The Meaning of Matthew 7:8 Explained

Matthew 7:8

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

YLT: for every one who is asking doth receive, and he who is seeking doth find, and to him who is knocking it shall be opened.

Darby: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Matthew 7:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 7:1-12 - Judging Self Asking God Serving Others
There is abundant need for a right and sound judgment, illumined by the Spirit of truth; but there is a world of difference between it and the censorious and critical opinions which we are apt to form and utter about others. Human nature is fond of climbing up into the judgment seat and proclaiming its decisions, without hearing both sides or calling witnesses. Beware of basing your judgment on idle stories and gossip. In any case, do not utter it, if it be adverse, unless you have first prayed about it and sought to turn the sinner from the error of his ways. Let God search you, before you search another. See Psalms 139:23-24; 1 Corinthians 4:1-5; Hebrews 4:12.
We ask for a gift; we seek for what we have lost; we knock for entrance. Only a door stands between us and Christ! He will not give us stones or serpents, even if we clamor for them; but He will never fail to give good things-and above all His Holy Spirit-only we must ask for them.
The Roman Emperor Severus was so charmed with the Golden Rule that he had it inscribed on the walls of his palace. Let us inscribe it on our hearts and act on it in the power of the Holy Spirit, who sheds God's love abroad in the hearts of those who believe. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 7

1  Do Not Judge
7  Ask, Seek, Knock
13  Enter through the Narrow Gate
15  A Tree and Its Fruit
24  The Wise and the Foolish Builders
28  Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished

What do the individual words in Matthew 7:8 mean?

Everyone for - asking receives and the [one] seeking finds to the [one] knocking it will be opened
πᾶς γὰρ αἰτῶν λαμβάνει καὶ ζητῶν εὑρίσκει τῷ κρούοντι ἀνοιγήσεται

πᾶς  Everyone 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
αἰτῶν  asking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: αἰτέω  
Sense: to ask, beg, call for, crave, desire, require.
λαμβάνει  receives 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λαμβάνω  
Sense: to take.
  the  [one] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ζητῶν  seeking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ζητέω  
Sense: to seek in order to find.
εὑρίσκει  finds 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εὑρίσκω  
Sense: to come upon, hit upon, to meet with.
τῷ  to  the  [one] 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
κρούοντι  knocking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: κρούω  
Sense: to knock: at the door.
ἀνοιγήσεται  it  will  be  opened 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀνοίγω 
Sense: to open.