“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” -Matthew 7:11
No, the Lord Jesus is not talking to or about Barabbas (“a notable prisoner”, murderer) but to and about his disciples (see Matthew 5:1, 2). He reminds them (us) two things or vital truths: (1) they (we) are evil and (2) their (our) Father (God) is in heaven. In other words, he is saying God, who is good, actually has evil children (sons and daughters) -simply put, the sons and daughters of God on earth are not like their Father God who is in heaven -yet the Father calls on them to be like Him (1Peter 1:16, Ephesians 5:1).
I can hardly imagine a disciple of Jesus Christ thinking of himself as evil, can you? Yet, this is exactly what the Lord Jesus is saying about us and reminds us. It is important to note that we can give good gifts to our children despite our being evil. It means that we are capable of some good even though we are evil…..
Remember the rich young man? He is the fellow who ran to Jesus and fell on his knees before him and asked, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Now pay attention to Jesus’ reply, “Why do you call me good? No one is good -except God alone.” (Mark 10:17, 18)
Please note that the “rich young man” thought of Jesus as a “good teacher” or a good human being and Jesus reminds him that no human being, no one on earth, is good -of course, Jesus was Emmanuel or God with us. I believe this is why there is no perfect church on earth! The problem is that we all live in denial. Sadly, the more the denial the worse we seem to get. This is quite serious because Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)
I realise that most of us cringe at the thought of us as “evil” because we define evil as serious crimes only, like killing or robbing a bank…. However, evil is simply sin enacted or committed: Every sinful act is evil (produces death, is opposed to life), hence every sinner is evil.
Are you evil (sinner)? 1 John 1:8 comes to mind: “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” I believe reminding his disciples that we are evil is meant to be liberating: (1) It humbles us so that we refrain from judging anyone else and makes us depend totally on God’s grace, (2) it also helps us appreciate God’s gift of salvation and avail ourselves of the healing power of the cross of Calvary.
May God help us all, in Jesus Christ’s name!
