1. This parable follows the parable of Matthew 6: 24-34 of “Seeking first the Kingdom of God” which tells us to focus on Spiritual things rather than Physical or Material things like eating and drinking. Thus, in order to be consistent, the things that we are told to “Ask” for and “Seek” for and “Knock” for, must be Spiritual things.

2. The real objects mentioned were “bread” and “fish”. Therefore this parable must be talking about “Asking” for (Spiritual) “bread” and (Spiritual) “fish”.

3. Also, since the parable describes a “relationship” between a “father” and “his children”, then the parable must be focusing on a (Spiritual) relationship between God the Father and His (Spiritual) children or those that love Him.

4. The “gifts” mentioned were “good gifts” that were

to be given. Once again the parable must be talking about Spiritual “gifts” that were to be “asked for” and received.

5. The parable tells us to “Ask”, “Seek” and “Knock”. “Ask” for what? “Seek” for what? “Knock” and what will be opened to us?

Determine the Spiritual meaning of the real objects:

(Spiritual)

1. Bread = The Bible

2. Bread = Jesus

(of life)

3. Fish = Person

4. Serpent = The Devil or Satan

The parable implies that what is being “Asked” for is “Bread” and “fish”.

Thus, the parable is telling us:

Spiritually to “Ask” for:

(Spiritual)

1. Bread An understanding of the Bible.

(Spiritual)

2. Bread (of Life) For Jesus to come into our lives.

(Spiritual)

3. Fish For Jesus to come into the hearts

and lives of those we know.

The above would certainly be “good gifts”

In the same parable given by Luke, in Luke 11: 9-13,

an additional thought helps us to understand more about the “good gifts” given by God.

Luke 11: 9-13

9 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.

10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Thus, the Holy Spirit is a “good gift” that is to be given to us when we “Ask”. It is interesting to note that an “egg” is mentioned by Luke to be “asked for”.

Thus, the implication is that the “egg” represents the Holy Spirit.

Egg

Or if he shall ask an egg, will he….Luke 11:12…#5609

any taste in the white of an egg …..Job 6: 6……..#2495

#5609 ώόν ōŏn…a primary word; an egg

#2495 תומלחchallâmûwth….egg…from #2492

#2492..םלח..châlam…to bind firmly

…cause to dream

Thus an “egg” is used to “bind” things together

and causes us to “dream.”

Now we need to look at the (Phy.) “functions”

of an “egg”.

What are the (Physical) “functions” of an “egg”?

1. To bind things together when different things are mixed together.

2. You can’t see or taste the “egg” when it is mixed together, but you know it is there by its effect.

3. An “egg” is the symbol of (physical) “fruitfulness”.

4. An “egg” can cause you to have “dreams”

What are the (Spr.)“functions”of the Holy Spirit?

1. To “bind” church members together who have different personalities and different talents.

2. You can’t “see” the Holy Spirit but you know it is there by its effect. (You can’t see the wind but you know it is there by its effect on things. John 3: 8)

3. The Holy Spirit is the symbol of (Spr.)“fruitfulness”.

4. The Holy Spirit causes us to “dream” and have “visions” from God.

So, we are to “Ask” God for the “good gift” of the Holy Spirit to be given to us.

We need to know what the Bible means when it tells us to “Ask” for something.

Matthew 6: 7-11

7 But when ye pray, use not vain  To Spiritually

repetitions, as the heathen do: for “Ask” for

they think that they shall be something

heard for their much speaking. means to

8 Be not ye therefore like unto Pray to God

them: for your Father knoweth for something.

what things ye have need of,

before ye ask him.

9. After this manner therefore pray ye:

our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed

be thy name.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done

in earth, as it is heaven.

11 Give us this day our daily bread.

It is interesting to notice that in the Lords Prayer in

Matthew 6:11, Jesus “Asks” for “daily bread”

(Jesus is the “Son” who asked for bread.”)

Jesus had previously made it plain as to the type of “bread” he was asking for.

Matthew 4: 4 “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Thus, our daily bread is to be a daily study of the Bible.

Now we need to discover what we are to “seek” for.

