Matthew 7:7 Text
King James Version (KJV)
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
World English Bible (WEB)
“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
What Matthew 7:7 Means
Jesus uses three commands that build on one another: ask, seek, knock. Each picture gets a little more active. Asking is simple request, seeking involves effort and looking, and knocking suggests persistence at a door that is not yet open. The verbs in Greek are in a form that can mean keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking, so the passage encourages ongoing prayer, not a single try. The promises are given, find and opened. Both the KJV and WEB read very similarly, with the WEB using shorter sentences. A common misreading takes this as a promise that God will hand over anything requested. The next verses compare God to a parent who gives good gifts to a child, which suggests that he responds with what is truly good, not always with exactly what we name.
Context of Matthew 7:7
These words come from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus' teaching to disciples and crowds early in his ministry. The surrounding section deals with relationships, judging others and trusting God. Just before this verse, Jesus warns about judging, and just after, he asks which father would give a stone when his child asks for bread. The lesson ends with the Golden Rule in verse 12. To read the whole book, see random verse from Matthew.
How to Apply Matthew 7:7
Pick one thing you have been hesitating to bring to God and say it plainly today. Then keep returning to it over the coming weeks without treating silence as rejection. Alongside asking, pay attention to what you might seek, like wisdom or a better path, and to doors that open or close.
Related Verses
- Luke 11:9-10 – And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
- Matthew 7:8-11 – For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
- Jeremiah 29:12-13 – Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me , when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
- James 4:2-3 – Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Looking for more verses on this theme? Browse Bible Verses About Prayer, each with a short note on its context.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does ask, seek, knock mean?
These three actions describe prayer that grows in persistence. Asking is making a request, seeking is actively looking for answers and God's will, and knocking is continuing even when a door seems shut. Jesus encourages ongoing trust that God hears and responds.
Does Matthew 7:7 mean God gives us whatever we ask for?
Not exactly. Jesus goes on to compare God with a good father who gives good gifts. Many readers understand that God answers in ways that are truly good, which may differ from the request. The promise is about God's attentive, generous care, not an automatic yes.
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