What Did Jesus Mean by Ask, Seek, and Knock?

“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; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ”

Matthew 7:7–8 (NIV)

I’m confused by our key scripture; how about you? Does Jesus really promise to give us what we ask for and that we will find what we seek? Huh? We already know we don’t get everything we ask for.

I keep asking God for a godly man to share my life, but my dream guy hasn’t appeared on my doorstep. I stop asking, so I’m not disappointed.

However, if God granted our every wish like a genie in a bottle, we’d soon get into trouble because sometimes we don’t know what’s good for us.

So, what did Jesus mean by ask, seek, and knock?

Relationship is the result

The Greek verbs in our key scripture are in the present tense, meaning “keep on asking”; “keep on seeking”; “keep on knocking” ^[1]. The request is unimportant compared to the result: a relationship with the God who created us. He loves us so much that He sent His Son Jesus to die so we could have a relationship with Him.

Jesus promises if we ask for God, we receive His presence. If we humbly seek God, we find Him. If we knock at the door, He opens it and welcomes us with open arms.

Sometimes, when God says “no,” to our requests, it’s because it’s not in His will. But how do we know the will of God? Ask, seek, and knock to be in His presence and spend time with Him.

Ask for wisdom

So, what else do we ask for when we ask, seek, and knock? Solomon asked for wisdom, and it pleased God so much He bestowed wisdom and knowledge plus wealth, possessions, and honor, like no other king (2 Chronicles 1: 7-12).

Wisdom is defined as the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgement, including competence, understanding and know-how (see also Proverbs 1:1-6). Wisdom is a gift that only God can give (Proverbs 2:6).

God offers His wisdom freely when we ask and trust Him. The Bible says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind” James 1:5-6 (NIV).

Instead of asking for things like a better job, more money, a husband, a wife, or healing from disease, what if we ask for the wisdom of God?

Final words

When I was a little girl, I remember tiptoeing into my daddy’s basement workshop. My eyes widened as I gazed at rows of jars filled with nails and screws, and tools hung on the walls. I watched daddy hammer nails, cut wood, fix appliances, and put things together. I learned by spending time with him and observing him.

Our relationship with Jesus is similar. The apostle Paul tells us we can only find true wisdom in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). We spend time with Jesus by praying, asking for the things we want, and studying His Word. We ask for His wisdom, insight, and understanding, and seek to be more like Him every day.

Have you been praying a specific prayer for a long time? Are you so disappointed that you want to give up? Consider asking for the wisdom of God and see what happens.

Reference

^[1] Barbieri, L. A., Jr. (1985). Matthew. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 34). Victor Books.