Luke 11:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

NIV: For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

NASB: For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.

CSB: For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

NLT: For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

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

NKJV: For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

This continues Jesus' comparison of God's generosity to that of an annoyed friend. He has told the disciples the parable of the persistent neighbor. In the middle of the night, a neighbor bangs on a man's door requesting bread for a traveling friend who has just arrived. The man doesn't want to get up and awaken his children, but the neighbor will not stop asking, seeking, and knocking for bread. Eventually, the man gets up and gets the bread (Luke 11:5–8).

Jesus says God will not be so reluctant. He is more than willing to fulfill the requests He outlined in the Lord's Prayer: those that align with the commission to His disciples to go out and preach the kingdom of God (Luke 11:1–4; 10:1–9). In this context, Jesus is talking about equipping His followers in ministry. If they ask for an open door to spread the message of the kingdom, they will receive it. The narrow door of Luke 13:22–30 is a different situation, talking about people who refuse to follow Jesus but expect to go to heaven. In that case, their request for an open door is too late.

Next, Jesus will compare God's graciousness with the natural love of a father. If a son asks for food, an earthly father will not give him a deadly animal. The disciples should understand that their heavenly Father will be even more generous (Luke 11:11–13).

Luke 11:9–13 is the last bit of the last story (Luke 11:1–13) of the first section (Luke 9:51—11:13) of what some refer to as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem." The larger section is on the blessings and responsibilities of following Jesus. This last story is on prayer: here, on how God is good and will answer our prayers because He loves us. This is also found in Matthew 7:7–11, although Luke's account may be a later event.

Jesus teaches the disciples how to pray and explains God's intent to give "good" to those who ask. He then exorcizes a demon and refutes the claim that His power is satanic. Jesus explains that unreasonable skeptics will only see the "sign of Jonah." He then criticizes the superficial legalism of the Pharisees. In response, they plot against Him.

In what some scholars refer to as "The Travelogue to Jerusalem" (Luke 9:51—19:27), Jesus prepares His disciples for His crucifixion and resurrection and the establishment of the church. The description begins with Christ teaching the disciples how to spread the news of the kingdom of God and reaffirming how they will be blessed, culminating in the Lord's Prayer (Luke 9:51—11:13). Luke 11 finishes with accounts of leaders who reject Jesus. The remainder of the travelogue gives a pattern of teaching on the kingdom of God, miracles, and explanations of salvation. Then Jesus enters Jerusalem to face the cross.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.