Matthew 7
Prepare to Be Judged by Judging Others Righteously (7:1–5)
1 “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged, 2 for in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by the measurement that you measure, you will be measured. 3 Why do you look at the chip that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the timber that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the chip of sawdust out of your eye,’ and behold, a timber is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the timber out of your eye, and then you will see clearly in taking the chip out of your brother’s eye.
Keep Sacred Things Holy (7:6)
6 “Do not give any holy thing to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, for they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tare you apart.”
Ask, Seek, and Knock so That Your Father Can Bless You (7:7–11)
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and unto him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what person is there among you, who if his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in the heavens give good things to those who ask him.”
Do for Others What You Would Want Others to Do for You (7:12)
12 “Therefore, all things that you want the people to do to you, do also the same for them: for this is the law and the prophets.”
Choose to Enter Through the Narrow Gate (7:13–14)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate: for the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to spiritual harm, and there are many who enter through it. 14 The gate is confining and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Beware Evil and Recognize the Good (7:15–20)
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are robbing wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Do people collect grapes from thorn bushes or figs from prickly plants? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, by their fruits you will recognize them.”
Prepare to Enter God’s Presence by
Covenantally Knowing and Doing His Will (7:21–23)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of the heavens, but he who does the will of my Father who is in the heavens. 22 Many will say unto me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name did we not cast out demons, and in your name did we not perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will solemnly testify unto them, ‘I never knew you; Depart from me, you who act disobediently.’”
The Wise Man Builds upon the Rock,
While the Foolish Man Builds upon Sand (7:24–29)
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these teachings of mine and acts on them will be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and still it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be compared to foolish man who built his house upon the sand. 27 The rain fell down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was its fall.” 28 It came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one having authority and not as their scribes.
