Luke 11:10

KJV

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} every one {G3956} that asketh {G154} receiveth {G2983}; and {G2532} he that seeketh {G2212} findeth {G2147}; and {G2532} to him that knocketh {G2925} it shall be opened {G455}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For everyone who goes on asking receives; and he who goes on seeking finds; and to him who continues knocking, the door will be opened.

Berean Standard Bible

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

American Standard Version

For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 11:10 serves as a powerful affirmation of God's unwavering responsiveness to sincere and persistent prayer, building upon Jesus' preceding instruction on the Lord's Prayer and the Parable of the Persistent Friend. It declares a divine principle: those who earnestly engage God through asking, seeking, and knocking will assuredly receive, find, and gain access. This verse underscores God's benevolent character as a Father who delights in answering His children, encouraging believers to approach Him with confidence and unwavering perseverance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Luke 11:10 is strategically placed within Jesus' profound discourse on prayer, immediately following His teaching of the model prayer, often called the Lord's Prayer, in [Luke 11:2-4](/luke/11-2-4 "The Lord's Prayer"). This foundational instruction is then reinforced by the Parable of the Persistent Friend in [Luke 11:5-8](/luke/11-5-8 "The Parable of the Persistent Friend"), which illustrates the necessity and effectiveness of audacious perseverance in prayer. Verse 10 acts as the climactic promise, a direct assurance that the divine ear is open and the divine hand is ready to respond to such persistent faith. The passage culminates with Jesus' further assurance in [Luke 11:13](/luke/11-13 "God Gives the Holy Spirit") that the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask, linking answered prayer to the ultimate gift of God's presence and power.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Jewish culture, prayer was an integral part of daily life, both communally in the synagogue and individually. Disciples often sought instruction from their rabbis on how to pray, as seen in [Luke 11:1](/luke/11-1 "Disciples Ask Jesus to Teach Them to Pray"). Jesus' teaching here contrasts with the common pagan understanding of gods who were capricious or indifferent, presenting instead a God who is a loving and responsive Father. The cultural norm of hospitality, where a friend would go to great lengths to provide for a guest, even at an inconvenient hour, as depicted in the Parable of the Persistent Friend, provides a relatable backdrop for understanding God's willingness to respond, even more so than a human friend.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully encapsulates several core themes prevalent in Jesus' teaching. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Responsiveness**, emphasizing God's active engagement and willingness to interact with His children, dispelling any notion of an aloof deity. Secondly, the triple imperative of "asketh," "seeketh," and "knocketh" underscores the theme of **Persistence in Prayer**, suggesting not a single request but a continuous, earnest, and unwavering approach to God, a concept reinforced by the preceding parable. Thirdly, the phrase "every one that asketh" conveys a **Universal Invitation**, signifying that access to God's presence and provision is open to all who genuinely turn to Him, removing any perceived barriers based on status or merit. Finally, the parallel structure of "receiveth," "findeth," and "it shall be opened" offers a strong assurance of a **Guaranteed Outcome**, promising answered prayer, discovery of divine truth, and access to God's purposes for those who engage in these spiritual actions, ultimately rooted in the character of God as a good Father, as further elaborated in [Luke 11:11-13](/luke/11-11-13 "God's Good Gifts").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **asketh (Greek, _aitéō'_):** From G154, this verb signifies a general request or petition, often implying a specific need or desire. In this context, it refers to the initial, direct appeal made to God, a simple yet profound act of vocalizing one's needs or desires to the divine.
* **seeketh (Greek, _zētéō'_):** From G2212, this word denotes a more active and diligent pursuit than merely asking. It suggests an earnest endeavor to find something, implying research, investigation, or a determined effort to discover or obtain. Spiritually, it moves beyond a simple request to a deeper, more intentional engagement with God's will and presence.
* **knocketh (Greek, _kroúō'_):** From G2925, this verb means to rap or strike, specifically referring to knocking on a door. It implies persistent and determined effort to gain entry or access. In the context of prayer, it symbolizes a resolute and unwavering determination to enter into God's presence or to gain access to His provision, even when the door seems closed.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For every one that asketh receiveth":** This clause establishes the fundamental principle of divine responsiveness. It asserts that anyone who makes a direct request to God will indeed receive a response. The Greek present tense of "asketh" (αἰτῶν, _aitōn_) and "receiveth" (λαμβάνει, _lambanei_) indicates a continuous action and a continuous outcome, implying that the act of asking is met with an ongoing reception.
* **"and he that seeketh findeth":** This second clause intensifies the engagement. "Seeking" (ζητῶν, _zētōn_) implies a more diligent and purposeful pursuit than simply asking. It suggests an active search for understanding, guidance, or a specific divine intervention. The promise is that such earnest seeking will result in "finding" (εὑρίσκει, _heuriskei_), indicating discovery, comprehension, or the realization of what was sought.
* **"and to him that knocketh it shall be opened":** The final clause represents the highest degree of persistence and determination. "Knocking" (κρούοντι, _krouonti_) signifies a persistent effort to gain entry, a resolute refusal to give up until access is granted. The passive voice "it shall be opened" (ἀνοιγήσεται, _anoigēsetai_) emphasizes that the opening is a divine action, a direct response to the persistent effort, granting full access and fulfillment.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 11:10 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Parallelism**, specifically **Synonymous Parallelism** with an element of **Climax**. The three clauses—"every one that asketh receiveth," "he that seeketh findeth," and "to him that knocketh it shall be opened"—are structurally similar, each presenting an action followed by its assured outcome. However, there is a clear **Progression** or **Climax** in the intensity of the actions: "asking" is a simple request, "seeking" implies a more diligent search, and "knocking" denotes a determined, persistent effort to gain entry. This escalating intensity highlights the increasing earnestness of the petitioner and, implicitly, the certainty of God's response to such perseverance. The verse also functions as a powerful **Promise** or **Assurance**, delivering a definitive statement about God's character and His interaction with humanity. The actions themselves can be seen as **Metaphors** for various dimensions of spiritual engagement: asking for vocal prayer, seeking for diligent spiritual pursuit and understanding, and knocking for persistent intercession and striving for divine access. The absolute nature of "every one" and the definitive "receiveth," "findeth," and "shall be opened" lend an air of **Certainty** and divine guarantee to the promise.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 11:10 profoundly shapes our understanding of prayer and God's character. It reveals a God who is not distant or indifferent, but intimately involved and actively responsive to His creation. The progression from asking to seeking to knocking illustrates that prayer is not merely a passive petition but an active, dynamic engagement with the divine will, inviting believers into a deeper relationship. This verse underscores the sovereignty of God, who orchestrates the answers, while simultaneously affirming the efficacy of human persistence and faith. It teaches that God delights in revealing Himself and His purposes to those who diligently pursue Him, emphasizing a relational dynamic where God, as a loving Father, desires to give good gifts to His children, ultimately culminating in the gift of the Holy Spirit. This assurance transforms prayer from a mere duty into a confident expectation of divine interaction and provision.

