned away from God to worship a golden calf, provoking His wrath, Moses humbled himself before God and prayed for the people’s forgiveness. What followed? By his prayers, Moses halted God's mighty hand, which was lifted in judgment, ready to unleash calamity upon the disobedient. God intended to strike but could not because Moses’ intercession stayed His wrath. Thus, the Lord commanded Moses to cease praying, saying, \\"Let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them, and I may consume them\\" (Exodus 32:10). Herein lies the potency of prayer: it can temper and even redirect the fury of the Almighty, shielding us from His wrath. Some might question why, if prayer carries such power, not everyone receives what they ask for. St. James addresses this by stating, \\"You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives\\" (James 4:3). To receive, one must request appropriately. When requests go ungranted, the issue lies not with prayer itself but with the one praying. Just as a poor sailor who lacks skill may fail to navigate a vessel safely, it is not the ship's fault but the sailor's inexperience. Similarly, when a petitioner fails to receive their desires, prayer is not at fault but rather their manner of supplication. Only those who are willingly wicked and refuse to change, or who ask for something harmful, or who may ask for something good but do so improperly can expect to go unanswered.\\n\\nThose ensnared in their wrongdoing cannot successfully plead with God. Of Antiochus, the persecutor of God’s people, it is written, \\"He prayed to the Lord to grant him mercy\\" (2 Maccabees 9:13). St. Paul advises us to lift our hands cleanly in prayer; they should be free from guilt and untainted by theft or sin, washed in repentance. \\"I desire that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting\\" (1 Tim. 2:8). Some do not receive what they seek because they are unclear about their requests, as were the sons of Zebedee. The Lord does not grant such requests for their own good, just as a wise father would not hand a knife to an untrained child at their request. The 'ill-conceived seekers' are those who pray in a hypocritical manner or with a careless heart, distracted by earthly affairs. Additionally, there are those who engage in idle chatter instead of praying, who mock others, and thereby spare themselves the discipline of prayer, making their actions a sin instead. True prayer is powerful, but only when it is sincere and well-directed. \\n\\nWhat constitutes effective prayer? A comprehensive discourse would require more time; hence, I will summarize key points. The prayer of one who obeys the Lord reaches God’s ears and is pleasing to Him. Those who heed and fulfill His will, as Christ Himself stated: \\"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of My Father in heaven\\" (Matthew 7:21), are promised responsive ears from the Lord. The prayer of the humble ascends to great heights, \\"The prayer of the humble pierces the clouds\\" (Sir. 35:17). Take, for instance, the prayer of the modest tax collector who exclaimed, \\"God, be merciful to me, a sinner\\" (Luke 18:13), and the repentance of Manasseh, king of Jerusalem. The virtues, particularly humility, obedience, and charity, are the wings upon which prayer rises to the Most High. The Archangel Raphael conveyed to Tobiah: \\"Prayer is good with fasting and almsgiving, and better than to lay up treasures of gold\\" (Tobit 12:8). Just as in all things virtuous, the essence of prayer relies on earnest effort and fervor: \\"The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective\\" (James 5:16). \\n\\nOur Savior's exhortation stands: \\"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.\\" For instance, a poor man might plead beneath a window; if unanswered, he finds other ways to make himself heard, seeking crevices that allow his voice to reach the homeowner. If that fails, he approaches the door and knocks, rousing the homeowner to respond to his plea. The individual praying to God should adopt a similar approach—asking with fervor and zeal through faith, seeking through hope, and knocking through love. All ought to petition fervently, seek righteousness, and knock diligently. St. John of the Ladder advises: \\"Ask with tears, seek in obedience, knock with patience.