Ask, Seek, & Knock
(Matthew 7:6-11)
By
Note: The text below was prepared for oral delivery
rather than for publication in print. As
such, be aware that sentence fragments are intentionally used and that this
document has not been edited to correct the errors in grammar, sentence
structure, etc.
I.
Introduction
Today
we will be continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount and as such I will
ask you to turn again to Matthew, chapter 7.
Our text for today is Matthew 7, verses 6-11. The title for today’s message is “Ask, Seek,
& Knock.” This of course is taken
from verses 7 and 8 so, by way of introduction, look at these 2 verses with me. There our Lord asserts:
“Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you: 8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that
seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Consider
this declaration by our Lord! He asserts
(without qualification if we consider these words alone) that everyone that
asks receives, that seeks finds, and that knocks shall have it opened. But do you get everything you ask for or seek
for? Does every door open up for
you? Well that’s not been my experience
either. So we must conclude that either Christ
is misleading His hearers – lying to them – (which we know can’t be true) or we
must conclude that He is speaking of asking and seeking after something very
specific – not referring to just anything and everything that anyone might
imagine to ask for and seek after.
So
to understand these 2 verses it’s necessary that we consider it in its context –
in the context of this sermon – Christ’s Sermon on the Mount. And as we do, we’ll see that He is referring
to something of eternal value. So today
as we examine these words in the context of this sermon and in the broader
context of the message of Christ set forth in all the scriptures, we will
consider: 1) to Whom and for What are we
to ask? 2) For What are we to seek?, and
3) Where are we to knock?
I.
Overview in Context (Verses 1-14):
As
I’ve said, our primary focus today will be on verses 6-11; however, because I
believe context is particularly important to a proper understanding of this
passage, I want to begin by refreshing your memory concerning the verses
leading into our text for today, verses 1-5.
1). You’ll recall in this passage which begins, “Judge
not, that ye be not judged…” that here Christ isn’t dealing with whether we
should make judgments or not (as this passage is so often misinterpreted), but
rather He is addressing the standard by which we should judge. And we saw that He is referring to making
judgments of eternal significance – adopting God’s standard of judgment as our
own. As Christ commanded in John 7:24,
we are not to judge by outward appearance but we are to “…judge righteous judgment.” As we saw in Acts 17, that standard is none
other the righteousness that Christ Himself accomplished in His perfect
satisfaction to God’s justice (perfect obedience even unto death – satisfying
the law’s precepts (sinless obedience) as well as paying the penalty for
imputed sins – the sins of all those for whom He died that were laid upon Him.
2).
We examined these metaphors, the “mote” and the “beam” in the eye – the eye representing
our understanding, the mote being like a small splinter representing sins
common to all which are a hindrance to our vision (the eye of our understanding),
but the beam, being a large timber, represents something that would completely
obstruct how we see things.
3). Then in verse 5 Christ labels those who
remain so deceived as “hypocrites” and states that they are unqualified to be trying
to get the motes out of the eyes of others – i.e. – trying to relate to others
the remedy for their sin problem while totally oblivious of their own problem
as measured against God’ holy standard of judgment.
4). We discussed how this was characteristic of most
religion – as deceived preachers promote taking care of the sin problems of
others with an imagined remedy that tells on them. It involves making judgments based on the outward
appearance since their doctrine imagines that salvation is conditioned in some
way, to some degree, on the sinner rather than on Christ alone.
So,
Christ ends verse 5 saying this “beam” would need to be removed if you’re to be
qualified to address the sin problem of others.
And then as Christ moves into verse 6, it’s as if He’s saying, but you
who are qualified, to whom God’s remedy has been revealed, who can see clearly
to speak to men about God’s remedy for their sin problem, He cautions them in
verse 6:
“Give not
that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
Now
this is the beginning of our text for today.
