ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

Passage: Matthew 7:1-12

Key verse: 7

NIV

Judging Others(A)

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.(B) 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.(C)

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6 “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.

Ask, Seek, Knock(D)

7 “Ask and it will be given to you;(E) 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;(F) 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(G) to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,(H) for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.(I)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Judging Others

7 (A)“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 (B)For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and (C)with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but (D)do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

6 (E)“Do not give (F)dogs what is holy, and do not throw your (G)pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Ask, and It Will Be Given

7 (H)“Ask, (I)and it will be given to you; (J)seek, and you will find; (K)knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for (L)bread, will give him (M)a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, (N)who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will (O)your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The Golden Rule

12 “So (P)whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is (Q)the Law and the Prophets.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus’ command, “Do not judge,” does not forbid discerning right from wrong but warns against a self-righteous, judgmental spirit. If we pass judgment on others, God will measure to us according to the same measure we use for them. We may use two measures: a measure of justice and a measure of mercy. Our plank-like sins may be far worse than the speck-like sins of those we criticize. God is the perfect Judge, with perfect righteousness and insight to judge others rightly. Therefore, before judging others, we must first examine ourselves and approach others with mercy. Still, discernment is necessary to protect what is sacred from those who would trample it.

Our God is a loving Father who delights in giving good gifts to his children when they ask. As God’s children, we can approach him confidently in prayer. And prayer is relational, not transactional. Jesus teaches us to pray with persistence and progression: ask, seek, and knock. Asking acknowledges that God is the giver and we are the receivers. Seeking means earnestly pursuing God’s purpose, will, and way. Knocking demonstrates perseverance until the door is opened in God’s timing. Jesus assures us that God always answers our prayers.

Prayer: Lord, help me take a measure of mercy toward others’ faults. Grant me the spirit of persistent prayer until the door is opened.

One Word: Pray persistently