Easy Bible・Matthew 7

Ask, Seek, Knock

Key Passages

About this Chapter

In Matthew 7, Jesus teaches about the importance of asking, seeking, and knocking. He encourages his disciples to ask and it will be given to them, to seek and they will find, and to knock and the door will be opened to them. He assures them that if they, being imperfect, know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more will their Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him. Jesus emphasizes the importance of persistence in prayer, saying that everyone who asks receives, everyone who seeks finds, and to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Jesus then goes on to teach about treating others with fairness and kindness. He warns against judging others, as we will be judged by the same standard we use to judge others. He uses the analogy of a speck of sawdust in someone else's eye and a plank in our own eye to illustrate the importance of dealing with our own faults before pointing out the faults of others. Jesus encourages his disciples to remove the plank from their own eye first, and then they will be able to see clearly to help remove the speck from their brother's eye. Jesus concludes his teaching in Matthew 7 by warning against false prophets. He tells his disciples to be discerning and to watch out for those who come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ferocious wolves. He reminds them that a good tree bears good fruit, while a bad tree bears bad fruit. He emphasizes that not everyone who claims to follow him will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of his Father. Jesus ends with the famous analogy of the wise and foolish builders, encouraging his disciples to build their lives on his teachings, which are like a solid foundation, so that they will be able to withstand the storms of life.