Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 7:8
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
8. The triple formula covers every kind of want. The prayer shall be granted, the treasure found, the gate of heaven opened. St Luk 13:24-25. Observe the climax: ask seek knock; the fervour of the prayer must grow more and more intense.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. For every one that asketh receiveth] Prayer is always heard after one manner or other. No soul can pray in vain that prays as directed above. The truth and faithfulness of the Lord Jesus are pledged for its success. – Ye SHALL receive – ye SHALL find-it SHALL be opened. These words are as strongly binding on the side of God, as thou shalt do no murder is on the side of man. Bring Christ’s word, and Christ’s sacrifice with thee, and not one of Heaven’s blessings can be denied thee. See Clarke on Lu 11:9.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
8. For every one that askethreceiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh itshall be openedOf course, it is presumed that he asksarightthat is, in faithand with an honest purpose to make useof what he receives. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask ofGod. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering (undecided whether tobe altogether on the Lord’s side). For he that wavereth is like awave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not thatman think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (Jas1:5-7). Hence, “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye askamiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (Jas4:3).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For everyone that asketh receiveth,…. For God is no respecter of persons; whoever makes application, be he a Jew, or a Gentile, rich or poor, bond or free, a man of great gifts, or mean parts, provided he asks aright, from right principles, and with right views, shall not lose his labour; but shall receive all such good things at the hand of God, as are suitable and convenient for him.
And he that seeketh findeth; he that seeks for God in Christ, the grace and mercy of God, the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; that seeks after the true riches, both of grace and glory, shall be sure to find them; see Pr 21:21.
And to him that knocketh it shall be opened: that is, to him that is constant at the throne of grace, who continues knocking at the door of mercy, and will have no denial, it shall be opened to him; and he shall have entrance into the holiest of all by the blood of Jesus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “For every one that seeketh receiveth;” (pas gar ho aiton lambanei) “Because everyone persistently asking receives,” even from men, and more-so from God, Luk 11:5-10; Mr 11:24; Mat 21:22.
2) “And he that seeketh findeth;” (kai ho zeton heuriskei) “And the one (each one) persistently seeking finds;” Such as seek Him with all their hearts find Him, Jer 29:13; Pro 8:17; Joh 14:13-14.
3) “And to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (kai to krousonti anoigesetai) “And to the continually knocking one it shall be opened;” Christ knocks at our hearts’ door, we let him or ask Him in as a resident guest, before we ask at the door of mercy. If we expect Him to open the door of His mercy, we must first open the door of our heart to Him. He forces His residence in the heart of no one. Nicodemus knocked by night, Joh 3:1-16; The palsied knocked by day; both were heard, Mr 2:5-12.
HOW TO KNOCK
When thou standest before His gate, knock loudly and boldly, not as a beggar knocks, but as one who belongs to the house; not as a vagabond, who is afraid of the police, but as a friend and an intimate acquaintance; not as one who is apprehensive of being troublesome, or of coming at an improper time, but of a guest who may rest assured of a hearty welcome.
Dr. F. W. Krummacher
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
8. For every one that asketh receiveth Some think that this is a proverbial saying taken from common life: but I am more inclined to a different view. Christ presents the grace of his Father to those who pray. He tells us, that God is of himself prepared to listen to us, provided we pray to him, and that his riches are at our command, provided we ask them. These words imply, that those who are destitute of what is necessary, and yet do not resort to this remedy for their poverty, are justly punished for their slothfulness. It is certain, indeed, that often, when believers are asleep, God keeps watch over their salvation, and anticipates their wishes. Nothing could be more miserable for us than that, amidst our great indifference, or—I would rather say—amidst our great stupidity, God were to wait for our prayers, or that, amidst our great thoughtlessness, he were to take no notice of us. Nay more, it is only from himself that he is induced to bestow upon us faith, which goes before all prayers in order and in time. But as Christ here addresses disciples, he merely reminds us in what manner our heavenly Father is pleased to bestow upon us his gifts. Though he gives all things freely to us, yet, in order to exercise our faith, he commands us to pray, that he may grant to our requests those blessings which flow from his undeserved goodness.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
8. Asketh receiveth Coming into the kingdom of God, and under his paternity, we have the child’s right of petition. Gifts, even the highest gift, his own Holy Spirit, and much more all lower gifts suitable for us, will he grant. And the only limitation of our asking is that we confine ourselves to the proper relation of the child; and the only limitation of the gift, and so of the promise, is that God will give only what is suitable to his character as Father to grant. The child cannot expect to command favours out of his proper sphere, or at the improper time. Of these the parent is the wise judge. So the child of the heavenly Father must not interpret this promise licentiously, as if God would obey his orders at the moment he chooses. The promise only affirms that, unlike the Gentile, he enjoys the privileges of accepted prayer, and receives the returns that the infinite Father sees best.
Seeketh findeth To seek is a stronger act than to ask. Not everything is obtained by the means and at the moment of uttered supplication. What we are to seek first, we are told in Mat 5:33. It is the kingdom of God and his righteousness, in opposition to all those things which the Gentiles seek, Mat 5:32. And in that kingdom, revelations of wisdom and goodness, of experience and attainment, are granted to him who earnestly employs his day and strength in seeking. Knock opened And this completes the climax. Knock, and the strait gate (Mat 7:14) and the narrow way shall be opened unto you. And if we continue to knock through life, the heavenly kingdom above will open its everlasting doors. Those, indeed, there will be who will begin to stand without and to knock at the door, (Luk 13:25,) and the voice of the Lord will pierce through the door still closed, saying, Depart. There are Gentiles in heathendom that know not the heavenly Father, and Gentiles in Christendom that know not the Son.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
A For every one who asks receives,
B And he who seeks finds,
C And to him who knocks it will be opened.