\\" \\n\\nMoreover, one might wonder when the timing for prayer is most appropriate. The Divine Paul provides guidance: \\"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints\\" (Eph. 6:18). Continuous prayer is essential, particularly in difficult times or pressing circumstances, such as during warfare, when strength, courage, and protection are desperately needed. Where else can we turn for these necessities but to God, the Lord of hosts? Prayer is our lifeline in such moments. When the Israelites faced the Amalekites, Moses ascended the mountain to pray. Likewise, those in arms should join in prayer, for their weapons gain strength through prayer, empowering them against their foes. All should raise their sacred hands in supplication to ensure victory over the unjust forces in conflict. \\n\\nYou, faithful listeners, should \\"ask, and it will be given to you,\\" storm heaven with your prayers, that the gates to your inheritance may swing open. Brave men sweat on your behalf, and if divinely willed, are prepared to lay down their lives; however, our role is to shed tears that the Lord might turn the weaponry of our enemies against them. The widow sought justice from the unyielding judge who feared neither God nor man, and who ultimately avenged her. You, O Orthodox Russia, who have long endured offenses from your foes, prostrate yourselves in tears before the merciful and just Judge who will bring you justice. You have already witnessed His mercy and righteousness; now come to Him earnestly with your supplications, and He will respond, filling you with immense joy. For He declares, \\"Listen to what the unjust judge says. Will God not bring justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you that He will see that they get justice and quickly\\" (Luke 18:6-8). \\n\\nAs the clouds and thunder we observe emerge from natural processes recognized by science, if we desire the Lord to \\"shout from heaven,\\" if we seek His swift intervention against our enemies, we must ourselves release tears of contrition and supplication. These tears ascend not to the ground but towards the heavens, as David articulated: \\"You put my tears into Your bottle\\" (Psalm 56:8). From such tears, thunder and lightning will strike down upon our adversaries and throw them into disarray. As cannon fire resonates on earth, the heavens will respond with thunder, confounding our enemies. \\"Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it will be opened unto you.\\" Amen."},{"author-name":"Abbot Panteleimon about the Trinity","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"If you find my statements hard to accept, consider this illustration: Is there any parent among you who, when their child requests bread, would give them a stone that looks like bread instead?"},{"author-name":"Gladkow B.I.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c88bf0ceef8c96e09a6521_Gladkow%20B.I..png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"Ask, and it will be given to you. With this final instruction, Jesus concluded His teaching on how to attain the kingdom of heaven. Many of those listening may have struggled to accept everything He had said or felt overwhelmed by the burden He placed upon them. Shortly thereafter, His disciples openly questioned, “Who then can be saved?” (Matthew 19:25). On another occasion, Jesus clarified that the yoke He offers to those desiring salvation is good and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). Now, wrapping up His Sermon on the Mount, He urged His listeners to be steadfast in their pursuit of His intended purpose: Seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7). Yet, in this diligent quest for the Kingdom of Heaven, it is essential to remember that it cannot be achieved through your own strength alone; thus, pray, ask, and it will be granted to you. As one who diligently seeks always finds, and he who knocks persistently will have the door opened, likewise, those who ask continuously will receive.\\n\\nIs there anyone among you who, when his son requests bread, would instead give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, would offer a snake? If you, being flawed, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father provide good things to those who ask Him? Many complain against God when they do not receive immediately what they request, leading some to despair or, even worse, to unbelief. “If you do not receive right away,” Chrysostom notes, “then do not lose hope. Christ urged to knock to illustrate that if the door does not open quickly, patience is required.” If you persistently ask God, you will eventually receive what you seek, albeit perhaps not immediately. The very reason the door is closed is to encourage you to press on; hence it does not respond to your call at once. So continue to ask, and you shall assuredly receive. \\n\\nBut what if you ask and do not receive? To address this concern, the Savior provides a parable to clarify not just what you should ask for, but also how to ask. Is there any man among you who would give his son a stone when he requests bread? Therefore, if you do not receive, it may be that you are asking for a stone. Being a son does not automatically mean you will receive; in fact, asking for unworthy things may hinder your request. Seek not worldly desires but all things spiritual, and you will undoubtedly receive. \\n\\nIf you find yourself thinking, “Why do I not receive even when I seek spiritual gifts?” you may either be knocking inconsistently, deeming yourself unworthy of what you ask, or perhaps you have ceased to ask altogether. But you may wonder