Matthew 7:8-11

7:8 For everyone who asks ¹  receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 7:9 Is ²  there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 7:10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ³  7:11 If you then, although you are evil, ⁴  know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts ⁵  to those who ask him!

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¹ sn The actions of asking, seeking, and knocking are repeated here from v. 7 with the encouragement that God does respond.

² tn Grk “Or is there.”

³ sn The two questions of vv. 9-10 expect the answer, “No parent would do this!”

⁴ tn The participle ὄντες (ontes) has been translated concessively.

⁵ sn The provision of the good gifts is probably a reference to the wisdom and guidance supplied in response to repeated requests. The teaching as a whole stresses not that we get everything we want, but that God gives the good that we need.