Luke 11:5-13 ESV
5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 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; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Verse 10 is an interesting verse.
We’ve all said “ask, seek, knock” a million times and it brings back many childhood bible lessons. The interesting words to me in this verse are actually the “result” words: receives, finds, and “will be opened”.
Receives = it’s what we read it to be with the connotation of being granted “something.”
Finds = to discover, to uncover, to gain or learn information not previously known.
Will be opened = this is the word that caught me off guard. It means “to open”, but what’s interesting is the connotation of “open”. While the action word before it is knock (and implies knocking on a door or gate). All the rest of the definitions of this word, anoigo (in the Greek) – patah (in Hebrew), imply speaking: speaking the complete truth, to cause to be able to see -even spiritual truth.
This is the same word used in Revelations 3:20
20 ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.
For me, “ask / receive” is a basic level of request, and because God is a good Papa and our relationship is based on sonship with him and not friendship – as the neighbor’s relationship is based – He promises that “everyone who asks receives“. Does mean I’m getting a Porshe? Not at all. The neighbor’s request had nothing to do with the himself. He was seeking something needed for someone else. He was not seeking selfish desires and wants.
“Seek / Find” implies a little more direction and time. There is much satisfaction in gaining understanding of something not previously known or finding something of value when seeking it.
“Knock /Opened” indicate an action-like persistence and shameless gumption. Heb 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. While I do not believe at all that I can “do” anything to make God answer my plea, I do believe my heart has to be right and I have to have confidence as I approach my Father in Heaven as his son.
Daddy, I let me come boldly into your presence… I’m knocking, knowing that it will be opened…
Running After Papa…