Ask And You Shall Receive

In this lesson from the “Jesus in Context” sermon series, Cole Tuck addresses the often-misunderstood promise in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you”, within the broader context of the Sermon on the Mount. Far from portraying God as a cosmic vending machine or supporting prosperity gospel ideas, Jesus teaches persistent, relational prayer modeled on a loving father-child dynamic. Cole highlights how people misuse this verse to demand instant gratification, justify selfish desires, or even abandon faith when prayers seem unanswered. Instead, the passage (Matthew 7:7-11) emphasizes ongoing action: keep asking, keep seeking, and keep knocking in humble dependence on God.

Jesus illustrates this with a father who gives good gifts to his children, not harmful or frivolous ones, showing that our perfect heavenly Father knows what is truly good for us, even when it means saying “no” to requests that could hurt us spiritually. The sermon draws on wider Scripture (e.g., James 4:3 on wrong motives, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 on praying without ceasing, and Jesus’ own prayer in Luke 22:42, “not my will, but yours”) to stress that effective prayer involves submission to God’s will, repentance from sin, gratitude, persistence, and a genuine relationship rather than transaction. Ultimately, trusting God like a child trusts a loving parent leads to confident, transformative prayer aligned with His perfect plan.

Talking Points for Discussion

1. Common Misuses of Matthew 7:7 — How do people today treat “ask and you shall receive” like a blank check or cosmic vending machine? Share examples from prosperity teaching, personal disappointment, or justifying sin.
2. The Verbs: Ask, Seek, Knock — Why does Jesus use present-tense imperatives (implying “keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking”)? How does this challenge one-time, instant-result expectations?
3. Relational vs. Transactional Prayer — Compare prayer to knocking on a door (expecting a person to answer) versus pushing a button. How can our prayers become more relational and less like a wish list?
4. The Father-Child Illustration — Discuss Jesus’ analogy: A good father gives bread/fish (needs), not stones/snakes (harm). How does this show God gives what is truly good, even if it’s not what we want? Share times when a “no” from God proved protective.
5. Wider Biblical Context on Prayer — Explore supporting verses: James 4:3 (wrong motives), 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (pray without ceasing), 1 Peter 3:7 (sin hinders prayer), and Luke 22:42 (Jesus’ submissive prayer). How do these balance the promise in Matthew 7?
6. Application: Praying Like Jesus — How can we incorporate “not my will, but yours” into our prayers? Does this make us more confident to ask boldly, knowing God filters requests through His perfect will?
7. Personal Reflection — Have you ever felt distant from God in prayer? Could it stem from infrequent prayer, unrepented sin, or selfish motives? How can we cultivate persistent, grateful, submissive communication with our Father?