The three imperatives (Ask … seek … knock) are probably intended to be emphatic. In Greek they are present imperatives and may carry the force of “keep on asking … seeking … knocking” (so Barclay). Commentators point out that the imagery of knocking on a door has associations in Judaism with the study of the Law and its interpretation and with prayers for God’s mercy.

Many languages cannot say simply Ask but must specify who is being asked, and possibly what is being asked for. They would then say “Ask God” or “Ask God for what you need.” In this context Ask means to ask for, not to ask a question.

To seek means to look for, to try to find a particular thing. It is not God we are to seek in this verse, but rather we are to look to him for what we want. Thus it could be rendered “seek what you are looking for” or “seek from God what you are looking for.”

Knock refers to a way of asking that a door be opened. One cannot say “knock on God,” but it may be possible to say “knock on the door where God is” or “knock on the door that God opens.”

In many African cultures people do not normally knock on doors to request the people inside to open them. Quite often, only thieves would knock on doors (waiting to hear any noise inside before entering to steal), so the translators need to say either “ask for the door to be opened” or “clap (or cough, or call) at the door.” If the image of knocking at a door makes no sense, translators can add “to ask God’s help.”

The two passive structures (will be given to you … will be opened to you) presuppose God as the subject: “God will give you … God will open the door for you.” The last clause may be rendered accordingly: “Knock, and God will open the door for you.”

Find in this context means to find on purpose, not by accident. The phrase may be translated as “you will have (or, obtain) it” or “God will let you obtain it.”

As with Ask and seek, it may be necessary to provide objects for will be given and you will find. Thus “Ask God for what you need and he will give it to you” or “seek what you are looking for and God will let you find it” are possible ways to restructure. Similarly, translators can say “knock on God’s door and he will open it for you” or “knock on the door where God is, and he will open it and help you.” The translation can also be “… and he will open it so you can enter.”

It should be noted that this teaching is not intended to make prayer into a magical ritual, nor is it to suggest that one can coerce God into acting. The real emphasis is upon the certainty that God will answer the prayer, and that it is a prayer that every one can pray.

Scholars observe that verse 8 is in the form of a proverbial saying, as is 6.34.

Translators should use the same expressions in verse 8 that they did in verse 7. Translators should not modify what Jesus says. The language is quite absolute. It does not say “will receive something” or “will receive things that God feels we need,” but it says that God will give to those who ask (what they are asking for).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .