Matthew Chapter 7, Verse 7
From BibleWiki
7: αιτειτε και δοθησεται υμιν ζητειτε και ευρησετε κρουετε και ανοιγησεται υμιν
7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
7: Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock,
and it shall be opened to you.
Ask, and it shall be given you, etc. There are here three different forms presented of seeking the things which we need from God - asking, seeking, and knocking. The latter is taken from the act of knocking at a door for admittance. See Lk 11:7, Rev 3:20. The phrases signify to seek with earnestness, and diligence, and perseverance. The promise is, that what we seek shall be given us. It is of course implied that we seek with a proper spirit, with humility, sincerity, and perseverance. It is implied, also, that we ask the things which it may be consistent for God to give - that is, things which he has promised to give, and which would be best for us and his kingdom, 1Jn 5:14. Of that, God is to be the judge. And here there is the utmost latitude which a creature can ask. God is willing to provide for us, to forgive our sins, to save our souls, to befriend us in trial, to comfort us in death, to extend the gospel through the world. Man can ask no higher things of God; and these he may ask, assured that he is willing to grant them.
Jesus encourages us to do this by the conduct of parents. No parent turns away his child with that which would be unsatisfactory or injurious. He would not give him a stone instead of bread, nor a serpent instead of a fish. God is better and kinder than the most tender earthly parents; and with what confidence, therefore, may we come as his children, and ask what we need! Parents, he says, are evil; that is, are imperfect, often partial, blind, and sometimes passionate; but God is free from all this, and therefore is ready and willing to aid us.
