Luke 11:9

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

And {G2504} I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, Ask {G154}, and {G2532} it shall be given {G1325} you {G5213}; seek {G2212}, and {G2532} ye shall find {G2147}; knock {G2925}, and {G2532} it shall be opened {G455} unto you {G5213}.

“Moreover, I myself say to you: keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Commentary

Luke 11:9 is a foundational verse in Jesus' teaching on prayer, emphasizing God's willingness to respond to His children. It follows immediately after the Parable of the Persistent Friend (Luke 11:5-8), which illustrates the power of bold and continuous petition.

Context

This verse is part of a larger discourse on prayer that Jesus delivers to His disciples. It begins with the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray, leading to what is commonly known as the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:1-4). Following this model prayer, Jesus tells the parable of a friend who, due to persistence, receives bread from his neighbor even at midnight. Luke 11:9-13 then serves as the application of this parable, asserting God's even greater readiness to give good things to those who ask. This teaching reassures believers of God's benevolent nature and His desire to answer prayer.

Key Themes

  • Divine Accessibility and Responsiveness: The verse assures believers that God is not distant or unwilling to listen. He is a Father who desires to give good gifts to His children (cf. Luke 11:13), and He is ready to respond to their earnest prayers.
  • Active and Persistent Faith: The three imperatives—"ask," "seek," "knock"—are not passive suggestions but calls to earnest, diligent, and continuous engagement in prayer. This isn't about manipulating God, but about demonstrating trust, dependence, and perseverance in one's spiritual pursuit.
  • Certainty of Outcome: The promises "it shall be given you," "ye shall find," and "it shall be opened unto you" convey a strong assurance of divine response. While not every specific request is granted exactly as imagined, God promises to meet needs according to His perfect will and wisdom.
  • Spiritual Growth through Seeking: Beyond material blessings, "seeking" often implies a deeper pursuit of God's truth, His presence, and His righteousness, leading to spiritual discovery and a closer relationship with Him.

Linguistic Insights

The original Greek verbs for "ask" (aiteō), "seek" (zēteō), and "knock" (krouō) are in the present imperative tense. This grammatical form implies continuous or habitual action. Therefore, a more literal rendering of the command could be "keep on asking," "keep on seeking," "keep on knocking." This linguistic nuance reinforces the theme of persistence highlighted in the preceding parable and in other teachings of Jesus, such as the Parable of the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-8). It underscores that prayer is an ongoing dialogue, not a one-time request.

Practical Application

Luke 11:9 powerfully encourages believers to approach God with confidence and perseverance in prayer. It reminds us that prayer is not merely a ritual but a vital means of communion with our Heavenly Father. It calls us to:

  • Pray with Expectation: Believe that God hears and will respond according to His perfect plan.
  • Pray Persistently: Do not give up easily, even when answers are not immediately apparent. Persistence refines our desires and strengthens our faith in God's timing.
  • Seek God's Will: While we ask for our desires, true seeking involves aligning our hearts with God's perfect plan, trusting that His "good gifts" are always what is best for us (cf. Romans 8:28).
  • Deepen Relationship: The act of asking, seeking, and knocking is an act of dependence, drawing us closer to the One who provides all things and desires an intimate relationship with us.

This verse, echoed in Matthew 7:7, stands as a powerful invitation to a dynamic prayer life, promising divine engagement with our earnest petitions.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Mark 11:24 (323 votes)

    Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].

  • John 16:23 (296 votes)

    And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give [it] you.

  • John 16:24 (296 votes)

    Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

  • Matthew 21:22 (260 votes)

    And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

  • John 15:16 (216 votes)

    Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

  • John 15:7 (208 votes)

    If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

  • 1 John 5:14 (200 votes)

    ¶ And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: