Seek

  • Two, related Greek words are translated “seek”: ekzetew and zetew.  The prefix, ek, adds the literal concept of “out” or “out of.”  The longer word is used only seven times in the New Testament:
    • Luke 11:50 – 51  May (shall) be required of this generation
    • Acts 15:17 (Amos 9:11 – 12) So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord.
    • Romans 11:7  Israel has not obtained what it seeks
    • Hebrews 11:6  A rewarder of those who diligently seek Him
    • Hebrews 12:17  Although he sought it diligently with tears
    • 1 Peter 1:10  Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully
  • The shorter word is used 82 times in various contexts, seeking people for good or evil, seeking God or His Kingdom, seeking understanding, or similar things.  A representative list follows:
    • Matthew 2:13   Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him
    • Matthew 6:33  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
    • Matthew 7:7  Seek and you will find
    • Matthew 12:46, 47  His mother and brothers stood outside seeking to speak with Him
    • Matthew 28:5  I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here.
    • Luke 9:9  He [Herod] sought to see him [John]
    • Luke 12:48  To whom much is given, from him much will be required
    • Luke 13:24  Many will seek to enter and will not be able
    • Luke 17:33  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it
    • Luke 19:10  For the Son of Man has come to seek and save that which was lost
    • John 5:30  I do not seek My own will but he will of the Father who sent Me
    • John 7:19, 20, 25  Why do you seek to kill me?
    • John 7:34, 8:21, 13:33  You will seek Me and not find.  Where I am you cannot come
    • John 8:50  I do not seek My own glory
    • John 16:19  Are you inquiring among yourselves?
    • Acts 9:11  Inquire at the house of Judas for one named Saul
    • Acts 16:10  We sought to go to Macedonia
    • Acts 17:27  So that they should seek the Lord
    • Acts 27:30  As the sailors were seeking to escape the ship…
    • Romans 2:7  Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality
    • Romans 10:3 Seeking to establish their own righteousness
    • 1 Corinthians 1:22  The Jews request a sign and Greeks seek for wisdom
    • 1 Corinthians 4:2  It is required in stewards that one be found faithful
    • 1 Corinthians 10:24  Let no one seek his own but each one the other’s
    • Colossians 3:1  Seek those things which are above
  • The two words above do not impart any special meaning inherent to the words, but rather derive their specific meaning from the context.
    • The prefix is more a stylistic addition than a carrier of additional meaning.
    • The addition of “diligently” (which is not a separate word in the text) seems to be an addition by the translators without linguistic basis.
  • In the passages concerning seeking God, what does the context imply about its characteristics?
    • Seeking can be fruitless due to inaccurate goals
      • Luke 13:24  Many will seek to enter and will not be able – Despite religious activity, God does not know them.
      • Luke 17:33  Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it – Physical life is not the objective
      • John 7:34, 8:21, 13:33  You will seek Me and not find.  Where I am you cannot come – The Pharisees could not overcome their misconceptions and lack of love.
      • Romans 10:3 Seeking to establish their own righteousness – Legalism kills
      • 1 Corinthians 1:22  The Jews request a sign and Greeks seek for wisdom – Theory must not take precedence over evidence.
    • What to seek
      • Matthew 6:33  Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
      • Romans 2:7  Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality
      • 1 Corinthians 10:24  Let no one seek his own but each one the other’s
      • Colossians 3:1  Seek those things which are above
  • Methods for re-focused seeking, not as divisive weapons but as consistent tools
    • Communication requires well-defined terms
      • Bad doctrine survives through inconsistent definitions
      • What they hear must be the same as what you say
      • Most have never considered a word study approach
      • If we don’t fix bad definitions, they cannot read and understand
    • Discuss, don’t lecture
    • Build from points of agreement
    • The Law was made for man, not man for the Law (be flexible)
    • Defeat minimalism
    • Recognize both the benefits and the hindrances inherent to traditions
    • Ask important, thought-provoking questions rather than easy answers