Text: Matthew 7:7-11 (CSB) – “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If 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.”
We are continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount in the Book of Matthew. Now we are looking at the topic of the Kingdom and Jesus’ Exhortations. An exhortation is an utterance, discourse, or address conveying urgent advice or recommendation. It is a speech or written passage intended to persuade, inspire, or encourage.
Jesus is in this passage is giving us 5 responsibilities that we have and is seeking to persuade and encourage us to live in this fashion. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount continually brings us back to our motives over our actions. We must understand that in the Kingdom, God looks at the heart, not the outward designs. He looks at the motives more than the actions.,
So far we have focused on our responsibility to the SAVED, to OURSELVES, and THE UNGODLY. Today, let us muse over our Responsibility to THE LORD
Three things Jesus gives us in this passage of Scripture. He gives us a command, confidence, and a comparison.
First, stop and consider the command. In Matthew 7:7, He says – “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Jesus is encouraging those of us who are Citizens of the Kingdom to know that we have a King that wants to hear our petitions, our needs, and even our wants. Later, we will learn that the only stipulation involved with this command is that what we ask must be according to His Will. Thus, we are to diligently seek God’s Will. So, we ask, “How do I find God’s Will?” Jesus says it is wrapped up in the letters “A-S-K.” That’s easy to remember. We are to Ask, Seek, and Knock. See the progression of intensity? We start by asking Him. Then we need to seek – spend time in God’s WORD, and finally, we are to Knock (pound on the doors of Heaven). Each of the words in the original Greek that Jesus used was in a form that implies continual action. So ask and keep on asking. Seek and keep on seeking. And Knock and keep on knocking.
That brings us to the Confidence He gives us to do this. Remember Matthew 7:8 – “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” He promises to reveal His Will if we A-S-K. And remember, Jesus has never failed in one of His promises. God will always answer – the same way that we as loving parents do – “yes,” “no,” or “wait a little while.” Until we are assured of one of His answers then we are to keep on “A-S-K”ing.”
To reinforce what He has said, He included the Comparison to show what He said. Matthew 7:9-11 – “Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If 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.” If we, being sinful. Can give good gifts to our children, how much more will the sinless Father give to His children!
Today, embark on the journey and adventure of your life. Begin to daily A-S-K. Every day – Read your Bible and Pray!
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