John Calvin Commentary Matthew 7:11

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" — Matthew 7:11 (ASV)

Your Father will give good things. This is expressly mentioned by Christ so that believers may not give way to foolish and improper desires in prayer. We know how great an influence, in this respect, is exerted by the excesses and presumption of our flesh. There is nothing we do not allow ourselves to ask from God; and if He does not indulge our folly, we cry out against Him. Christ therefore commands us to submit our desires to the will of God, so that He may give us nothing more than He knows to be advantageous.

We must not think that He takes no notice of us when He does not answer our wishes, for He has a right to distinguish what we actually need. Since all our affections are blind, the rule of prayer must be sought from the Word of God, for we are not competent judges of such a weighty matter. He who desires to approach God with the conviction that he will be heard must learn to restrain his heart from asking anything that is not agreeable to His will.

You ask, and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may consume it upon your lusts (James 4:3).

Instead of good things (ἀγαθὰ) in the last clause, Luke says the Holy Spirit. This does not exclude other benefits, but points out what we should primarily ask, for we should never forget the exhortation: Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all other things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

It is the duty of the children of God, when they engage in prayer, to strip themselves of earthly affections and to rise to meditation on the spiritual life. In this way, they will set little value on food and clothing as compared to the earnest and pledge of their adoption (Romans 8:15; Ephesians 1:14), and when God has given such a valuable treasure, He will not refuse smaller favors.