Jesus’ well-known saying, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7) is part of His teaching on prayer found in this sermon. The meaning of “ask” is clear enough, and refers to asking God for something in prayer (7:11). “Seek” and “knock” are probably also describing prayer, but perhaps with slightly different emphases. “Seek” may refer to the attempt to find the answer through prayer to a quandary that has presented itself in our lives. In prayer, we may seek clarity and wisdom in order to act in a God-honoring way in a given situation. “Knock” may refer to asking God to grant an opportunity which at the moment, like a door, may be closed.
We can be assured we will receive that for which we ask if our Father determines it to be a “good thing.” He gives good things to those who ask! So, if what we seek is good, we will find it also; if what is behind the door at which we knock is good, it will be opened to us. We must do the asking, seeking and knocking, but we must leave it to God to determine what is good for us. And He always will give us good things because He loves us!
Perhaps, the last verse of this passage teaches us not only to treat others as we want to be treated, but to treat others as God treats us (7:12).