7 'Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you; 8 for every one who is asking doth receive, and he who is seeking doth find, and to him who is knocking it shall be opened. 9 'Or what man is of you, of whom, if his son may ask a loaf—a stone will he present to him? 10 and if a fish he may ask—a serpent will he present to him? 11 if, therefore, ye being evil, have known good gifts to give to your children, how much more shall your Father who 'is' in the heavens give good things to those asking him?
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Matthew 7:7-11
Commentary on Matthew 7:7-11
(Read Matthew 7:7-11)
Prayer is the appointed means for obtaining what we need. Pray; pray often; make a business of prayer, and be serious and earnest in it. Ask, as a beggar asks alms. Ask, as a traveller asks the way. Seek, as for a thing of value that we have lost; or as the merchantman that seeks goodly pearls. Knock, as he that desires to enter into the house knocks at the door. Sin has shut and barred the door against us; by prayer we knock. Whatever you pray for, according to the promise, shall be given you, if God see it fit for you, and what would you have more? This is made to apply to all that pray aright; every one that asketh receiveth, whether Jew or Gentile, young or old, rich or poor, high or low, master or servant, learned or unlearned, all are alike welcome to the throne of grace, if they come in faith. It is explained by a comparison taken from earthly parents, and their readiness to give their children what they ask. Parents are often foolishly fond, but God is all-wise; he knows what we need, what we desire, and what is fit for us. Let us never suppose our heavenly Father would bid us pray, and then refuse to hear, or give us what would be hurtful.