"Ask and You Shall Receive" Bible Verses and Meaning

Compiled by The BibleStudyTools Staff on 08/02/2024
"Ask and You Shall Receive" Bible Verses and Meaning

Ask and You Shall Receive - Top Scripture Quotes

In Matthew 7:7, the most well-known "ask and you shall recieve" passages, Jesus encourages His followers and all mankind to truly seek the Kingdom of God. He promises that if we sincerely ask for God's mercy, grace, and salvation, we will truly receive according to our faith! This promise reassures us that if we ask, seek, and knock with faith, God will respond. The broader context of this verse shows that it’s about more than just asking for material things; it’s about cultivating a deep, persistent faith that continually seeks God's presence and guidance.

Matthew 7:7 - “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

This phrase is a fundamental teaching of Jesus, emphasizing the power of prayer and the importance of seeking God's help. This concept is not isolated to this single verse but is a recurring theme throughout Scripture, illustrating God's readiness to respond to the prayers of His people.

This theme of asking and receiving is echoed throughout the Bible. In James 1:5, believers are encouraged to ask God for wisdom, with the assurance that it will be given generously. Similarly, 1 John 5:14-15 reminds us that when we ask according to God’s will, He hears us and responds. These verses highlight the importance of aligning our requests with God's will and trusting in His perfect timing.

Jesus illustrates God's willingness to give good gifts in Matthew 7:9-11, comparing God's generosity to that of earthly parents who give good things to their children. This comparison emphasizes the assurance that God, as our Heavenly Father, delights in providing for our needs.

Throughout Scripture, we see examples of people asking and receiving from God. From the prayers of King Solomon for wisdom (1 Kings 3:9-12) to Hannah’s plea for a child (1 Samuel 1:10-20), the Bible is filled with stories of God answering the prayers of His people, demonstrating His faithfulness and love.

Understanding these passages encourages us to approach God with confidence, knowing that He listens to our prayers and responds in ways that align with His will. By exploring more about the biblical teachings on asking and receiving, believers can deepen their faith and trust in God's provision.

"Ask and You Shall Receive" in the Bible

Mark 11:24 - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Matthew 7:7-11 - “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 21:22 - And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

James 4:3 - You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

John 15:7 - If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 14:13-14 - Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

John 16:24 - Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Read more Bible verses related to this topic in the collection of scriptures below:

Photo: ©GettyImages/Marcia Straub

7 For we live by faith, not by sight.
James 1:5 - Wisdom
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
John 15:7
7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
Your Daily Verse - 1 John 5:14
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.
15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
23 “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.
22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Philippians 4:6
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Never Stop Dreaming
4 Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.
Philippians 4:8 - Excellent and Worthy of Praise
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought.
3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think,
5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’ ”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.
7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”