Luke 11:9

9 And I tell you, 1ask, and 2it will be given to you; 3seek, and you will find; 4knock, and it will be opened to you.

Luke 11:9 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 11:9

And I say unto you, ask, and it shall be given you
This is said by Christ, to encourage to prayer, and importunity in it; that if any one asks of God, in the name of Christ, and in faith, whether it be bread for the body, or food for the soul; or any blessing whatever, whether temporal or spiritual, it shall be given; not according to their deserts, but according to the riches of the grace of God; who is rich unto all that call upon him, in sincerity and truth:

seek, and ye shall find:
whether it be Christ, the pearl of great price, or God in Christ; or particularly, pardoning grace and mercy through Christ, or the knowledge of divine things; and both grace here, and glory hereafter, as men seek for hidden treasure; such shall not lose their labour, but shall enjoy all these valuable things, and whatever they are by prayer, and in the use of other means, seeking after:

knock, and it shall be opened to you;
the door of mercy with God; the door of fellowship with Christ; the door of the Gospel, and the mysteries of it and of the Gospel dispensation and church state, into which is admission, to all that seek; and the door of heaven, into which there is entrance by the blood of Jesus: the several phrases denote prayer, the continuance of it, and importunity in it; (See Gill on Matthew 7:7)

Luke 11:9 In-Context

7 and he will answer from within, 'Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything'?
8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;

Cross References 4

  • 1. For ver. 9-13, see Matthew 7:7-11
  • 2. Matthew 18:19; Matthew 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 14:13; John 15:7, 16; John 16:23, 24; James 1:5, 6, 17; 1 John 3:22; 1 John 5:14, 15
  • 3. 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Proverbs 8:17; Jeremiah 29:13; [Isaiah 55:6]
  • 4. [Revelation 3:20]
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.