Luke 11:9-10 And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.… but all are not happy in finding what they seek: but you must know that there is a two-fold seeking; one right and true, when all due circumstances are observed therein; that fails not. And there is another kind of seeking, which is unsound and hypocritical; no marvel if that be unsuccessful. 1. Some there are that seek what they should not seek, but rather shun. 2. Others seek recta, but not recte: right things, but they seek not rightly. 3. Some fail in the quando; they seek, but out of season. 4. Some again seek, but not in the place right. 5. Others fail in the sicut; it may be they seek in due time, and in the right place too, but they fail in the manner of seeking, they seek not as they should. Some seek without eyes; they have the eyes of sense and reason, but that of faith is wanting; they seek ignorantly, and unbelievingly, their eyes are not opened, they know not what belongs to their peace. Some seek, but without a light. Some seek, but without humility, proudly and boastingly; not upon their knees, but tiptoes. Some seek, but without sincerity; fictitiously and hypocritically. Some seek, but not purely and chastely; they seek nor grace for grace's sake, nor Christ, for Christ's sake (Hosea 7:14; Isaiah 6:26). Some seek. but not fervently and earnestly: "They seek not as for silver" (Proverbs 2:4). Lastly, some seek not constantly and perseveringly: "Seek the Lord and His strength, seek His face evermore," saith David (Psalm 105:4). Wherefore, be we encouraged to "set our hearts to seek the Lord aright" (1 Chronicles 22:19). Seek what you should seek, seek where you should seek, seek when you should seek, seek as you ought to seek, and rest assured that your labour shall not be in vain; you shall find. In seeking for earthly things at man's hands we often fail; but if we seek the best at God's hands we always speed. We may go to the physician and seek health, but meet with death; we may go to the lawyer and seek for law and justice, and meet with injustice and oppression; we may seek to friends for kindness and favour, and find enmity and hatred from them! All that seek to men speed not, though their requests be never so just and honest (as we find Luke 18:1). But whom did God ever send away with a sad heart that sought Him sincerely. Suetonius reports of Titus that he was wont to say that none should go away from speaking with a prince with a sad heart. God likes it not that we should go from Him with a dejected spirit: it is our own fault if we do. (N. Rogers.) Parallel Verses KJV: And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. |
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