Single lesson
Ask, Seek, Knock and the Golden Rule
Matthew 7:7–12
Jesus teaches that his followers should ask God confidently and treat other people in the same kind, thoughtful way they would want for themselves. This lesson helps children connect prayer with everyday actions towards others.
Before you teach
In these verses, Jesus gives short commands and examples. He says to ask, seek and knock, then explains God’s generosity by comparing it with a parent giving good gifts. He then says, therefore, people should treat others as they themselves would want to be treated.
Students will explain how Matthew 7:7–12 links asking God for good things with choosing to treat others as they would want to be treated.
Welcome: Ask, seek, knock
5 minWrite three words where everyone can see them: ask, seek, knock. Invite children to say what each word means in ordinary life. Then explain that Jesus used these words to teach about coming to God. Read Matthew 7:7 aloud slowly, and have the group listen for the repeated actions.
Matthew 7:7
Read and explain: God gives good things
8 minRead Matthew 7:7–11. Point out that Jesus repeats ask, seek and knock, showing persistence and confidence in coming to God. Then notice the family examples: bread, fish, stone and serpent. Jesus says that even ordinary human parents know to give good gifts, and our Father in heaven gives good things to those who ask him.
Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:8, Matthew 7:9, Matthew 7:10, Matthew 7:11
Discuss: Therefore treat others this way
6 minRead Matthew 7:12 and notice the word therefore. Help students see that Jesus moves from God’s generous care to the way his people should act. Ask for simple situations at home, school or play where someone would want kindness, fairness, help or patience, then connect those examples back to Jesus’ words.
Matthew 7:12
Make and respond: Reminder card
7 minChildren choose one short line from the passage, such as “Ask”, “Seek”, “Knock”, or “Do to others”. They make a small reminder card with the words on one side and a drawn real-life example on the other, such as sharing, including someone, or praying for help. Invite each child to explain how their card matches the passage.
Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:8, Matthew 7:11, Matthew 7:12
Closing: Pray and practise
4 minReview the lesson in two parts: Jesus teaches us to ask our Father in heaven, and Jesus teaches us to do to others what we would want done to us. Finish by naming one action to try today, such as speaking kindly, sharing fairly or asking God for help in a need.
Matthew 7:11, Matthew 7:12
Questions to explore
What three action words does Jesus repeat, and what do they teach us to do?
Look at the repeated commands in Matthew 7:7–8 and notice that Jesus tells people to come to God by asking, seeking and knocking.
Matthew 7:7, Matthew 7:8
Why does Jesus talk about bread, fish, stone and serpent?
In Matthew 7:9–11, Jesus uses these examples to show that a parent gives suitable good gifts, and he says the Father in heaven gives good things to those who ask him.
Matthew 7:9, Matthew 7:10, Matthew 7:11
How does verse 12 fit with the verses about asking God?
Matthew 7:12 begins with “Therefore”, linking God’s good giving with Jesus’ command to treat other people in the kind way we would want for ourselves.
Matthew 7:11, Matthew 7:12
Make, think or respond
Ask, Seek, Knock Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or markers
- scissors
- optional coloured pencils or stickers
Try it together
- Read Matthew 7:7–12 together and let each child pick a key phrase from the passage.
- Fold or cut paper into a small card.
- On the front, write the chosen phrase, such as “Ask”, “Seek”, “Knock”, or “Do to others”.
- On the back, draw or write one realistic example of praying to God or treating someone kindly.
- Share the cards with the group and explain how each one connects to Jesus’ words.
The card helps children remember both parts of the passage: asking God for good things and treating others as they would want to be treated.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer only two phrase choices, such as “Ask God” and “Be kind”, and let them respond mostly with drawings.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to write a short sentence explaining why Matthew 7:12 begins with “Therefore” after Matthew 7:7–11.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: Father in heaven, thank you that Jesus teaches us to ask you for good things. Please help us trust you and treat other people the way we would want to be treated. Amen.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 7
7 “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.
9 Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?
11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
12 Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.