Ask, Seek, Knock

Jesus invites his hearers to ask, seek, and knock with confidence that the Father gives, opens, and responds. He contrasts human parents, who still give good gifts to their children, with the Father in heaven, whose goodness is greater. He then sums up neighbor conduct in the standard that the Law and the Prophets call for.

A⁷sk, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ¹²In everything, then, do to others as you would have them do to you. For this is the essence of the Law and the Prophets.