We will first look at the literal meaning of the word seek by referring to the Concordance:

SEEK

Seek, and ye shall find………Matt. 7:7…..#2212

#2212 ζητέω zētĕō

…to seek (lit. or fig.); spec. (by Heb.) to worship (God)

…enquire (for), ..seek after, seek for…Compare #4441

#4441 πυνθάνоμαι punthanǒmai

…to question i.e. ascertain by inquiry

…as well as from #2212 which implies

a search for something hidden…

Thus, the word “seek” Literally means to “search for something hidden” and the implication is that it has to do with the worship of God.

Now, we will again use the Concordance to discover how the word “seek” is used in connection with

the “worship of God.”

Proverbs 2:3-5

3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God

(Spiritual)

SEEK

Deuteronomy 4:29

29 But if from thence thou shalt  We are to seek

seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt the Lord with all

find him, if thou shalt seek him our heart and then

with all thine heart and with we will find him

all thy soul.

I Chronicles 16:11

11 Seek the Lord and his strength,  We are to seek the

seek his face continually. strength of the Lord.

II Chronicles 7:14

14 If my people, which are called by  If we humble ourself

my name, shall humble themselves, and pray and seek

and pray, and seek my face, and turn his face and turn

from their wicked ways; then will from our wicked

I hear from heaven, and will forgive ways then God will

their sin, and will heal their land. hear and forgive our sins.

Psalms 34:10

10 The young lions do lack, and  Those that seek the

suffer hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not lack

Lord shall not want any good thing. any “good thing.”

Psalms. 34:14

14 Depart from evil, and do good;  We are to

seek peace, and pursue it. “seek” peace.

Psalms 119:165

165 Great peace have they which  “Peace” comes from

love thy law: and nothing shall “loving the law offend them. of God.”

Psalms 119:176

176 I have gone astray like a lost  God will “seek” for us

sheep; seek thy servant; for I like a lost sheep,

do not forget thy commandments if we do not forget

His commandments.

Ecclesiastes 7:25

25 I applied mine heart to know,  We are to earnestly seek

and to search, and to seek out for wisdom.

wisdom, ….

Proverbs 2:1,2,4,5

1 My son, if thou wilt receive  The “wisdom” that we

my words, and hide are to “seek” for comes

my commandments with thee; from Gods words and

2 So that thou incline thine ear His commandments.

unto wisdom, and apply thine If we “seek” as for silver

heart to understanding;…. and search as for

4 If thou seekest her as silver, hid treasure we will

and searcheth for her as for find the knowledge of hid treasures; God.

5 Then shalt thou understand

the fear of the Lord, and find

the knowledge of God.

EZEKIEL 34:6,11

6 …my flock was scattered  Gods people are

upon all the face of the earth, scattered all over the

and none did search or seek earth and need someone

after them. to seek for them.

11 For thus saith the Lord

God; Behold, I, even I, will  The Lord will seek

both search my sheep, and for his people.

seek them out.

LUKE 19

10 For the Son of man is come to  Jesus will seek for and

seek and to save that which was lost. save his lost people

ACTS 17:26,27

26 And hath made of one blood  Everyone on earth,

all nations of men for to dwell from all the nations

on all the face of the earth;…. should “seek” the

27 That they should seek the Lord, because he is

Lord, if haply they might “not far from every

feel after him, and find him, one of us”.

though he be not far from

every one of us.

Now we need to discover what it means to “Knock”, and what will be “opened to us”. We will first look at what it means Literally to “Knock” by using the Concordance.

KNOCK

Knock, and it shall be opened unto you…..Matt.7:7…..#2925

#2925 κρούω krǒuō

a primary verb…to rap or knock

Thus, to “Knock” literally means to “rap” or knock.”

Now, let’s see how the Bible uses the word “knock” Spiritually.

(Spiritual)

KNOCK

Matthew 7:7

7 Ask, and it shall be given  If we “knock”,

you; seek, and ye shall find; something that is

knock, and it shall be opened “shut” will be

unto you. Spiritually “opened

to us.

LUKE 13:25

25 When once the master of  A Spiritual “door”

of the house is risen up, and is what is “shut” and

hath shut to the door, and needs to be opened.

ye begin to stand without, and The “opening” of the

to knock at the door, saying, (spr.) “door” is

Lord, Lord, open unto us; and associated with us

he shall answer and say unto you, “getting to know

I know you not whence ye are: the Lord” and

Asking Him to

“open to us” as we

“Knock”.

