Jesus’ Answer to Man’s Problem Understanding the Old Testament
Matthew 7:7-12
Matthew 7:7–12 (NLT): 7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
12 “Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
- Ask, Seek, Knock: These three commands show an ongoing, active pursuit of God. “Ask” brings our needs before Him. “Seek” looks for His will. “Knock” expresses persevering faith that keeps moving toward His presence.
- The Loving Father: Jesus compares God’s generosity with the care of earthly parents. Though imperfect, parents still know how to give what is good rather than harmful—bread instead of a stone, fish instead of a snake. How much more will our perfectly loving heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?
- The Golden Rule: Jesus sums up the heart of the Old Testament—“the Law and the Prophets”—with one active principle: treat others as you want to be treated. He calls His followers beyond avoiding harm to practicing intentional, selfless love.
Old Testament Foundation: The closest Old Testament basis for the Golden Rule is Leviticus 19:18: “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jesus’ Expansion: Leviticus 19 first emphasized faithful love within Israel’s covenant community, including Israelites and resident foreigners. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus extends this command into active love for all people—even enemies.
The “Silver Rule” in Jewish Tradition: Between the Old Testament and the coming of Jesus, Jewish writings and rabbinic teaching often expressed biblical ethics negatively: do not do to others what you would not want done to you. This is often called the “Silver Rule.”[1]
Example from Tobit: The intertestamental Book of Tobit states the principle clearly: “What you hate, do not do to anyone” (Tobit 4:15).
Example from Rabbi Hillel: Rabbi Hillel, a highly respected Jewish teacher near the time of Jesus, gave a similar summary: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor; that is the whole Torah, while the rest is commentary.”[2]
Jesus’ Positive Command: Jesus raises the standard by changing the negative prohibition into a positive command. The negative rule can be obeyed by avoiding harm; Jesus’ Golden Rule calls us to seek ways to do good, serve others, and show them the care we desire for ourselves.
[1] Neusner, Jacob. The Golden Rule and the Silver Rule: Ethics of Reciprocity in Judaism and Christianity.
[2] The Babylonian Talmud (Talmud Bavli), Shabbat 31a: This serves as the foundational text. The passage details three potential converts who challenge the prominent rabbinic sages Shammai and Hillel. When asked by a Gentile to be taught the entire Torah while standing on one foot, Hillel responds in Aramaic: “דעלך סני לחברך לא תעביד — זו היא כל התורה כולה, ואידך פירושה הוא, זיל גמור”. This translates to: “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. That is the whole Torah; the rest is commentary. Go and study”.