Ask, Seek, Knock

The words

Matthew 7:7–20 (opens a new tab)

1. Asketh

   Asks; the older verb form.

   Matthew’s KJV says “every one that asketh receiveth” after the three commands to ask, seek and knock; Luke’s KJV repeats the same pairing of asking and receiving.

   Matthew 7:7–8 (opens a new tab) · Luke 11:9–10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 7:7-20 (opens a new tab)

2. False Prophets

   Matthew records Jesus warning of false prophets in sheep’s clothing but inwardly as wolves; the next verse introduces recognizing them by their fruits, without naming a particular group.

   Matthew 7:15–16 (opens a new tab)

3. Findeth

   Finds; the older verb form.

   Matthew’s KJV pairs seeking with finding in “he that seeketh findeth”; Luke’s KJV repeats the wording after its own commands to ask, seek and knock.

   Matthew 7:7–8 (opens a new tab) · Luke 11:9–10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 7:7-20 (opens a new tab)

4. Fruits

   Matthew’s fruit teaching moves from good and corrupt trees to an unfruitful tree being cut down and burned, then returns to knowing the prophets by their fruits.

   Matthew 7:15–20 (opens a new tab)

5. Good Gifts

   Matthew compares parents giving good gifts with the Father giving good things; Luke’s KJV uses good gifts for parents but names the Holy Spirit in the Father’s promise.

   Matthew 7:11 (opens a new tab) · Luke 11:13 (opens a new tab)

6. Grapes

   Matthew places grapes with thorns in Jesus’s question about where fruit is gathered, pairing figs with thistles before the comparison between good and corrupt trees.

   Matthew 7:16–17 (opens a new tab)

7. Knock

   Matthew places knock third after ask and seek, pairing it with being opened; Luke repeats the sequence after the story of a request made at midnight.

   Did you know?

   Luke places a story before these sayings: someone asks a friend for three loaves at midnight after a traveler arrives, explaining that there is nothing to offer.

   Matthew 7:7–8 (opens a new tab) · Luke 11:5–10 (opens a new tab)

8. Narrow

   Matthew’s KJV calls the way to life narrow, in contrast with the broad way; NET renders that way as difficult while retaining narrow for the gate.

   Matthew 7:13–14 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 7:7-20 (opens a new tab)

9. Opened

   Matthew and Luke’s KJV sayings pair knocking with “it shall be opened”; NET Luke explicitly supplies the door, explaining in a note that the object is implied.

   Matthew 7:7–8 (opens a new tab) · Luke 11:9–10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Luke 11:5-13 (opens a new tab)

10. Receiveth

    Receives; the older verb form.

    Matthew’s KJV gives receiveth as the response paired with asking in verse 8, then moves to the examples of a child asking for bread or fish.

    Matthew 7:8–10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Matthew 7:7-20 (opens a new tab)

11. Seek

    Matthew puts seek between ask and knock, linking it with finding; Luke repeats that order before the examples of a father responding to a child’s requests.

    Matthew 7:7–8 (opens a new tab) · Luke 11:9–13 (opens a new tab)

12. Strait Gate

    Narrow gate; strait describes width.

    Matthew’s KJV contrasts the strait gate with the wide gate, then pairs the strait gate with the narrow way leading to life; Thayer explains strait as narrow.

    Matthew 7:13–14 (opens a new tab) · Thayer’s G4728: narrow (opens a new tab)

13. Thistles

    Matthew pairs thistles with figs in Jesus’s question about fruit, alongside grapes and thorns; the following verses extend the comparison to good and corrupt trees.

    Matthew 7:16–18 (opens a new tab)

14. Thorns

    Matthew’s question asks whether grapes are gathered from thorns, alongside the question about figs and thistles; it follows the warning about false prophets and their fruits.

    Matthew 7:15–16 (opens a new tab)

15. Wolves

    Matthew’s warning contrasts the false prophets’ outward sheep’s clothing with inward ravening wolves, then introduces the fruit images by which Jesus says they will be known.

    Matthew 7:15–16 (opens a new tab)