“Seek, and You Will Find” (Matthew 7:7). The Motif of Seeking and Finding in the Gospel According to St. Matthew
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15633/sts.3208Keywords:
kingdom of God, discipleship, Gospel according to St Matthew, seeking, findingAbstract
This article analyzes the theme of ‘seeking and finding’ in the Gospel according to St. Matthew on the basis of five key passages: Mt 6:33, 7:7–8, 13:45–46, 18:12–14 and 28:5–7. The author shows that the path of a disciple of Jesus is a dynamic process of seeking the kingdom of God, encompassing both the active pursuit of man and the prior initiative of God. Exegetical analysis points to the multidimensionality of the motif: anthropological (the human need for meaning and decision), the cost of discipleship (a pearl of great value), theological (God himself seeks the lost) and eschatological (the surprise of the empty tomb). Matthew harmonizes human action and God's grace, showing that finding the kingdom does not end the search, but opens a new stage of missionary commitment.
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