Ask and it shall be given to you

Ask and it shall be given to you is the first part of Matthew 7: 7 and Luke 11: 9, and is one of the Laws of God. We will study exactly what these words mean as taken from the Greek meanings in the Strong's Concordance.

Greek Meanings of Words

crave, desire, call for, require

Present Imperative Active Voice - the subject gives a command and is action happening right now

GIVEN (didomi - pronounced did-o-mee)

a giving that is implied by adventure, deliver up

Future Passive Voice - subject receives the action


The subject of the sentence is YOU, so it is giving a command of action. This law requires that you crave and desire the thing that you need, and not just say the words hoping that something will happen. God already knows exactly what you need, but just the same He wants you to petition Him for it. He wants to have a close and personal relationship with you, just like an earthly father and child. He also wants to bless you just as an earthly father would want to bless his earthly child.

Then the subject of the sentence, which is YOU, receives the action of being given the thing that you have petitioned for. You just never know how your Heavenly Father will answer the prayer that you have petitioned to Him. It could be in a way that you have never thought of before, and it will probably always make you feel in awe of just how big God really is. Let Him be free to work in your life in whatever way He chooses.

Please don't forget, though, that it may be some time between the asking and the receiving. Your Heavenly Father will give you what you need at the exact time, and not a moment before. You will learn, though, that you can completely trust Him to give you "His Best" each and every day. Don't give up believing that you will get what you desire as long as it is in accordance with the Bible.

What the next verse says

These two words mean essentially the same thing as the definitions that have already been given above.

ASKETH

This is the same root word, and it serves as an emphasis to the person or thing it modifies that what they desire will truly come to pass as long as it is in alignment with the Bible.

RECEIVETH (lambano - pronounced lam-ban-o)to take, to get hold of, to have offered to

Present Indicative Active Tense - The subject (EVERYONE) receives the action and makes an assertion of a fact, without any distinction being made about the time the action occurs. It represents action that is repeated or continuous.

This second verse is a strong affirmation of the first one. You can truly believe that God stands by His Word and will do whatever He says that He will do.

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