We will come back and look at this verse in more detail in a moment, but
for now I just want you to capture the general sense in its context how Christ is saying, Don’t take that most
precious of gifts (likened here to pearls), that which has been revealed unto
you, and push it upon those who are showing no interest whatsoever – who want
nothing to do with that which you are promoting – who will take that which is
most precious to you, (what the scripture calls “the savor of life unto life”
for some – and they’ll trample upon it
Now
consider that Christ is speaking here not only to His disciples, but to a
multitude. At the end of this sermon,
we read how they were astonished at His doctrine. Don’t you imagine as they heard these words
of Christ that some wondered, “Is there a beam in my eye that I’m not
considering, that I don’t perceive?” And
then they hear Him say unto those to whom Christ and His way of salvation has
been revealed (for whom the beam has been cast out), don’t take that valuable
truth and cast it before the swine – before those who want nothing to do with
it. So some may have wondered, “Could I
be among those He’s referring to as swine?”
(We all start out as enemies of God according to the scriptures – as
these dogs and swine – so this would be an appropriate response).
Oh,
but then as we move into verse 7, Christ graciously tells His hearers, including
those who may have been thinking, “But I want these pearls of wisdom – I want to
be able to judge aright. And in the
context Christ is telling them, well if you desire these pearls, then….(verse
7): “Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8For
every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened. And then He backs this up, as He goes
forward in verse 9, saying:
9Or what man is there of you, whom
if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10Or if he ask a
fish, will he give him a serpent? 11If 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?”
Again,
we’ll come back and look at this in more detail but notice how Christ supports
His declaration (that if you seek you’ll find) in verses 9-11 by reasoning from
the lesser to the greater. He’s putting God’s character as a loving Father on
the line here in asserting that if you sinners (“being evil”) know how to give
good gifts to your children, “How much more shall the heavenly Father give good
things to them that ask him!” He doesn’t
waffle in His assertion but without ambiguity states that everyone who asks for
that which He has been speaking of, will receive, who seeks finds, who knocks
shall have it opened. Now this explicit
declaration from our Lord should grab our attention.
Although
we will wait until next week to examine verses 12 - 14 in detail, let’s go
ahead and read down through verse 14 so that we see not only the verses prior
to our text but also those that immediately follow. He continues in verse 12 saying, “Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them: for this is the law and the prophets.” Next week we’ll spend more time addressing how
this verse, (often referred to as the Golden Rule), also fits in this context,
but for our purposes today, let’s go on and look at verses 13 & 14 where
Christ commands, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is
the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because
strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.”
I
think seeing these words that immediately follow our text for today makes it even
clearer that Christ has stayed on subject all along. He’s sticking with the theme of His Sermon,
the Gospel of the kingdom, that dominion, rule, or reign – grace reigning
through righteousness (Romans
1)
He spoke of the
standard of judgment in verses 1-5 – of our need to adopt the standard by which
He makes judgments pertaining to our eternal destiny.
2)
I believe He was
on the subject when He spoke in verse 6 of not casting your pearls before swine
– of refraining from sharing the Gospel of the kingdom with those who want no
part of that treasure of eternal value.
3)
I believe this
was still His subject when He spoke of those who could be assured of finding
His way – describing them as those who asked of Him, who seek His kingdom and
His righteousness, and who knock at the door, the strait gate, and the narrow
way – Christ Himself.
I
hope considering this passage as a whole is as helpful to you as it was to me
in my study, seeing how all of this ties together. Now with that overview of the context in which
Christ is speaking, let’s now go back and look in more detail at our text for
today, verses 6-11:
III. Exposition of
Today’s Text (Verses 6-11);
A. Valuing the
Gospel / Wisdom in Witnessing – Verse 6:
Starting
back in verse 6, again we read, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs,
neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their
feet, and turn again and rend you.”
He
says don’t give that which is “holy.”
Now His hearers would most likely have understood this as alluding to the meat from sacrificial offerings (“that which is holy”)
for they were forbidden to feed that to the dogs. Under the Mosaic Law “dogs” and
“swine” were unclean and unholy animals. The Israelites were prohibited from using
them either for food or sacrifices unto God.
They weren’t permitted even to contribute the money received from the
sale of a dog to the house of God.
But since His hearers had also heard the entire sermon
up to this point, they also likely understood the analogy Christ was setting
forth when He speaks of these pearls – pearls of great value. It is clear that He is referring to the very
word of God in the Gospel wherein the righteousness of the kingdom is
revealed.
