Jesus' Command #17 - Ask, Seek, Knock

In Matthew 7:7-8 Jesus says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks the door will be opened."

So command number 17 is "Ask, Seek, Knock."

Ask...seek...knock...for what?  Like the Trinity is three, but yet one; Jesus is giving us three ways, but one instruction...to pray.

Like a beggar asking for alms, ask God for what you need.  Seek as for a thing of value that has been lost.  Knock as one who desires to enter the house and converse with God. (Matthew Henry)

In verses 9-11, Jesus goes on to talk about how we, "Though we are evil" give good gifts to our children, how much more will God, who is infinitely good, give good gifts to those who ask Him!

According to the NIV Study Bible, "Greek present imperatives are used here, indicating constant asking, seeking and knocking.  Persistent prayer is being emphasized."

I also love what the Life Application Bible says about this.  "Jesus tells us to persist in pursuing God. People often give up after a few halfhearted efforts and conclude that God cannot be found.  But knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow-through, and Jesus assures us that we will be rewarded.  Don't give up in your efforts to seek God.  Continue to ask Him for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love and understanding.  He will give them to you."  It goes on to say, "The children in Jesus' example asked their father for bread and fish - good and necessary items.  If the children had asked for a poisonous snake, would the wise father have granted the request?  Sometimes God knows we are prying for "snakes" and does not give us what we ask for, even though we persist in our prayers.  As we learn to know God better as a loving Father, we learn to ask for what is good for us, and then He grants it."

When we talk about asking God for things, I think it's helpful to remember what James 4:2-3 says, "You do not have, because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives."  Check your heart when you ask, seek, and knock.  Are you asking with right motives?

Be persistent in prayer.  Ask, seek, knock.

Next time we'll look at Jesus' Command #18 - Do Unto Others!