Everybody, what is going on? You know what time it is. You're listening to join the Journey podcast

with your host, Emma, daughter. Thanks for joining. Ever wonder why it seems like God doesn't answer your prayers?

Me too. Today, we finished reading through the sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7. But more specifically,

I want to spend our time together on verses 7 through 11, because it kind of sounds like if we just ask God for something, we'll get what we want.

If we seek, we'll find what we're looking for, and if we knock, the door will be opened, right?

But that doesn't seem to match my experiences, and I'm guessing it doesn't match yours either.

Sometimes we ask God for things we don't get.

So what's Jesus talking about in Matthew 7?

Well, let's look at the context.

First, we want to look at the verses that come before this passage.

Jesus starts by talking about removing the speck

from your own eye. That means check yourself before you go around telling other people how they should

live their lives. Now, part of being a disciple means there's a call on your life to go and tell

others why and how they should live for Jesus. And we want to give admonition in a way that's as

winsome as possible so we

might win others to Christ and help our brothers and sisters in Christ look more like Jesus. If we get

rid of the speck in our own eyes, they'll see Jesus in us and probably be more receptive to whatever

admonition we might share with them. Getting rid of our own specs can only help our cause.

But we're looking at context, so let's keep moving. In verse six, Jesus says,

do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs. Otherwise, they will trample

them under your feet and turn around and tear you to pieces, which to me seemed kind of random. But the gist

is this. What is holy and refers to as the pearls likely represents the gospel, the good news,

...