a 3-fold command: 1) ask, 2) seek and 3) knock. All three verbs are imperatives, words of command. All three verbs are in the present tense calling for continuous action. Ask and keep on asking is the idea. Seek and keep on seeking is the idea. Knock and keep on knocking is the idea. And, when you persistently pray like this, God promises to answer. and it will be given to you. Seek, and you “Ask will find. Knock, and the door will be open.” John Piper puts it, As The seeker finds. The knocker gets an open “The asker receives. door. Your Father will give you good things” (Ibid). Verse 8 reveals the inclusive and comprehensive nature of this promise to the children of God Not (v. 11). “Everyone!” Not some. most. Not almost all. Everyone who calls God their Father is the recipient of this promise. Jesus, no doubt, understands our hesitancy to pray, especially when we are aware of our sin and unworthiness. The great Reformer Martin Luther has a helpful word at this point: knows that we are timid and shy, that we feel unworthy and unfit “He to present our needs to We think that God is so great and we God…. are so tiny that we do not dare to is why Christ wants to pray…. That lure us away from such timid thoughts, to remove our doubts, and to have us go ahead confidently and (The Sermon on the boldly.”
a 3-fold command: 1) ask, 2) seek and 3) knock. All three verbs are imperatives, words of command. All three verbs are in the present tense calling for continuous action. Ask and keep on asking is the idea. Seek and keep on seeking is the idea. Knock and keep on knocking is the idea. And, when you persistently pray like this, God promises to answer. “Ask and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be open.” As John Piper puts it, “The asker receives. The seeker finds. The knocker gets an open door. Your Father will give you good things” (Ibid). Verse 8 reveals the inclusive and comprehensive nature of this promise to the children of God (v. 11). “Everyone!” Not some. Not most. Not almost all. Everyone who calls God their Father is the recipient of this promise. Jesus, no doubt, understands our hesitancy to pray, especially when we are aware of our sin and unworthiness. The great Reformer Martin Luther has a helpful word at this point: “He knows that we are timid and shy, that we feel unworthy and unfit to present our needs to God…. We think that God is so great and we are so tiny that we do not dare to pray…. That is why Christ wants to lure us away from such timid thoughts, to remove our doubts, and to have us go ahead confidently and boldly.” (The Sermon on the