He was telling those who knew, or who would come to know
and adopt His standard of judgment (those who would trust solely in the
finished work of Christ – His righteousness), to withhold delivering or
communicating the precious truth of this Gospel to those who they knew would
turn on them and treat their most prized possession with disdain, those who
show no regard for or interest in the just satisfaction of God that is only found
in the Person and work of Christ.
Proverbs 23:9 says “Speak not in the ears of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of thy
words.” And consider what Christ said in Matt 15:14 of the Pharisees. He said, “Let them alone: they be
blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall
into the ditch.”
The picture here is that the unregenerate (those to
whom God has not yet given spiritual life) have no more capacity to appreciate
the Gospel message of His kingdom – of salvation conditioned on Christ alone –
than swine have to rate pearls at their true value.
Consider
the figure of the “pearls.” First it conveys
that which we should regard as our true riches, namely the contents of God’s
Word – the Gospel itself, for it sets forth the true Christian’s precious
treasure. I’m reminded of the parable in
Matthew 13:45-46 where Christ said, “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant
man, seeking goodly pearls: 46Who, when he had found one pearl of
great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.”
The pearls here refer to the goods of this kingdom,
that which is revealed in God’s Word concerning how sinners are saved – the
righteousness of this kingdom. And when
that “beam” or blindness is lifted by the life-giving work of the Holy Spirit, we
behold the riches that are in Christ.
We’re blessed to have been given eyes that look to Him alone, based upon
that which He accomplished in His life and death. One with God-given faith rejoices in the
truth, looking to Christ’s Person and work as their most precious
treasure.
I
can picture this: A little boy goes into
his mother’s jewelry box and takes her most valuable, treasured pearls. He then takes them outside and just for kicks
throws them in the pig sty there on the family farm, fully aware that the hogs will
drag them through the mud and ultimately tear them into pieces. And as his mom discovers this and punishes
him, she teaches him that we don’t intentionally subject valuables to that kind
of treatment. She explains that these
were expensive – they were acquired at a great cost. Back to the analogy, think of what it cost
our Lord to acquire our salvation – no less than His own precious blood. And I think Christ is communicating here, “I
came here to die for this – So, do not knowingly subject this precious Gospel
wherein the righteousness of God in Christ is revealed to that kind of
treatment.”
And
in this verse 6, we see that this command is also for our own good. You see, the eternally blessed will suffer
persecution as we learned from the first part of His sermon in chapter 5. But we don’t have to seek it, it will
come over the Gospel – over what the Bible calls the offense of the cross. So if and when we see there is no interest,
but rather animosity – as Christ said of the Pharisees, “leave them alone.”
When I began my study of this particular verse, the
passage in I Peter 3 immediately came to mind where in vs. 15 we’re told
to: “…be ready always to give
an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in
you with meekness and fear:” We
are to stand ready always but it reads, “to him that asketh.” See, those whose asking is compatible with
seeking God on His terms shall receive and find. What a privilege to play even some small role
in communicating that message – but even then we’re to share what God has
revealed to us “with meekness and fear,” with reverential regard for the honor
of God’s character knowing who made us to differ – recognizing that salvation
is truly of the Lord.
And
if Christ and what He accomplished (His righteousness) is that valuable to you,
if it’s your only hope for eternal life – you shouldn’t need any prodding to
share this good news with anyone, and particularly if its someone you care anything
about at all. As Paul wrote in II Cor.
But
Christ is telling us that this desire to “Let your light shine before men” (as
He has already commanded in this same sermon) is to be tempered with
wisdom. We’re not to take this valuable
gospel and try to force it on those who want nothing to do with it.
Oh,
but what about the poor sinner that is interested? Look at the next verse, verse
7. To him He says:
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye
shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8For every one
that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it
shall be opened.
As
I’ve already pointed out, it is obvious that this can’t be referring to everything
and anything that we may imagine to ask for, seek after, or any door we might
decide to knock upon. As obvious as this
should be, I make mention of it because so many in this religious world have treated these verses as a sort of blank
check which anybody can fill in just as they please and a multitude of
preachers stand in pulpits feeding their imagination that God is pledging in
these verses to honor that check.
Consider James 4: 3 where it is expressly stated, “Ye
ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss..” That word
“amiss” indicates something bad or evil so as to suggest they ask
sinfully. To ask amiss would be acting in
concert with laying up for yourselves treasures upon earth rather than in
heaven as Christ touched on earlier in His sermon back in chapter 6. That is, it is to seek the blessings of this world
first, not seeking first “…the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (vs.
33 of chapter 6). To ask “amiss” (and
receive not) describes those who seek salvation in a way of their own devising,
conditioned on themselves – i.e., based upon something other than or in
addition to His righteousness.
In John 14:13-14,
Christ told His disciples, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If ye
shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” To ask in His name is to ask of Him as
He is identified, the Lord our righteousness, asking for that which is consistent
with His way of salvation – the way of righteousness. It’s to submit to His perfect will – which
shall be done! God does not promise to
give us all we ask for, but rather all we ask for in His name, in
accordance with who He is, with His will and His way.
Why – because we
asked for it? – No, but because His will shall be done in the earth!! God’s counsel shall stand – He’s God. That’s why!
Be
turning to Luke chapter 11 as I want to share a parallel passage with you that
supports that this is the correct sense of these verses – that Christ is
continuing to speak of things of eternal significance in the text we’re
considering today. He’s staying on
subject here in His sermon – speaking of the way into His kingdom and that’s
what He’s referring to in verse 9 as being sure to be received, found, and
opened. He’s referring to the vital issues
of heaven and hell – eternal life itself.
Look with me in Luke 11:9 where Christ repeats, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it
shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto
you.” And in the following verse
we read essentially the same words as we read back in Matthew 7.
But skip with me down to verse 13 where we read, “13If ye then, being
evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give <what?>
the
Holy Spirit to them that ask him.” This
is why I’m convinced that this deliverance from our blindness, the “beam” in
our eye, this coming to see our need for God’s mercy in Christ – is that which
Christ is commanding us to ask and seek for because that’s what the Holy Spirit
reveals. Christ said – when He comes,
He’ll speak of me. The Holy Spirit
causes sinners to ask, seek, and knock at the door of Christ, based upon His
righteousness alone.
Ask:
So,
to whom do we ask? Back when we studied
the manner of prayer, earlier in this sermon back in chapter 6, we saw that
we’re to pray to “Our Father who art in heaven.” We’re asking God because He’s
the source and originator of our salvation.
You’ll recall from our study of that passage which many refer to as the
“Lord’s prayer,” that we covered how prayer is an acknowledgement that all
comes from Him. Christ has already told
us that He knows our needs before we ask.
Prayer to the true and living God is a submission to the sovereignty of
God in all things.
But
this praying, this “asking” in Matthew 7:8, is an acknowledgment and submission
to a specific aspect of God’s sovereignty – to the sovereignty of God in
salvation, an acknowledgment that salvation is of and from Him. He must give it.
As
long as we continue to imagine that our salvation is conditioned (even in part)
by something done by, in, or through us, the sinner, then we’re not asking a
sovereign God as He’s revealed in the Bible.
We’re just trying to cut a deal with a god of our imagination – one that
we imagine dispenses with His holy justice, overlooks our sins, and allows us
to save ourselves if we’ll just do our part.
Well, if that’s the case, you don’t need mercy. You can do your part whenever you’re ready –
or so we imagine.
Recall
in our study on the manner of prayer how Christ instructed them to pray with a
desire that His “…will be done in the earth” – That’s the specific subject that
this “asking” pertains to – a recognition that I must have from God the
imputation of that which He (Christ) accomplished as my Substitute in perfect
compliance to the Father’s will “in the earth” – in the life and death of our
Lord to establish righteousness. That’s
the “good things” which the Holy Spirit reveals to God’s people in time, in
each successive generation.
Seek:
And
then we’re to seek what? Well,
essentially we’re to seek that which we ask God to reveal unto us – that which
is “good for us” as we ask that God would grant us spiritual life, based upon
the righteousness of His Son – the righteousness of His kingdom. And God says He will grant the gift of the
Holy Spirit to remove the beam from the eye of our understanding – which Christ
said He would not withhold from His children who asked of Him.