JOHN 10:7,9

7 Then said Jesus unto them  The Spiritual “door”

again, Verily, Verily, I say that we must enter

unto you, I am the door of the in order to be saved,

sheep. after it has been

9 I am the door: by me if “opened” to us, is

any man enter in, he shall “Jesus”.

be saved, and shall go in and

out, and find pasture.

REVELATION 3:7,8

7….these things saith he that  Jesus is the only one

is holy, he that is true, he that that can “open” or

hath the key of David, he that “shut” heaven to us.

openeth, and no man shutteth;

and shutteth, and no man

openeth;

8 I know thy works: behold,

I have set before thee an open

door, and no man can shut it….

REVELATION 3:20

20 Behold, I stand at the door,  The Lord stands at

and knock: if any man hear my the “door” and

voice, and open the door, I will “knocks”. If we

come in to him, and will sup will “open” the

with him, and he with me. Spr. “door” when we

hear His voice, He

will come in to us.

SONG OF SOLOMON 5:2,4

2 I sleep my heart waketh:  It is the “voice” of the

it is the voice of my beloved Lord that “knocks” and

that knocketh, saying, open awakens our heart or

to me, my sister, my love,… “door” to open to Him.

4 My beloved put in his hand

by the hole of the door, and my

bowels were moved for him.

ACTS 16:14

14 And a certain woman named

Lydia, a seller of purple, of the

city of Thyatira, which

worshipped God, heard us: The Spiritual “door”

whose heart the Lord opened,  that we “open”to the

that she attended unto the Lord is our “heart”.

things which were spoken of

Paul.

Conclusions:

1. The “door” that is “closed” is our “heart”.

2. It is the voice of the Lord Jesus that “knocks” at the “door” of our heart and awakens our heart.

3. If we “get to know the Lord” and ask Him to

“open to us” He will open the door of salvation to us.

4. Spiritual “knocking” is the Lord speaking to us or

us speaking to Him.

Doctrinal Truths (Taught by Jesus in the Parable of

“The Son Who Asked For Bread”)

1. When we belong to the “family of God” we can “Ask” or Pray to God and expect to be given “good gifts”.

2. We can “Ask” for an understanding of the Bible and to have Jesus come into our lives.

3. We can “Ask” for the Holy Spirit to be given to us.

4. Besides “Asking” we must “seek” the Lord with all our heart and search His Word like we are “Seeking” for hid treasure.

5. While we are “seeking” the Lord and “searching His Word”, He will be “seeking” us.

6. Besides “Asking” and “Seeking” we must “knock” on the “door”, that we must enter heaven through, which represents Jesus. If we want Him to “open to us” we must get to know Him.

7. Jesus also “knocks” at the “door” of our heart and when we hear His voice it awakens our heart to “open” and let Him come in.

8. We are to follow the example of our Heavenly Father who is so willing to do “good things” for us, by

doing the same things for others that we would want done for us.

9. To do the same things for others that we would want done for us, is what God is trying to teach us through the 10 Commandments (Law) and the rest of

the Bible (Prophets).

“OPEN THE DOOR”

Alone I sat in my darkened room,

Praying, “Dear Jesus please hear me soon.”

I stopped and I listened, then heard a knock.

I went to the door and received quite a shock.

No person stood there. No one was around.

Could it be Jesus I had finally found?

I closed my eyes tightly and was very still,

when a sweet voice my heart did fill.

“Into your heart you must let Me in.”

“Forgiveness I give you for all of your sins.”

“Alone you have never truly been.”

“You were just blinded, blinded by sin.”

“The door to your heart has been locked up tight.”

“When words I have whispered you ran and took flight.”

“My child please stop and let me in.”

“Be free from your burdens.”

“Be free from your sins.”

As tears fell down my saddened face,

I knew God held me in His loving grace.

“Into my heart I take all of you.”

“I give my life freely to you it is true.”

With the blink of an eye I quickly felt,

The burdens of life from my shoulders melt.

“No more will my heart be locked up tight.”

“When words you do whisper I will not take flight.”

- Unknown -

The Parable Of:

“Seeking First The Kingdom Of God”

( The Importance of Seeking

the Garment of Righteousness )