* [Matthew 7:7-8](/matthew/7-7-8 "Matthew's Parallel Teaching on Asking, Seeking, Knocking")
* [Jeremiah 29:13](/jeremiah/29-13 "Seeking God with All Your Heart")
* [1 John 5:14-15](/1_john/5-14-15 "Confidence in Prayer According to God's Will")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 11:10 offers profound encouragement and a clear directive for the believer's prayer life. It challenges us to move beyond superficial requests to a deeper, more committed engagement with God. The progression from "asking" to "seeking" to "knocking" invites us to cultivate a prayer life marked by increasing earnestness, diligence, and unwavering perseverance. This means not giving up when answers are delayed or when the path seems unclear, but pressing into God with greater intentionality, seeking His will, and persistently knocking on the door of His presence. It reassures us that our prayers are never in vain and that God, as our loving Father, is eager to hear and respond, even if His answers may not always align with our immediate expectations but always with His perfect wisdom and love. This verse calls us to trust in God's benevolent character and to approach Him with bold confidence, knowing that He desires to give good gifts to those who truly seek Him.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the progression from "asking" to "seeking" to "knocking" challenge and inform your current prayer practices?**
* **In what specific areas of your life are you called to demonstrate greater persistence and determination in prayer, rather than giving up too soon?**
* **How does the assurance of "receiving," "finding," and "opening" deepen your trust in God's character and His willingness to respond to your prayers?**

### FAQ
**Does Luke 11:10 mean God will always give me exactly what I ask for, regardless of its nature?**

Answer: No, Luke 11:10 is not a blank check for every desire. While it assures responsiveness, the context of Jesus' teaching on prayer always implies alignment with God's character and will. The subsequent verses in [Luke 11:11-13](/luke/11-11-13 "God Gives Good Gifts") clarify that God, as a good Father, gives "good gifts," specifically the Holy Spirit, to those who ask. This implies that God's answers are always for our ultimate good and according to His perfect wisdom, which may differ from our immediate desires. The promise is that sincere, persistent prayer will always receive a divine response, though the form of that answer is ultimately in God's hands.

**What if I feel like I've asked, sought, and knocked, but haven't received an answer?**

Answer: This verse encourages perseverance. If an answer isn't immediately apparent, it may be an invitation to deepen your seeking and knocking. Consider if you are truly seeking God's will, not just your own. Sometimes, the "finding" or "opening" is a deeper understanding of God's plan, a transformation within yourself, or the timing of His perfect will. The promise is not that every request will be granted exactly as imagined, but that earnest engagement with God will always yield a divine response—whether it's "yes," "no," "wait," or something entirely different that is ultimately for your good and His glory. [1 John 5:14-15](/1_john/5-14-15 "Confidence in Prayer According to God's Will") reminds us that confidence in prayer comes from asking "according to his will."

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 11:10 finds its ultimate fulfillment and deepest meaning in Jesus Christ. He is the preeminent "Asker," "Seeker," and "Knocker," perfectly embodying persistent prayer, most profoundly seen in His agony in Gethsemane, where He repeatedly prayed, "not my will, but yours be done" ([Luke 22:42](/luke/22-42 "Jesus Prays in Gethsemane")). Moreover, Jesus is the very means by which humanity gains access to the Father. He declares, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "Jesus is the Way, Truth, and Life")). He is the "door" through whom we enter into salvation and abundant life ([John 10:9](/john/10-9 "Jesus is the Door")). Through His atoning sacrifice, the veil separating humanity from God was torn ([Matthew 27:51](/matthew/27-51 "The Temple Veil Torn")), granting us bold access to the throne of grace ([Hebrews 4:16](/hebrews/4-16 "Approach the Throne of Grace with Confidence")). Thus, when we "ask, seek, and knock" in His name, we do so with the assurance that all of God's promises are "Yes" and "Amen" in Christ Jesus ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "God's Promises are Yes in Christ")), and it is the Holy Spirit, given by the Father through Christ, who empowers our prayers and intercedes for us according to God's will ([Romans 8:26-27](/romans/8-26-27 "The Spirit Helps Us in Our Weakness")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

James 4:3

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.

Psalms 31:22

For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

Lamentations 3:18

And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:

Lamentations 3:54

Waters flowed over mine head; [then] I said, I am cut off.

Lamentations 3:58

O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

Luke 18:1

¶ And he spake a parable unto them [to this end], that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

James 5:11

Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.