Let's Take A Look At The Meaning Of Matthew 7:7
Bible Students
"Come Let Us Reason Together"
Ask, Seek, Knock Word Study
God willing, we are going to compare a few different translations of Matthew 7:7 and find out which one is most accurate.
Come Let Us Reason Together - 306
Please feel free to listen to this AUDIO, and as you do, scroll through all the notes and sketches below, as there will be additional information, not always covered on each radio show.
Comparing Translations
Below, we are going to take a look at a few different English translations of Matthew 7:7 and see which one is most accurate when compared with the original Greek text.
Panin's Bible:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.
King James Bible:
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible:
Be asking and it shall be given you, be seeking and you shall find, be knocking and it shall be opened unto you.
Christian Standard Bible:
Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
Wait a minute, the Christian Standard version says: keep asking, keep searching, keep knocking
Which version is right? We've always thought that Panin's was the most correct.
Let's check out what the Greek says!
Original Greek Bible:
Ask = αιτείτε
Seek = ζητείτε
Knock = κρουετε
Next, let's take a look at our Greek concordance and investigate what tense these words, ask, seek and knock are in. By doing this, we will find if the translation would be more accurately translated as asking, seeking and knocking.
To do this, let's look at the Stegenga Concordance
Ask - page 37
Seek - page 326
Knock - page 440
Stegenga Concordance
Taking a look at the Greek words for ask, seek & knock.
1.) Ask = αιτείτε
• Present tense = today, right now
• Imperative Mood = command
• Active Voice = takes action
You are all commanded to keep asking and are required to take action!
2.) Seek = ζητείτε
• Present tense = today, right now
• Imperative Mood = command
• Active Voice = takes action
You are all commanded to keep seeking and are required to take action!
3.) Knock = κρουετε
• Present tense = today, right now
• Imperative Mood = command
• Active Voice = takes action
You are all commanded to keep knocking and are required to take action!
Rotherham's Emphasized Bible:
Be asking and it shall be given you, be seeking and you shall find, be knocking and it shall be opened unto you.
Christian Standard Bible:
Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
Rotherham's Bible & the Christian Standard Bible appear to be the winners here.
What is it that we are to ask for?
Matthew 7:7-8
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.
- ASK and IT will be given you. What is IT?
- SEEK and you shall find. What is it we will find?
- KNOCK and IT shall be opened to you. What is IT?
What do we ask for first?
Jeremiah 6:16
Thus says Yahweh, "Stand by the ways and see and ASK for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls.
The Bible Answer: "...the ancient paths, where the good way is..."
Proverbs 14:12
There is a way right to a man, but its end is the way of death.
Man's way leads to death - God's way is the opposite way - it's known as the Good Way!
Matthew 3:3
The very beginning of the gospel message, God sent His messenger before Jesus to "Make ready THE WAY OF THE LORD, make His paths straight."
This occurred before Jesus started His ministry.
Ask, Seek, Knock Word Study
Let's continue on and look at the mate Scripture to Matthew 7:7 which is found in Luke 11:9-13.
Let's compare and see what we are to ask, seek & knock for.
Come Let Us Reason Together - 307
Please feel free to listen to this AUDIO, and as you do, scroll through all the notes and sketches below, as there will be additional information, not always covered on each radio show.
In Light of the Tent of Meeting
Matthew 7:13-14
Enter through the narrow gate; for wide and spacious is the way that leadeth unto the destruction, and many are they that enter thereby. Because narrow is the gate, and straitened THE WAY that leadeth unto the LIFE, and few are they that find it.
From these Bible verses, we must first enter by the narrow gate to the:
1.) Good Way
2.) Way that leads to LIFE
3.) Way of the LORD
In the Tent of Meeting, one encounters:
1st the Altar of Sacrifice
2nd the Laver
One could not go around or ignore either, but had to DO something at both the Alter and the Laver.
