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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mat_7:7-11
7Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will ?Hebrews 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Mat_7:7 "ask. . .seek. . .knock" These are all present imperatives which speak of habitual, lifestyle commands (cf. Deu_4:29; Jer_29:13). It is important that one balance human persistence with God's responsive character. Believers cannot force God to do that which is not good for them. However, at the same time, they can bring any need to their heavenly Father. Jesus prayed the same prayer in Gethsemane three times (cf. Mar_15:36; Mar_15:39; Mar_15:41; Mat_26:39; Mat_26:42; Mat_26:44). Paul also prayed three times about his thorn in the flesh (cf. 2Co_12:8). But the great thing about prayer is not that one receives a specific answer to his request, but that he has spent time with the Father. See hyperlink at Mat_18:19.
Mat_7:8-10 Persistence is important (cf. Luk_18:2-8). However, it does not coerce a reluctant God but reveals the level of interest and concern of the person. Neither one's many words nor his repeated prayers will motivate the Father to give that which is not in one's best interest. The best thing believers get in prayer is a growing relationship and dependence on God.
Mat_7:9-10 Jesus used the analogy of a father and son to describe the mystery of prayer. Matthew gives two examples while Luke gives three (cf. Luk_11:12). The whole point of the illustrations was that God will give believers the "good things." Luke defines this "good" as "the Holy Spirit" (cf. Luk_11:13). Often the worst thing our Father could do for us is answer our inappropriate, selfish prayers! All three examples are a play on things that look alike: stone as bread, fish as eel, and egg as a coiled, pale scorpion.
The questions of Mat_7:9-10 expect a "no" answer (like Mat_7:16).
Mat_7:11 "If you then" This is a first class conditional sentence, which is assumed to be true from the author's perspective or for his literary purposes. In rather an oblique way this is an affirmation of the sinfulness of all men (cf. Rom_3:9; Rom_3:23). The contrast is between evil human beings and a loving God. God shows His character by the analogy of the human family.
▣ "give what is good to those who ask Him" The parallel in Luk_11:13 has "Holy Spirit" in place of "good." There is no article in Luke; therefore, it could mean "the gifts" given by the Holy Spirit. This cannot be used as a proof text that one must ask God for the Holy Spirit, for the thrust of Scripture is that the Holy Spirit indwells believers at salvation (cf. Rom_8:9 and Gal_3:2-3; Gal_3:5; Gal_3:14). Yet there is a sense in which the filling of the Spirit is repeatable based on believers'volition (cf. Eph_5:18).