ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

Matthew 7:7-12

Sermon Passage: Matthew 7:7-12

Northgate Baptist Church

Date: 07/06/25

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:3-12

Good morning, Church. I hope each of you had a wonderful holiday weekend celebrating Independence Day. Please turn to Matthew, chapter 7, once again this morning. Today, we reach the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, which Jesus delivered here in Matthew chapters 5-7. As mentioned last week, this sermon would have been delivered by Christ in one sitting, but for us, it has taken several months as we carefully walk through each of His points. Last week, we spent time examining Jesus’ command not to judge. When we try to judge, we assume a role we were not created for or instructed to do by our Lord, leading to unfair judgments. Such judgments are often driven by unrighteous motives, and they can bring reciprocal judgment upon us—essentially, a blind, hypocritical judgment that can hinder our ability to serve effectively in God's kingdom. Instead, we are called to adopt a posture of humble restoration, marked by repentance and grace, so that we may act with wisdom and truth when sharing the gospel with those Christ places before us. 

This morning, we continue walking through Chapter 7, where we see Jesus wrapping up His sermon and concluding this part of Matthew's account. This is the moment when soft music might start to play in the background. The passage we are examining today is especially timely, and I hope it offers you the same encouragement that those listening to Christ here in this moment receive. 

Over the past few weeks and months, I have genuinely questioned the events happening in our country and around the world. I look at what’s unfolding and wonder how all these issues can be addressed through God’s Word and His plan for you and me. This week, as I approached my time in study with these thoughts and questions, one in particular kept coming to mind: “God, how can I find peace amid the chaos?” Amidst all this confusion, frustration, and global uncertainty, how can I find peace? 

When considering that question in the context of our passage today, I am reminded of something. Jesus is delivering this sermon during a time in history that we honestly cannot compare to. Church, Jesus has entered the scene after a silence from God that lasted some 400-500 years. Israel finds itself under the authority of a foreign ruler. This authority does not care about their traditions, their requirements for worship, or even their desires for true freedom. They feel oppressed by unrealistic expectations set by someone sitting in a lavish palace far away. They have spent generations waiting for the promised Messiah to come and deliver them from the long cycle of bondage and oppression. They yearned for the sovereign reign of the King of Kings, trusting that He would set all things right. 

Now, we see Jesus, that King, standing before them, teaching this incredible truth found in our passage today. Look at our passage in Matthew Chapter 7…

Matthew 7:7-12

7“Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them — this is the Law and the Prophets. 

In this passage, Jesus issues three commands that, when followed, will help us navigate times like these. First, Jesus says…

ASK

Jesus has just finished teaching a sermon that covered the Beatitudes, our actions as Christians, murder, adultery, divorce, oaths, forgiveness, loving our enemies, giving, praying, fasting, saving, anxiety, and last week’s topic of judging. He is addressing everything we see happening in and around us today. Church, I’m so thankful for His Word; we are not left without a lamp to guide our paths during these uncertain times. Times when it seems the world is constantly on the brink of World War III, or times when the media attempt to fill our hearts with fear over a recent bill that they claim will collapse our economy. I am grateful that He uses the exact words given to believers so many years ago, words that remain as personal and relevant today as they were then.  

Jesus says in verse 7…

“Keep asking, and it will be given to you.” 

I know that many people today like to interpret this passage as suggesting that if I want something badly enough, I must keep asking God for it. Let me clarify something, Church: that is not the point Jesus is making. Much like children, we may ask for things that aren’t part of God's will or plan for our lives. God wants us to approach Him like the children in Matthew 19:14, when the children were brought to Him and the disciples tried to turn them away. He says, “Leave the children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to Me, because the kingdom of heaven is made up of people like this.” 

As children, we see life through different lenses and hearts. If you spend much time around children, you'll notice they ask many questions. Sometimes these questions lead to even more questions. I remember my own children asking questions that left me puzzled about where they came from. Children, without fear of rebuke, often ask whatever is on their minds—no filters, no ill intent. Instead, they come from a genuine desire to understand. Sometimes, their questions can even be quite deep, like theological inquiries. They might ask questions such as

“Why did Jesus have to die? Couldn’t he just forgive sin without going through all that?”

“Why didn’t God just wipe out Satan in the beginning instead of allowing him to even tempt Adam & Eve?”

“Why doesn’t God just force our will to love him?”

Church, if we're honest with ourselves, we have these same questions but are afraid to ask. We're so scared that we might look dumb or feel like it's wrong to ask questions like…

“God, why do you allow disease to plague our world?”

“God, why do these injustices between mankind take place in our world?”

“God, why all the violence?”

“God, why all the hate?”

But Church Jesus tells us here in this verse, “KEEP ASKING!” As a father of grown children, I am often reminded of how my children need me less and less. I know that my children have grown into adults with their own thoughts and dreams for the life ahead. As parents, we struggle with the idea of our children growing older, not because we love and desire to change diapers for the rest of our lives. No, we struggle with the idea that our children, the ones we have invested in, poured our lives out to, provided for, and loved before we even knew them, will someday not need us.  Everyone on here is a child to someone, and you know this is not true.  You know today that you have and will always need and desire that connection to your parents, good, bad, or otherwise. 