God's way is in the sanctuary
the Tent of Meeting or sactuary
Psalms 77:13
"Thy Way, O God, is in the Sanctuary." (King James Bible Version)
Hebrews 8:5 (1-5)
Paul is telling about the Sanctuary or Tabernacle.
"Who serve as a COPY and SHADOW of the heavenly things, as Moses was admonished by God when he was about to make the TABERNACLE. For He says see that you make all things according to the PATTERN shown to you on the mountain."
The Sanctuary is also know as:
• The Tabernacle
• The Tent of Meeting
Just to name a few
The TABERNACLE is a PATTERN or BLUEPRINT, shown to Moses that shows: THE WAY OF THE LORD
Ask, Seek, Knock Word Study
Let's continue looking at some Scriptures about God's Way that is in the Sanctuary and other names for God's House.
Come Let Us Reason Together - 308
Please feel free to listen to this AUDIO, and as you do, scroll through all the notes and sketches below, as there will be additional information, not always covered on each radio show.
3 rooms in the tent of meeting
There are 3 rooms in the Tent of Meeting or the Sanctuary beginning at the innermost room.
1.) The Holy of Holies, found in Hebrews 9:3 "And behind the 2nd veil of the Sanctuary which is called the Holy of Holies."
2.) The Holy Place in Hebrews 9:2, For there was a Tabernacle prepared, the first, in which was candlestick, the table and the shewbread, which is called the Holy Place.
3.) The Courtyard in Ezekiel 10:5, "...the sound of the wings of the cherubum was heard as far the Outer Court, like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks." In Exodus 27:9, it's called the Court of the Tabernacle
3 doors into the tent of meeting
There are 3 doors into the innermost room of the Tent of Meeting or the Sanctuary entering God's House from the East.
1.) Exodus 27:16, "For the Gate of the Court, a screen of 20 cubits of blue and purple and scarlet fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver..."
2.) Exodus 26:36 "You shall make a screen for the Doorway of the Tent of blue and purple and scarlet and fine twisted linen, the work of a weaver."
3.) Exodus 26:31 "You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet and fine twisted linen, it shall be made with cherubim,, the work of a skillful workman."
Ask, Seek, Knock Word Study
Listen along for a review about asking, seeking & knocking and how to enter into God's House, His Sanctuary, the Tent of Meeting.
Come Let Us Reason Together - 309
Please feel free to listen to this AUDIO, and as you do, scroll through all the notes and sketches below, as there will be additional information, not always covered on each radio show.
Must Seek the Lord
Amos 5:4, "For thus says the Yahweh to the house of Israel, SEEK Me that you may live".
Deuteronomy 12:5 "But you shall SEEK Yahweh at the place which Yahweh your God will choose from all your tribes, to establish His name there for His dwelling, and there you shall come.
Psalms 11:4 Yahweh is in His holy temple; Yahweh's throne is in heaven;
3 types of doors in god's house
before we can get to the Holy of Holies, there are three types of doors we must enter by
Jesus gives Peter Keys
Matthew 16:18-19 (13-20)
Jesus speaking: "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loose in heaven."
Let's ask some investigative questions pertaining to this context:
- Who did Jesus give the keys to the kingdom of heaven to?
- What are the purpose of keys?
- When would these keys be used?
- Where do keys belong?
- Why would the Father have keys to the kingdom of heaven?
- How many keys did Jesus give out?...at least more than one.
Jesus is the door
John 10:7-9 (7-18)
Jesus therefore said again, "Amen, amen I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. All that came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; by me if an enter, he shall be saved, and shall go in and go out, and find pasture."
John 14:6
Jesus saith to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one cometh unto the Father, but through Me."
• Jesus states that He is the DOOR.
• To get to the Father, one must enter through Jesus (DOOR)
• Jesus has a way to do this and it must be done in truth.
• The outcome of this way done in truth is life!
So Jesus gave Peter keys to the kingdom of heaven - and keys unlock doors - and God has doors into His house.