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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 7:7-11

Our Saviour, in the foregoing chapter, had spoken of prayer as a commanded duty, by which God is honoured, and which, if done aright, shall be rewarded; here he speaks of it as the appointed means of obtaining what we need, especially grace to obey the precepts he had given, some of which are so displeasing to flesh and blood. I. Here is a precept in three words to the same purport, Ask, Seek, Knock (Matt. 7:7); that is, in one word, ?Pray; pray often; pray with sincerity and seriousness;... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 7:7-11

7:7-11 Keep on asking, and it will be given you; Keep on seeking, and you will find; Keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you. For everyone that asks receives; And he who seeks finds; And to him who knocks it will be opened. What man is there, who, if his son will ask him for bread, will give him a stone? Or, if he will ask for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If, then, you, who are grudging, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:7

Ask and it shall be given you ,.... This is to be understood of asking of God in prayer, for such things as are wanting; whether of a temporal nature, as food and raiment, which Christ, in the former chapter, had warned against an immoderate and anxious concern for; or of a spiritual nature, as grace, and wisdom to behave in a proper manner, both towards God and men: and such, who ask according to the will of God, in the name of Christ, and under the direction, guidance, and influence of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:7

Ask - seek - knock - These three words include the ideas of want, loss, and earnestness. Ask: turn, beggar at, the door of mercy; thou art destitute of all spiritual good, and it is God alone who can give it to thee; and thou hast no claim but what his mercy has given thee on itself. Seek: Thou hast lost thy God, thy paradise, thy soul. - Look about thee - leave no stone unturned there is no peace, no final salvation for thee till thou get thy soul restored to the favor and image of... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:7

Verse 7 Matthew 7:7.Ask, and it shall be given you It is an exhortation to prayer: and as in this exercise of religion, which ought to be our first concern, we are so careless and sluggish, Christ presses the same thing upon us under three forms of expression. There is no superfluity of language, when he says, Ask, seek, knock: but lest the simple doctrine should be unimpressive, he perseveres in order to rouse us from our inactivity. Such is also the design of the promises that are added, Ye... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:1-12

(2) As anxiety about the things of this life hinders us Godwards ( Matthew 6:19-34 ), so does censoriousness manwards ( Matthew 7:1-12 ), our Lord thus tacitly opposing two typically Jewish faults. Censoriousness—the personal danger of having it ( Matthew 7:1 , Matthew 7:2 ), its seriousness as a sign of ignorance and as a hindrance to spiritual vision ( Matthew 7:3-5 ), even though there must be a recognition of great moral differences ( Matthew 7:6 ). Grace to overcome it... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:1-12

Sermon on the mount: 6. Against judging others. This "Judge not, that ye be not judged," comes in unexpectedly, and seems out of its place. But the superficial, ostentatious righteousness which our Lord has been exposing betrays itself in nothing more certainly than in censoriousness. To sigh and shake the head over a sinful world is one of the easiest roads to a reputation for sanctity. The reasons our Lord gives for refraining from judging others are two. 1 . If we judge harshly and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:1-20

Various practical rules issuing out of the central duty of self-consecration. I. CONDUCT TOWARDS OTHERS . 1 . Gentleness in our estimate of the lives of others. The hypocrites trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others; they made an ostentatious display of their own supposed good deeds, and passed stern judgments on their neighbours. The righteousness of Christ's disciples must exceed that of the Pharisees in both respects. Indeed, Christ's words must not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:7

Ask … seek … knock . Gradation in urgency. Further, the three clauses think of the Giver, the sphere in which the gift lies, the obstacles in the way of obtaining it. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:7

The condition on which answer to prayer depends. The reference to prayer seems to be introduced here as an "aside;" but the connection is not difficult to trace. Our Lord had been calling his disciples to duties which would make the most serious demands on them. They would be sure to feel the need of sustaining and supporting grace, such as comes only from God. Then let them be quite sure that they could always have this grace for the asking; but let them be also quite sure that they would... read more

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