Church, the words of Jesus here are inviting us into a profound relationship with the Heavenly Father. He desires for you to feel His presence in every part of your life. This is why He gave us His one and only Son.  Church, as His children, adopted through the blood of Christ, we need Him to sustain our lives, to give us purpose, because without Him, we can do nothing. Jesus reminds us of this truth over in John 15:5, where he states, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.” It is in our relationship with the Lord that we find our purpose. 

Here, Jesus provides the first of three action words that help us understand this relationship. He says to “Ask,” as if inviting us to communicate our needs and desires directly to the one who has the answers. The problem many of us face today is the fear of looking foolish. Like children in school, we are afraid to raise our hands and ask questions about things we don't understand. We are too proud to go before our Father, open our hearts to Him, and ask these difficult questions. Like children, it often takes being pushed to our breaking point before we turn to Him. How many times have you, as parents, had to comfort a heartbroken child who could have avoided such an experience if they had simply asked?

Now, how we ask is also important; we must not ask like manipulative children trying to get our way. This is not the kind of asking Jesus is talking about here. Jesus is not Santa Claus. He is not there to fulfill our Amazon wishlist. So, how are we to go about asking Him? Look at what 1 John 5 tells us about effective prayer…

1 John 5:14-15

14Now this is the confidence we have before Him: Whenever we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15And if we know that He hears whatever we ask, we know that we have what we have asked Him for. 

God’s Word makes this clear in Isaiah 46…

9 Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me.10   I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.

Church, the key to our request—our asking of God—is that we ask according to His will, for we find in Isaiah 46:10 God telling us, “My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.” Our asking must first be centered in His will. When praying these prayers, we may find that they are not always easy or popular. Like a child, we may find ourselves on the side of a holy “no” from time to time. Church, it is perfectly okay to be told “no” by God. When Jesus says “it will be given to you,” he is talking about the answer to your asking. The response to that answer is the wisdom to understand that His plan is perfect. Look what James 1 tells us…

James 1:5-8

5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. 6But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways. 

So when you receive that answer, do not doubt God’s perfect will. Romans 12 reminds us not to conform to this age, but to be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what this good, pleasing, and perfect will of God looks like in our lives.

Have you ever considered that asking God is actually a form of worship? When you approach the throne with your request, you are seeking God’s direction and guidance. You're like a child sitting at Christ's feet, hanging on every word with bated breath. Church, His perfect will takes into account our ignorance, our weakness, our sins, and even the sins of others against us. So when you find yourself asking questions during times like these, ask! And keep asking, with holy reverence to a Father who loves to hear your voice come before Him. 

Look at the next part of this verse. 

SEEK

The second part of the command given here in verse 7 goes deeper, suggesting a pursuit of God Himself and His will. Seeking implies an earnestness in our relationship, urging us to actively look for God’s presence in our lives.

“Keep searching, and you will find.”

As a child, I grew up in a small neighborhood shaped like a block, with houses on the outside and some on the inside. There were many kids in my neighborhood, and we loved playing a game called “Spotlight.” We could play for hours. I remember the youth of Graffiti 2 asking on every trip if they could play Manhunt. When I think about that game, I recall playing in complete darkness—by 'dark,' I mean a different kind of darkness than today. There were perhaps two or three streetlights in our entire neighborhood. So if you hid in the dark, it was truly dark. The goal of the game was for one seeker to have a flashlight and run around the neighborhood looking for those who were hiding. Honestly, I always preferred being the seeker because I was slightly afraid of the dark. I hated hiding alone in the dark, waiting for someone to find me. I wanted to be the seeker, the one with the light. 

Church, the world today is playing a dangerous game of spotlight, hiding in the dark, nervous and alone, and desiring not to be found by the light. It is the reason why so many people have erected false walls of anger and mistrust. We have people living their lives in sin and apart from the perfect will of God. They don’t want their sins brought to light because of pride. They don’t want to look foolish or be judged, as we discussed last week. This leads to hiding in the dark with their sins, refusing to seek the truth. Proverbs 28 tells us this in verse 13.

Proverbs 28:13

13The one who conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them will find mercy. 

This relates to something we discussed last week regarding repentance before helping others trapped in sin. The wisdom of God that we seek, the truth of the gospel, is not always welcomed by the unbeliever. God’s word reminds us of this truth in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, where Paul tells us. 

1 Corinthians 2:6-16

6However, we do speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory. 8None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9But as it is written: What eye did not see and ear did not hear, and what never entered the human mind — God prepared this for those who love Him. 10Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God. 13We also speak these things, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people. 14But the unbeliever does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually. 15The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone. 16For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ. 