And as they persevere in prayer for the coming of His Kingly Rule and the power of His Holy Spirit, along with all His other precious gifts, they will ask and will receive, they will seek and find His presence and all that He has promised them, they will knock and His door will be opened to welcome them and to give them His provision (compare Heb 10:19-23). It should be noted that this is not a suggestion that they may receive whatever they ask for regardless of what it is. There is nothing selfish about what they are to seek here. For the context limits its significance to ‘what is holy’, to what His own prayer provided for them as the basis for their asking, and to the other gifts offered throughout His Sermon. But what could be greater than those? Indeed what is requested there should be our chief concern. That is why He taught them the Lord’s Prayer (it comes in the same context in Luke where it is connected to similar words to these), and that is why He promised them gifts and rewards. For the whole aim behind all this is that they might come to know the Father more really and intensely, might carry forward His will, and might have real confidence in Him.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Ver. 8. For every one that asketh receiveth, &c. ] And he is worthily miserable that will not be happy for asking. “Prayer,” saith Lambert the martyr, “is in Scripture much commended, and many great and unmeasurable benefits are shown to ensue thereupon, that men should the more lustily give themselves thereunto.” Thus Jacob wrestling with God, both by might and slight (as the word signifieth), both by the strength of his body and force of his faith, he grounded his prayer upon God’s gracious promise, which he rolls as sugar in his mouth, and repeats it again and again, Gen 32:9 ; Gen 32:12 . See the same course taken, 2Sa 7:25 ; 1Ki 8:25 , &c.; Dan 9:2-3 Psa 12:5-7 Act 4:25 , &c. Cast anchor of hope in the darkest desertion, wait for day, and pray, as those in the shipwreck,Act 27:33-44Act 27:33-44 , pleading that precious promise, Isa 50:10 . This help if we use not, we shall either pray coldly, offer incense without fire; or as the Pharisees, proudly; or as the Thessalonians, as men without hope; which is to deny our own prayers. He cannot possibly be poor that can pray in faith, because God is rich to all such,Rom 10:12Rom 10:12 , and giveth richly ( ) to such as so ask,Jas 1:5Jas 1:5 . Never did the hand of faith knock in vain at God’s gate. The Aediles (or chamberlains) among the Romans had ever their doors standing open, for all that had occasion of request or complaint to have free access to them. God’s mercy doors are wide open to the prayers of his faithful people. The Persian kings held it a piece of their silly glory to deny an easy access to their greatest subjects. It was death to solicit them uncalled. Esther herself was afraid. But the King of heaven manifesteth himself to his people, Joh 14:21 , calls to his spouse with, “Let me see thy face, let me hear thy voice,” Son 2:14 ; and assigneth her negligence herein as the cause of her soul sickness. The door of the tabernacle was not of any hard or debarring matter, but a veil, which is easily penetrable. And whereas in the temple none came near to worship but only the high priests, others stood without in the outer court; God’s people are now a kingdom of priests, and are said to worship in the temple and at the altar, Rev 11:1 ; “Let us therefore draw near with a true heart, in full assurance of faith;” “let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need,”Heb 10:22Heb 10:22 ; Heb 4:16 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
8. ] The only limitation to this promise, which, under various forms, is several times repeated by our Lord, is furnished in Mat 7:9-11 , and in Jas 4:3 , .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mat 7:8 , teration in form of a general proposition: , for every one, etc.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
8.] The only limitation to this promise, which, under various forms, is several times repeated by our Lord, is furnished in Mat 7:9-11, and in Jam 4:3, .
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 7:8. , every one) that asketh, even from man, much more from God.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 15:22-28, 2Ch 33:1, 2Ch 33:2, 2Ch 33:19, Psa 81:10, Psa 81:16, Joh 2:2, Joh 3:8-10, Luk 23:42, Luk 23:43, Act 9:11
Reciprocal: Exo 33:7 – sought 1Sa 23:11 – And the Lord 1Ki 3:5 – Ask what 1Ch 16:10 – let the heart 1Ch 28:9 – if thou seek 2Ch 1:7 – Ask 2Ch 15:2 – if ye seek him 2Ch 33:13 – he was entreated Ezr 8:23 – and he was entreated Job 8:5 – thou wouldest Psa 27:4 – seek Pro 2:5 – shalt Pro 8:17 – those Isa 55:6 – Seek Isa 58:9 – shalt thou Jer 29:12 – General Eze 36:37 – I will yet Amo 5:4 – Seek Zep 2:3 – Seek ye Zec 10:1 – ye Mat 6:5 – when Mat 7:24 – whosoever Mat 20:31 – but they cried Luk 11:9 – Ask Joh 16:24 – ask Act 8:22 – pray Act 10:2 – and prayed Phi 4:6 – in Jam 4:2 – because 1Jo 3:22 – whatsoever
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7:8
This is an assurance of fulfillment of the preceding verse, the key to it being in the words every one. Since God is no respecter of persons (Act 10:34), it follows that all who meet the conditions set forth in the preceding verse will be favored of God without partiality as to who the individual is.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 7:8. For every one that asketh, etc. An invariable rule; a plain promise, not for the future, but for the present, since our Lord says: receiveth, findeth, it is opened. This promise, several times repeated by our Lord, is limited only by the verses which follow; comp., however, Jas 4:3, Ye ask and receive not; because ye ask amiss. God always answers the right kind of prayer, but in His own right way.