Ask, Seek, Knock!
Keep on asking … Keep on seeking … Keep on knocking. The NLT interprets the three Gr. present imperatives as enjoining habitual prayer. The three corresponding promises of 7:8 stress the readiness of the heavenly Father to meet the needs of the disciples, who will receive what they need, find what they are looking for, and have the opportunities they desire.
7:9–11 The triple command/promise stru
Keep on asking … Keep on seeking … Keep on knocking. The NLT interprets the three Gr. present imperatives as enjoining habitual prayer. The three corresponding promises of 7:8 stress the readiness of the heavenly Father to meet the needs of the disciples, who will receive what they need, find what they are looking for, and have the opportunities they desire.
Keep on asking … Keep on seeking … Keep on knocking. The NLT interprets the three Gr. present imperatives as enjoining habitual prayer. The three corresponding promises of 7:8 stress the readiness of the heavenly Father to meet the needs of the disciples, who will receive what they need, find what they are looking for, and have the opportunities they desire.
The verbs are in the present tense, indicating continuous activity. Jesus’ followers can keep on asking, keep on seeking, and keep on knocking, indicating the importance of persistent, consistent prayer in their lives. Only through prayer can believers stay in contact with God, know what he wants them to do, and then have the strength to do God’s will in all areas of life. God will answer believers who persistently ask, seek, and knock. Jesus promised, “For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Keep on asking … Keep on seeking … Keep on knocking. The NLT interprets the three Gr. present imperatives as enjoining habitual prayer. The three corresponding promises of 7:8 stress the readiness of the heavenly Father to meet the needs of the disciples, who will receive what they need, find what they are looking for, and have the opportunities they desire.
The instructions about prayer in 7:7–11 (cf. Luke 11:9–13) are not easily related to the preceding and following contexts.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are kravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them lby their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are kravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them lby their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17
God is not selfish, begrudging, or stingy; his followers don’t have to beg or grovel when they come with their requests. He is a loving Father who understands, cares, comforts, and willingly gives good things to those who ask him.
Inspired by the beneficence of their heavenly Father, disciples of the Kingdom must be like him. As their Lord had come not to abolish but to accomplish the purpose of the law and the prophets, they too should live by a transcendent ethic. These themes meet in 7:12, where doing good to others (as the heavenly Father does; cf. 5:45–48) is identified as the quintessence of biblical ethics. The general statement of 7:12 condenses the 39 books of the Hebrew Bible into 12 words in the NLT.
Jesus commanded his followers to enter through the narrow gate. This “narrow gate” refers to a confined space with little room. One needs careful directions to find the “one way” to get through the gate. The hard road refers to the road of discipleship often filled with persecution and opposition. However, this hard road alone leads to life—eternal life.
Through the wide gate, however, the road is easy. This gate is easy to find; the path is easy to follow. There is plenty of room for many people to wander in and continue in whatever direction they wish. This road leads to destruction—to hell itself.