Church, Jesus is telling mankind to keep searching for the one thing that has been staring them right in the face all along, HIM! Church, our spirit craves to be in the light, but our flesh runs to the darkness. Our flesh wants to hide and cowardly avoid God’s perfect will. That’s not my words, scripture tells us this truth in Romans 8…

Romans 8:5-8

5For those who live according to the flesh think about the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, about the things of the Spirit. 6For the mind-set of the flesh is death, but the mind-set of the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind-set of the flesh is hostile to God because it does not submit itself to God’s law, for it is unable to do so. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

Church, we are reminded in Scripture that this has always been the stronghold of the enemy, to hold us in darkness so that fear can grip our minds. It is why, as believers, we are to put on the full armor of God so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Jesus is calling us to seek the things of the Spirit. When we recognize this truth, we can then stand against the evil in the world. Only then can we set aside our fleshy desires, our plans, and fully submit to God's perfect will. It is in seeking His will that we find the wisdom we desperately need. The wisdom that James 3:17 reminds us is from above, it is pure, peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism, without judgment, and hypocrisy. A wisdom sown in righteousness that cultivates peace. 

Church, right now in the midst of all this confusion and frustration we are experiencing within our world, we can not seek solutions from our politicians who are fighting for their selfish ambitions that are, at times, being driven by demonic forces. We must seek wisdom from God, wisdom that is pure, peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. 

Much like our game of spotlight, when the light shines on our face and our name is called out, we can then step into the light and join in the seeking.  Church, when we seek the things of the Spirit, something happens. We become those who cultivate peace.  It is in that spirit that we can follow the last command…

KNOCK

“Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” 

Jesus is commanding us to come to the door and knock. He desires to reveal His Kingdom to you. He is not hiding from you, nor withholding good for His own pleasure. He is not allowing all these things to happen around you because He enjoys seeing you suffer. He is not like the mythical Greek gods who used their subjects as toys. Jesus is showing you here in this verse where you can find the answers to your questions, where you can find those things you are seeking. He is not just giving you a general idea—He is giving you the very door you desire. This statement displays His divine nature. He speaks of this door in John chapter 10…

John 10:1-10

1“I assure you: Anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the door but climbs in some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2The one who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3The doorkeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they recognize his voice. 5They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t recognize the voice of strangers.” 6Jesus gave them this illustration, but they did not understand what He was telling them. 7So Jesus said again, “I assure you: I am the door of the sheep. 8All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them. 9I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance.

Church, Jesus desires to bestow good things upon His children. He wants to care for you, provide for you, and show you all His glory and majesty! He wants to open the door to his Kingdom to those who are asking, to those who are seeking. Come to the door and knock. I can not give you any better illustration than what Christ has just given us here in John’s gospel. The act of knocking signifies persistence. It speaks of an active faith that does not give up in the face of challenges but continues to seek God’s intervention. Jesus assures us that everyone who engages in these actions will receive a response. We must remember that God’s answers may not always align with our expectations, but His responses are always rooted in love and wisdom.

Are you asking? Are you seeking? Are you knocking at the door? Jesus tells us here in Matthew the outcome of following in the obedience of his commands. In verses 8-11, Jesus reminds us again of the great hope that comes with the teaching He has given us through this sermon. 

Matthew 7:8-11

8For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

In verses 8-11, Jesus compares God’s goodness to human generosity. He paints a vivid picture: What parent would give their child something harmful when they ask for something good? Despite our flaws, we instinctively want to provide for our children. If we, being imperfect, can give good gifts, how much more can our perfect Heavenly Father? God’s gifts are not just good; they are perfect and tailored to our needs. He knows what is best for us, and His gifts reflect His character and love. Jesus’ comparison here reassures us that we can trust God to respond to our requests in ways that are ultimately for our good and His glory.

The peace we seek only comes when we knock at the door, enter in, and allow the one we seek to bring clarity to our asking. When we do as the Israelites did at the time of this message—look with longing for the sovereign reign of the Messiah and trust that he will make right all things—then we find a peace that is not of this world. We begin to see his goodness all around us and find ourselves in his presence, in His light. 

In closing, we see Jesus conclude this passage here in verse 12, with what is often referred to as the Golden Rule. Look one last time at our passage. 

Matthew 7:12

12Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them — this is the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus concludes by pointing back to our relationship with God and how it informs our relationships with others. When we approach God in prayer, we are reminded of His generosity, which should compel us to act generously towards others. This closing thought challenges us to live out our faith actively. If we desire grace and mercy from God, we must extend that same grace and mercy to those around us. Our prayers should not only be about our needs but also about how we can serve and uplift others within our community.

This passage serves as a powerful reminder of the nature of our relationship with God. He invites us to ask, seek, and knock, assuring us of His responsiveness and generosity. As we engage in this relationship, let us be mindful of our ethical responsibilities to one another as well. May our prayers lead us to action, reflecting the love and grace we receive from our Heavenly Father. Let us go forth, confident in the knowledge that God is listening and willing to provide for our needs, as we strive to treat others with the same kindness we desire for ourselves.

When it comes to our prayers, are we asking His will be done? Are we seeking his forgiveness? Are we approaching the door and knocking? We are reminded of this promise in his letter to the Church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3.

“The Holy One, the True One, the One who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close, and closes and no one opens says: I know your works. Because you have limited strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name, look, I have placed before you an open door that no one is able to close.”

Closing Prayer: