Matthew 7:7 kjv

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Matthew 7:7 nkjv

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7 niv

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7 esv

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matthew 7:7 nlt

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Matthew 7 verses

Matthew 7 7 Meaning

Matthew 7:7 proclaims a foundational principle of the Kingdom of God: diligent and persistent engagement with the Heavenly Father in prayer will yield a responsive outcome. It assures believers that sincere requests will be answered, earnest searching for divine truth and presence will lead to discovery, and determined efforts to gain access to God's presence or blessings will result in breakthrough. This verse underscores God's willingness and desire to respond to His children's genuine needs and spiritual pursuit.

Matthew 7 7 Context

Matthew 7:7 is a pivotal part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, found in Matthew chapters 5-7. Specifically, it concludes a section that emphasizes prayer and dependence on God, following teachings on trusting God for daily needs (Mt 6:25-34) and not judging others (Mt 7:1-6). It precedes warnings about the narrow gate, false prophets, and building on a solid foundation, which all relate to the genuine pursuit of the Kingdom.

The historical and cultural context for Jesus' audience, primarily Jewish people, included an understanding of prayer as direct communication with a personal God. They were familiar with seeking divine intervention, wisdom, and guidance. This teaching would have been revolutionary as it wasn't about earning favor through rigid ritual or passive fate, but through active, sincere, and persistent relationship with God. It implicitly corrects any belief in a distant, unresponsive deity or one who would deny genuine, righteous pleas. Instead, it posits God as a benevolent Father eagerly desiring to engage with His children.

Matthew 7 7 Word analysis

• Ask (Greek: Aiteō, αἰτέω): To request, to beg. In this context, it refers to direct verbal petitions, prayer. The Greek tense used is a present imperative, indicating continuous or habitual action. It's not a one-time plea, but an ongoing, persistent asking. This implies consistent communication and dependence.
• And it will be given to you (Greek: Kai dothēsetai humin, καὶ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν): "Given" is in the passive voice (dothēsetai), implying divine agency. God Himself is the giver. The future tense expresses certainty. This is a divine promise, not merely a human hope.
• Seek (Greek: Zēteō, ζητέω): To look for, search out, endeavor to find. This goes beyond simple asking, suggesting active investigation, diligent pursuit, and personal effort in understanding and obtaining. Also a present imperative, emphasizing continuous and earnest searching. This often relates to seeking spiritual truth, God's will, or His presence.
• And you will find (Greek: Kai heurēsete, καὶ εὑρήσετε): "Find" is also in the future tense, assuring a discovery to those who diligently search. It implies a positive outcome to the diligent seeking process.
• Knock (Greek: Krouō, κρούω): To strike a door, to beat on a gate. This implies determined, persistent action, often associated with a barrier that needs to be opened to gain entry. Again, a present imperative, highlighting continued and resolute effort, demonstrating unwavering resolve even when initial entry is not granted.
• And it will be opened to you (Greek: Kai anoigēsetai humin, καὶ ἀνοιγήσεται ὑμῖν): "Opened" is in the passive voice (anoigēsetai), again pointing to divine agency as the opener of the door. The future tense guarantees that the barrier will eventually be removed, providing access.

Words-group analysis:

• "Ask, seek, knock": This triad forms a progression of intensifying action.
  1. "Ask" is the initial verbal request, expressing desire.
  2. "Seek" moves beyond words to active, directed effort, demonstrating diligence in pursuit.
  3. "Knock" represents persistent, even forceful, determination when facing an obstacle, implying an unyielding resolve for access or answer.
  • This progression signifies increasing intensity, sincerity, and resolve on the part of the one petitioning, mirroring the commitment God expects in approaching Him. It's not a formulaic incantation but a call to active, persistent faith.
• "it will be given, you will find, it will be opened": These promises correspond directly to each action and are guaranteed by divine assurance (passive voice, future tense). They confirm God's responsiveness and generosity to those who earnestly engage with Him in the prescribed manner. The order of these promises reflects the direct outcomes of the preceding actions, reinforcing God's faithfulness.

Matthew 7 7 Bonus section

The progressive nature of "ask, seek, knock" is not merely illustrative but implies a depth of engagement. When an initial request ("ask") isn't immediately fulfilled, one should move to a more earnest "seeking" for clarity, understanding, or God's perspective. If access still seems barred, a persistent "knocking" is required, signifying an unwavering resolve that refuses to give up, much like the importunate friend in Luke 11. This underscores a personal, dynamic relationship with God where He responds not to perfunctory gestures, but to the heartfelt, sustained cries of His children who truly depend on Him and desire His will. It encourages moving beyond passive wishes to active spiritual warfare and consistent devotion.

Matthew 7 7 Commentary

Matthew 7:7, positioned within the Sermon on the Mount, serves as a divine assurance of God's benevolent responsiveness to His children. It is not an unconditional blank check, but a promise predicated on sincere, persistent, and rightly motivated engagement. The triple imperative — "ask," "seek," and "knock" — signifies increasing intensity of prayer and spiritual pursuit. "Asking" is the simple articulation of need; "seeking" is the active pursuit of truth and understanding; "knocking" is persistent determination in overcoming perceived obstacles to God's presence or blessings. The repeated use of the present imperative for these verbs ("keep on asking," "keep on seeking," "keep on knocking") underscores the necessity of continuous, persevering prayer and earnest pursuit, not merely a single attempt.

The divine passive voice in "it will be given," "you will find," and "it will be opened" subtly indicates that God is the one who performs these actions, emphasizing His faithfulness and omnipotence. This verse connects human activity with divine action, stressing that genuine, fervent prayer, motivated by a desire for God's will and Kingdom, never goes unheard or unanswered. The subsequent verses in Matthew 7 (v. 8-11) reinforce this by comparing God's perfect giving to that of human parents, affirming His desire to give "good things" (or the Holy Spirit, in Luke's parallel) to those who ask.

Examples for practical usage:

• A disciple praying consistently for wisdom in a difficult situation (asking).
• Someone diligently studying the Scriptures and seeking spiritual guidance from mentors to understand God's will (seeking).
• A community repeatedly praying for a specific breakthrough in a seemingly impossible challenge, demonstrating unwavering faith despite setbacks (knocking).