Sermon on the Mount - "Ask and it will be given" - Matthew 7:7-12

Matthew 7:7-12 (NIV)

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

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My Notes:

Asking, seeking, and knocking require an attitude and an action on our part.

(v6 - Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.)

If we are dogs or pigs, unprepared and unwilling to receive the good gifts that God had for us in humility (recognizing that we need them), and submission (willing to receive with gratitude and giving glory to God), he will not force them on us.

But if we ask our loving heavenly Father in faith, as a trusting child would, he will gladly give us his good gifts.

Dogs scrounge, fighting and scrapping to make a life for themself. Children live and play and love in the shadow of their parents, unconcerned as to their daily provision. They know their parents are good.

The posture of a child is different. Eyes up, head up, palms out, expecting.

A dog takes.

The good gifts are still available to everyone. All one needs do is ask.