Matthew 7:8

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 Matthew 5:33. It is the kingdom of God and his righteousness, in opposition to all those things which the Gentiles seek, Matthew 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 (Matthew 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, (Luke 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.