Hasn’t
Christ already told us earlier in His sermon what to seek after? He has – without any ambiguity. Look back again in Chapter 6, verse 33 where
He commanded us, “…seek ye first the
Proverbs
That’s
what this is all about – to seek this, His righteousness. And since we can’t isolate this act of “seeking”
from that which is being sought, (His righteousness), then any who so seek realize
that this search automatically excludes the asking, the seeking, and the
knocking as having any causal role in the receiving or finding – for His righteousness
is the perfection before God merited by Christ alone and nothing can be
added to contribute additional merit to that.
His work at
Knock:
Finally,
we’re to knock, but where? At the door and
Christ is the door. In John 10:7 Christ
said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
And then
in verse 9 He continues saying, “I am the door: by me if any man
enter in, he shall be saved, …”
He is the door. In John 14:6
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.” There
is no other way.
Back
in the Sermon on the Mount, we just read down in verses 13-14 another
description of this entry way upon which we are to knock. Christ describes it as the strait gate. He is that strait gate and there’s no room in
that passageway for anything other than that which he accomplished – His
righteousness. To see the certainty of
salvation conditioned on His Person and accomplished work alone in satisfaction
to God’s justice is to knock at this door, to enter at this gate. If you’ve been blessed with eyes to see and
value that – no other door will do.
We
will examine these verses some more again next week and at that time I plan to
share some scriptural examples that cause me to believe this “knocking” is
indicative of one who God has so convinced of this one way of salvation that
like a beggar knocking at the door, they will not be deterred. He has revealed this priceless treasure, and
they have no where else to go – so they knock at this door.
IV.Summary:
As
I say, I plan to address this same passage some more next week. But in closing today, I ask you to
consider: How are these clear, explicit
assertions by Christ to be taken and applied to sinners like you and me?
We
know that none will of their own accord ask, seek, and knock God’s way unless and
until God does a work. But you and I
aren’t privy to the secret will and purpose of God. The Bible teaches that God the Father chose
or elected a people for whom Christ (God the Son) came, lived, and died. And as Christ said in John
So
what about you? Well I’m optimistic if
for no other reason than you’re privileged beyond measure to have heard, even
this day, the Gospel (wherein His righteousness is revealed) being set
forth. I say privileged, for it’s rare
to hear this message in the midst of all the religious clutter that trumpets
forth from pulpits on practically every street corner. God has providentially placed you under the
sound of His Gospel. You and I
can’t know the secret things of God, but we can desire to exhibit these
evidences of His blessing. And if and
when we do – what a glorious thing for we behold a certain, priceless, eternal
treasure.
We may lose our health and wealth, our friends and
fame, yet this treasure remains forever.
It is incorruptible – not like treasures on earth where moth and rust
doth corrupt. What a wonderful blessing
to know of the absolute certainty of salvation based upon the Person and work
of the Lord Jesus Christ – His work made mine by God’s judicial imputation
of it to my account. It’s certain because
it’s conditioned on one that cannot fail – the impeccable, spotless Lamb of God
who cannot and did not fail – the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord our righteousness.
So,
if you’re not sure if this describes you, but God has piqued your interest, hear
God’s word:
1).
Ask – Ask earnestly that the sovereign God of this universe will reveal Christ
and His righteousness unto you, recognizing that this is necessary since He is
sovereign in all things, including salvation.
2).
Seek – Seek ye first the
3).
Knock – Knock at the door of Christ who clearly tells us that He is the way and
none come to the Father but by Him.
Knock as one who will not be deterred, convinced that the only way to
heaven is through Christ, having that which He accomplished, righteousness,
charged to your account.
“Ask,
and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you:”
Footnote from the author: While this sermon was prepared and delivered
by me, I often utilize the commentaries, study helps, and teachings of others
to supplement my own prayerful study of the scriptures. Since this document was not originally
prepared for publication in print, please excuse and recognize that it was
unfeasible to properly identify and credit all of the various original sources
used to develop the content herein.
Ultimately, it is my sincere and foremost objective to accurately
present the gospel of God’s grace found in the only infallible source, God’s
word itself – the Bible.