Jesus, in His sermon, is speaking to the individual about their priorities. He has said they must judge themselves before judging others. He has given a warning about handling the gospel with wisdom. He now instructs the believer to set as a priority the inquiring of information from God who will provide. (Matthew 7:7-11).
Jesus gives three methods for inquiring: asking, seeking and knocking. He gives the response to each method: askers will receive, seekers will find and knockers will have good things opened for him. With each method, the process begins with the individual. They must do something before God does.