why the Savior didn’t explicitly state what should be requested. He has already provided guidance (St. John Chrysostom, Conversations on the Gospel of Matthew, 23). He instructed: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33). Is it truly essential to regard all earthly matters as inappropriate requests we should refrain from making to our Heavenly Father? Did not Christ Himself teach us to pray for our daily bread? This daily sustenance encompasses all that is vital for the preservation of life, leading to the question of why we should not petition for such needs. Jesus Christ prayed for healing from physical ailments and restored health to those suffering, revealing that it is indeed possible to ask for well-being and relief from illness. Since physical health is crucial for life, akin to food, drink, clothing, and shelter, it is fitting to acknowledge that Christ did not prohibit asking God for necessary earthly blessings. However, in His admonition to “Ask and it shall be given unto you,” He primarily calls us toward requests that foster eternal life. Through this encouragement, He promised His disciples and listeners divine assistance in fulfilling His commandments and bearing the yoke He set before them. Ultimately, this yoke may not be as burdensome as it appears at first glance. All of Christ's commands and His yoke are encapsulated in His poignant conclusion: “In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you.”"},{"author-name":"Michail (Lusin)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c89550c567e172d15b3055_Michail%20(Lusin).png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The Lord does not always fulfill the requests made by individuals, even when those requests are presented with faith and sincerity. This indicates that we may not be seeking what aligns with God’s divine plan for us. While the Lord may not grant every desire we express, He provides what is genuinely needed and what is ultimately for our benefit. The Lord, in His infinite goodness and mercy, bestows upon humanity only that which is good and never the harmful, especially when we seek what is truly valuable and beneficial. The Savior illustrates this principle through the analogy of a father responding to his child’s needs. A loving father would not respond to his son’s request for something essential with something harmful; for instance, he would not offer a stone when bread is sought, nor a serpent in place of a fish. (The stone and bread and the serpent and fish serve as metaphors, highlighting their superficial resemblance yet their opposing natures in terms of nourishment for humanity.) Similarly, God does not grant requests that would lead to harm, even if they appear to be beneficial on the surface. Rather, He provides only that which is truly advantageous; when He does not fulfill a request, it is an indication that it is not ultimately good for us."},{"author-name":"Philaret (Amphiteatrov)","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c896e9b7a2ebaf99e4620a_Philaret%20(Amphiteatrov).png","category":"Holy Fathers and Teachers","century":19,"exegesis-text":"The love that the heavenly Father has for humanity is so profoundly vast that even the deepest affections of earthly fathers for their children pale in comparison, akin to a single drop in an immense ocean. If earthly fathers, guided by this modest love, refrain from providing their children with a stone when they seek bread, or offer them a serpent in place of a fish, can we truly think that the heavenly Father would deny His children a request that is genuinely beneficial? His refusal only arises when we either do not sincerely seek or when the requests are deemed harmful by His all-knowing wisdom. Thus, even His refusals stem from His paternal love for us. The Saviour sought to instill in the hearts of believers this pure, holy, and wise love of the heavenly Father, connecting it to the essential and universal principle of loving our neighbors (see Matthew 7:12)."},{"author-name":"Paul Matwejewski","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8969f5be0d592d5a10576_Paul%20Matwejewski.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In the pursuit of high moral standards for the members of His kingdom, Christ the Savior called for patience and steadfastness along the chosen path of salvation. Along this journey to heaven, many dangers and temptations arise to obstruct progress, but the Lord provided His followers with the means to triumph over such obstacles through dedicated and persistent prayer to the heavenly Father, who generously grants grace to those who seek His assistance. He also encouraged His followers to strive tirelessly and zealously toward the ultimate goal—the Kingdom of Heaven—not to be swayed by the enticing words of false prophets, but rather to actively embody the teachings He shared in their lives. \\n\\n“Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you: for everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Through