The Meaning of Seeking and Finding in Scripture

Seeking and Finding in the Old Testament

In the Old Testament, the motif of seeking and finding is rooted in God’s covenantal promises to Israel, as seen in key passages like Deuteronomy 4:29 and Jeremiah 29:13.

Deuteronomy 4:29 declares, 'But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find Him, if you search after Him with all your heart and with all your soul,' framing seeking as an act of wholehearted devotion within the covenant relationship. Jeremiah 29:13 reinforces this dynamic, stating, 'You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart,' emphasizing God’s faithfulness to those who pursue Him earnestly. These verses establish seeking as both a divine invitation and a marker of covenantal loyalty.

This dynamic underscores the reciprocal nature of Israel’s relationship with God, where sincere seeking is met with divine revelation. By grounding the motif in covenantal context, the Old Testament sets the stage for its fuller development in the New Testament.

Jesus as the Ultimate Answer to Seeking

Jesus redefines seeking and finding in Matthew 7:7-11 as a relational promise grounded in His divine authority and the Kingdom of Heaven.

In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus declares, 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.' This frames divine response as a reflection of God's generous, fatherly character. The imagery of a child asking for bread and receiving bread underscores that God, unlike flawed human fathers, gives good gifts - especially the Holy Spirit - to those who seek Him. This passage transforms the seeking motif from a covenantal duty in the Old Testament into an invitation rooted in Jesus’ identity as the Son of the living God, whose Kingdom redefines the seeker’s relationship with the divine.

Jesus’ parables of the lost coin (Luke 15:8-10) and the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) further illustrate God’s active pursuit of what is lost, mirroring the promise of Matthew 7. His declaration, 'I am the living water' (John 4:10), positions Him as the ultimate object of seeking, fulfilling the covenantal longing of Deuteronomy 4:29 and Jeremiah 29:13.

By embodying the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus reveals that seeking is a divine enablement, not solely a human effort. This dynamic invites readers to consider how His life and ministry fulfill the covenantal promises of old, setting the stage for exploring the implications of this relational seeking in Christian discipleship.

What Seeking and Finding Means for Us Today

Building on Jesus’ promise in Matthew 7:7, seeking God today involves intentional practices that align with His character and the relational dynamics of the Kingdom.

Matthew 7:7 - ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you’ - invites believers to approach God with persistence, trusting His generosity. This seeking is not passive but active, involving prayer that reflects dependence on God’s wisdom, Scripture study that roots faith in His Word, and community engagement that mirrors the body of Christ. Yet this call to seek coexists with the mystery of divine sovereignty. God’s timing and methods remain beyond human control, requiring trust in His wisdom. The promise assures us that God, as a Father, responds not grudgingly but abundantly, offering the Holy Spirit as the ultimate gift to those who seek Him wholeheartedly.

Going Deeper

In Luke 11:9-13, Jesus emphasizes the assurance of seeking and finding, declaring, 'Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.'

This teaching, rooted in Jesus’ Kingdom message, expands on the covenantal themes seen in Deuteronomy and Jeremiah. Exploring biblical covenants and Jesus’ teachings about the Kingdom - such as His parables in Matthew 13 - reveals how God’s unchanging faithfulness ensures that those who seek Him persistently will find Him.