Matthew 7:8Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

2:16) and who seek diverse delicacies by journeying across the seas should also be willing to engage in a small amount of work for the sake of everlasting life. If someone approaches the pursuit of sacred truth by shedding the burdens of this flawed life, laying aside all malice, and, like an athlete of faith, anointing their spirit with the oil of the Holy Spirit, entering into the contest for wisdom, they will receive the eternal reward of a holy crown, for the outcomes of good deeds are commendable (Prem. 3:15), and with greater exertion comes a more splendid reward for virtues (cf. 2 Tim. 4:8).

This serves as a confirmation of His promise, emphasizing that one should not lose heart when immediate results are not evident, but rather persevere with fervent desire. Thus, He may delay granting your request, so that you are encouraged to seek more diligently, and He may not promptly open the door, to inspire you to press forward. In human interactions, persistence can often lead to annoyance, but this is not the case with God; instead, He is sorrowed when you do not persist, for He desires your steadfastness and fervor. He longs for you to ask with passion and determination, and in such instances, He surely will provide. However, if someone requests and does not receive, it may be because their request was made unworthily, or through a lack of zeal, or too insistently. Therefore, these three elements must be harmoniously integrated.

If you lack the strength to faithfully adhere to the commandments of the Gospel, beseech the Almighty God for fortitude, and He will provide you with the empowering grace of the Holy Spirit. The divine treasure of God’s grace is obscured from you by your transgressions; pursue it earnestly with the illumination of God’s word, and you will undoubtedly discover it within your heart. The awareness of your sinfulness and unworthiness may prevent you from boldly approaching your heavenly Father and entering His presence, yet knock at the door of His compassionate heart, and it will be opened to you. Every person, regardless of how great their sins may be, who sincerely asks, receives; he who earnestly seeks will find; and it shall be opened for him who persistently knocks. In light of this unchangeable promise from the very source of eternal Truth, which unrepentant sinner would dare lose hope in God’s mercy or in the prospect of salvation? Moreover, to further strengthen the faith of believers in the eternal readiness of our heavenly Father to hear our cries and to generously bestow upon us His goodness, the Saviour cites the affection that earthly fathers hold for their children (see Matthew 7:9-10).

These teachings were not only meant for the time and specific individuals but were intended as a guiding standard for all His followers, rooted in the eternal truths of Divine holiness and the fundamental moral laws mandated by the Creator within human nature.

The elect had not sought formal education elsewhere, aside from a brief time among John’s disciples; this included individuals like Andrew and John. The Lord selected those who demonstrated genuine love and trust in Him, untainted by misguided notions of enlightenment, and took it upon Himself to educate them. He instructed them not just through words but also through His actions, whether in solitude or amidst the crowd, in homes, on paths, on land, and on the sea. What remained unclear to others, He illuminated for them. They served as constant witnesses to His life and miracles; He steadily removed the biases they carried from Jewish teachings. While He did not erase all their misunderstandings, He transformed them into personal lessons, encouraging them to engage in discussions about familiar topics without allowing them to forget that He was aware of not only their dialogues but also the hidden thoughts of all men. He tempered their emotional responses and aligned their hearts with their responsibilities. In essence, He purified and enlightened their minds and souls, preparing them for the complete outpouring of the Spirit of truth and sanctification. Initially, they were disciples of the Lord, but at the conclusion of His ministry, He referred to them as friends (Jn. 15:14-15) since He revealed everything to them, ultimately calling them brothers.

The words of Christ emphasize that “All the more your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask Him” (11:13). Luke adds that He will bestow the Holy Spirit upon those who seek Him. Among the numerous blessings that the heavenly Father showers upon believers in Christ, the most significant is highlighted, as its reception ensures that all other blessings will surely follow.

However, it is essential to remember that this quest for the Kingdom of Heaven cannot be accomplished by human strength alone; divine assistance is necessary. Thus, pray, ask, and it will be given to you. Anyone who diligently searches will find, and those who knock persistently will have the door opened to them. Is there anyone among you who, when his son requests bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish, would offer a serpent? If you, being sinful, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father provide good things to those who ask Him? Many grumble against God for not receiving instant responses to their petitions and may even turn to despair or, worse, disbelief. As Chrysostom wisely pointed out, if you do not receive promptly, do not lose hope; Christ has taught that one must continue knocking, suggesting that if the door does not open right away, patience is required. If you persistently seek God, you will receive what you ask for, even if it takes time. The door is sometimes closed to encourage you to strive harder; thus, you must keep asking. But if you wonder, what if I ask and do not receive?—the Savior offers a parable to guide you on what truly should be requested. Is there any among you who, when asked by his son for bread, would give him a stone? Therefore, if you find yourself not receiving, it may be because you are asking for what is not beneficial. Being a child of God does not automatically guarantee that all requests will be granted, especially if they are for things that do not serve your spiritual growth. Do not seek worldly items; rather, aim for spiritual treasures, and you will undoubtedly receive them. If you wonder why you do not see answers to your spiritual petitions, the reason could be that you are not seeking diligently, you may not be worthy of what you ask, or you may have stopped asking altogether. Yet you might question, why did the Savior not specify what to request? He has already given enough guidance earlier (St. John Chrysostom. Conversations on the Gospel of Matthew. 23). He instructed: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things (referring to earthly concerns) will be added to you (Matthew 6:33). Should we truly dismiss all earthly matters as if they are merely stones unworthy of our Heavenly Father's attention? Did not Christ Himself teach us to pray for our daily bread? That provision indeed encompasses everything essential for sustaining human life. After all, Jesus prayed for the sick and healed them, demonstrating that it is permissible to request health and deliverance from ailments. Since bodily well-being is crucial for life, similar to food, drink, and other necessities, we must conclude that while Christ did not forbid asking for worldly or temporary goods, His primary intent in the exhortation of "Ask and it will be given to you" was to guide us toward desiring that which leads to eternal life. Through this encouragement, He promised His disciples and all listeners divine assistance in obeying His commandments and bearing the yoke He prescribed. In essence, this yoke is lighter than it may initially appear. All of Christ’s commands, all that He asks of us, can be distilled into His concluding statement: In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you; for everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." Through these relatable illustrations, Jesus Christ emphasized the importance of steadfast, ongoing prayer to God, who is the source of all blessings. Even though the All-Knowing One is aware of our needs before we express them, and in His mercy is ready to provide for our every requirement, our heartfelt and humble prayers signify our faith and love for Him. St. Philaret of Moscow noted that "he who does not ask for grace from God is unable to receive it, having a heart that is closed." St. John Chrysostom further explained that when others are not heard, it is often because they request things that are of no value; in such instances, it is preferable to remain unheard than to receive that which might not serve our good. Jesus illustrated this understanding through the analogy of a father responding to his son's needs: "Or who among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?" Following this, He highlighted the difference between earthly and divine goodness, stating: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father, who knows when and how to give, give good things to those who ask Him."