these illustrations drawn from daily life, Jesus illustrated the necessity of constant prayer to God, the source of all goodness. Although the All-Knowing One is aware of our needs even before we articulate them, and in His grace is eager to provide for us, our heartfelt and humble prayers serve as expressions of our faith and love for Him. As St. Philaret of Moscow observed, “he who does not ask grace from God cannot receive it, as his heart is closed.” St. John Chrysostom further explained that if some petitions go unanswered, it may be due to the request for things that lack value; in such cases, being unheard is preferable to being granted the request, as we may derive benefit from not receiving what we desired.\\n\\nJesus made it clear that this is akin to a father responding to his child's requests: “Or which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?” Following this, pointing out the distinction between human love and His divine goodness, the Lord stated: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father, who knows when to give and what to give, give good things to those who ask Him?”"},{"author-name":"Bogolepow D.P.","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c96d263b8c22d9c467bdab_no-pic-theosis.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In the teachings commencing at 7:7, it is clear that they do not contradict the principles and practices of the Pharisees, as illustrated in the prior teachings. Nevertheless, certain subjects, like prayer and the love of one's neighbor, revisit topics previously addressed. Therefore, everything from 7:7 onward may be viewed as concluding directives that serve as guidance on how to attain the truth and the moral excellence that Christ expects from His disciples. This entails, above all, a deepened commitment to prayer in the certain knowledge that our infinitely benevolent God will respond to our requests in His perfect timing. \\n\\nAs noted, Christ says, 'All the more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask Him' (11:13). In the account according to Luke (11:13), it is stated that He will give the Holy Spirit to those who seek Him. Among the numerous blessings that the heavenly Father bestows upon those who have faith in Christ, the promise of the Holy Spirit stands out as the most significant, for its presence guarantees the provision of all other blessings."},{"author-name":"Alexander Gorsky","author-image":"https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6864003fdf3714da6ff0b33a/68c8884037c1e1c51e1332e2_Alexander%20Gorsky.png","category":"Christian Authors","century":19,"exegesis-text":"In summary, the Lord instructed that in all circumstances, we should consistently seek God through prayer. In our interactions with others, we must adhere to the principle that our love for our neighbors should be as strong as our love for ourselves. We are to continually learn to walk the narrow path and remain vigilant against false teachers while putting into practice what we have been taught. By establishing these guiding principles for His followers, the Lord highlighted the crucial differences between their righteousness and that of the Pharisees, thereby laying a solid groundwork for the spiritual formation of His chosen community. These teachings were not only intended for a specific time or group of individuals; rather, they were meant to act as a law and guide for all of His followers, grounded in the eternal truths of Divine holiness and the essential moral principles embedded in human nature by the Creator. \\n\\nThe chosen ones had not received formal instruction elsewhere, with the exception of a few, like Andrew and John, who had spent time with John the Baptist. The Lord selected those who demonstrated their love and trust in Him, pure-hearted as children and untainted by false notions of enlightenment. He personally educated them, teaching both through His words and actions—alone and among the people, in homes and on journeys, on land and at sea. The complexities that baffled others, He clarified for them. They were constant witnesses to His life and miracles; gradually, He addressed their ingrained biases from Jewish teachings. While He did not eliminate every misunderstanding, He transformed those experiences into lessons. He encouraged them to engage in discussions about familiar subjects, all the while showing that He was aware of their private conversations and the hidden thoughts of humanity. He guided their emotional responses, aligning them with their responsibilities. In essence, He refined and illuminated their minds and hearts, preparing them for the complete outpouring of the Spirit of truth and sanctification. Initially, they related to the Lord as disciples, but by the culmination of His mission, He referred to them as friends (Jn. 15:14-15), having revealed everything to them, and ultimately as brothers."}]}
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