Aramaic Word Study – Good Gifts – Mauhavta Tovatha מוהבתא  סובתא  Men Vav Hei Beth Taw Aleph    Taw Vav Beth Taw Aleph

Matthew 7:11: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

I have always been bothered by this verse where Jesus speaking to parents call them evil.  Jesus really needed the help of some PR firm.  I mean the optics of this verse are very poor. “If you being evil know how to give good gifts to you children.”  I think I would be offended by those words.

Every modern translation I read walks in lockstep with each other calling us evil.  A couple of paraphrases says “as bad as you are” which isn’t much better.  I found only the Weymouth New Testament appears to have some sense of diplomacy by saying: “imperfect as you are.”  The Greek is clear, however, it is poneroi which means evil, bad, wicked, and malicious.  However, it comes from the root word pono for pain. But it would make no sense to say: “You being painful know how to give good gifts.” 

The word in Aramaic, which is the language that Jesus spoke, is basha which means bad but not in the sense of one’s character like a bad or wicked person.  It is used more in the sense of one who makes the wrong decisions. In extra-Biblical literature you will find this word used for one who is well-meaning, he really tries hard but is just incapable of doing the right thing.  The Weymouth translation may not be the most accurate in its choice of English words, but it is the most accurate form of an emotional context. 

Yet, even an imperfect parent may make the wrong decisions in trying to give their children “good gifts” the Heavenly Father can only give the perfect gifts.  Note the prior two verses Matthew 7:9-10: “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? (10) Or if he asks a fish, will he give him a serpent?”  There was no refrigeration to store fish so they were kept in a cool, dark place buried in straw.  Snakes also like those cool, dark snuggly straw spots.  Certain eel-type fish were quite a delicacy not to mention they would stay fresher longer than regular panfish. It would be very easy for a parent to reach into the storage bin for an eel and mistakenly pull out a snake. The parent sure had no intention of offering the child a snake and would use great care when reaching for this little treasure,  but mistakes can happen.  A parent in grinding grain into flour had to be careful because little stones could easily enter into the mix when preparing and baking bread in the primitive fashion of the first century.  If not careful a parent could give their child a little stone that he could break a tooth on.  It happens because parents are basha, imperfect subject to unintentional error. But God never is. 

What got me started on this verse is that Jesus is saying He will give good gifts to His children if they simply ask. I remember taking a child psychology class in college and the professor asked: “Why do you think a child says “no’ so much?”  The answer is that this is the word he hears the most from his parents.  Children want so many things but most of the things they want, matches, sugary foods, dirt, etc., a loving parent is forced to say “no.”  So too with God, He is forced to say “no” many times.  That is why he does not say “gift” but “good gifts.”   The word good is tovatha which is similar to the Hebrew word tov meaning to be in harmony.  A parent only says “no” to a child when that request is not in harmony with the parent’s desire which is the well-being of the child. So too, God will not deny us anything we ask, so long as it is a good, tovatha gift, a gift which is in harmony with His desires which is for our well-being.  God is not an enabler.  An addict may plead with God for money to purchase drugs or alcohol to feed his addiction and of course, God will say no to that request as any parent would.

God is in the business of giving good gifts.  Not good in the sense of excellent or superior but gifts that are in harmony with our relationship with Him. In fact, the word gift in Aramaic is mauhvata from the root word yhav. Yahav is a special type of gift, it is a gift meant for one’s well-being. God only gives gifts for our well being which is in harmony with Him. That really narrows the playing field when it comes to receiving a gift from God. 

This is not karma which is found in Eastern religions. Karma is a belief in cause and effect. Good intent and good deeds contribute to good karma and a happier rebirth while bad intent and bad deeds contribute to bad karma and bad rebirths. Much of the Western world does not embrace the notion of reincarnation so the use of the word karma is to mean that if you do good you will be rewarded with good.  If you give a good offering or pay your tithe you will get a good reward.  We as Christians do good because we want to bring pleasure to our God, not to get an earthly or heavenly reward.  

The Jews have what is known as midah k’neged midah, which literally translates to ‘value against value’ or ‘measure for measure’.  However, the concept is not a law under Judaism but a value or a principle of ethics.  In Christianity, we tend to mix that up and almost consider the measure for measure as a law.  Give a 10% tithe you are to expect or even demand that God rewards you.  Go to church on Sunday, read your Bible, and pray and God will answer your prayers.  That is a Christian form of karma that has no place in our faith.  It is only an ethical principle but not a law of God. God is under no obligation to reward or answer your prayers if you suddenly start to clean up your act.  He will answer your prayers according to tovetha, which is in harmony with our relationship with Him and not according to the laws of Karma or midah k’neged midah. 

God is a loving parent who gives according to His love for us and we give to Him out of our love for Him with no expectation of a return. 

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