The three imperatives of v 7 as well as the three participles of v 8 are all in the present tense, conveying the idea of a continual asking, seeking, and knocking. This implied notion of persistence in asking is found in the teaching of Jesus (Luke 18:1–8; 11:5–8; both passages lacking in Matthew) and is made explicit in the early Church’s transmission of this logion: “Let the one who seeks not cease until he finds” (Clement, Strom. 5.14.96.3; cf. POxy 654.1; Gos. Thom. 2). The πᾶς, “everyone,”