7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:
and with what measure ye mete {ie., measure}, it shall be measured to you again.
7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote {GK=karphos, twig, splinter} that is in thy brother's eye,
but considerest not the beam {GK=dokos, support beam, structural timber} that is in thine own eye?
7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;
and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye?
7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye;
and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
Does this mean that we are to ignore the difference between right and wrong, or between truth and error? No!
While we are unable to judge the heart motives, which only God can see (cp. 1Cor 4:3-5),
believers are responsible to preserve truthful teaching and righteous conduct within the Church (cp. 1Cor 5:1-7,12).
first cast the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly...-
Before we can exercise judgment of truth and conduct, we must judge ourselves.
cp. Rom 2:1,2; 1Cor 10:12; Gal 6:1
7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine,
lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend {ie., tear into pieces} you.
dogs... swine...- These terms are used figuratively of men who are incapable of receiving the Truth.
7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth;
and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children,
how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
cp. Luk 11:2-13, where this instruction is linked directly to the Lord's model for prayer.
7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you,
do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
This verse is often referred to as the 'Golden Rule'. Such conduct is
- - based on God's Word (OT teaching) concerning right conduct.
- - modeled after God's actions toward us (v.11; Eph 4:32)
However, in our relationships to others, we must continually discern between truth and error.
Serious consequences are determined by one's choice between: - - Two incompatible ways (v.13,14); - - True and false teachers (v.15-23); - - Wise and foolish foundations (v.24-27).
7:13 Enter ye in at the strait {GK=stenos, narrow} gate:
for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in thereat:
7:14 Because strait {narrow} [is] the gate,
and narrow {GK=thlibo, troubled, difficult} [is] the way, which leadeth unto life,
and few there be that find it.
The broad way is all inclusive. By nature, all men tend to move away from God.
At first, the wideness of this way seems to offer freedom and fullness of life (where every man does that which seems right in his own eyes, without regard for the restrictions imposed by the Creator). But as this way progresses, every man finds himself being funneled to one inescapable destination: death, eternal separation from God the giver of life.
cp. Psa 14:2,3; Prov 16:25; Eze 18:27-32; Rom 3:9-19; Eph 2:2,3; Rev 20:15
The narrow way is exclusive. There is only one gate (door) of access to this way. Joh 10:9; 14:6
At first, the way seems difficult, due to each believer's internal struggle between his fleshly nature and the indwelling Holy Spirit, and due to external opposition from the world. (cp. Mat 16:24,25; Joh 15:18-20)
But as the way progresses, the believer finds himself entering an ever widening realm of previously unimagined blessings. cp. Isa 55:7; Psa 31:1-5, 7,8; 118:5; Psa 23; Joh 10:9,10; 1Cor 2:9 (cp. also the ever widening and deepening river of Life, Eze 47:1-12)
7:15 Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits.
Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit;
but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. {3:10}
7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
beware...- False prophets will deceive the unwary.
false prophets- GK=pseudoprophetes- They claim to speak for God, but do not speak His Words.
7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. {cp. Isa 29:13; Jam 1:22-25; Joh 6:28,29}
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name?
and in thy name have cast out devils {GK=daimonia, demons}?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity. {cp. Mat 25:41}
Lord, Lord... in thy Name... -
False prophets are self-deceived, erroneously thinking that they know and serve God.
we have done... - They claim entrance into heaven based on their works.
From their perspective:
- - their teaching advanced Christ's cause (as the cults claim).
- - their works battled the forces of evil in the world.
Their 'wonderful works' may impress men (cp. 2Thes 2:8-10), but God knows their hearts.
I never knew you...- It is neither outward profession, nor religious works,
but inward relationship to the crucified but living Savior that allows entrance to heaven.
cp. Joh 10:14,27-30; 2Tim 2:19
7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came,
and the winds blew, and beat upon that house;
and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
builds his life, vainly trusting that his fleshly goodness and strength will enable him to endure the trials of life, and to stand before God in the day of accounting.
cp. Eze 13:10-16; 1Cor 3:13
7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings,
the people were astonished at his doctrine:
7:29 For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes.
astonished- GK=ekplesso, struck as by a blow. cp. Mat 13:54
We might say, they were 'blown away' by His teaching.
he taught as... having authority...-
The scribes were not ignorant. Their business was to know the scriptures. But they did not know God or His Word for themselves. In reality, their teaching was based on the authority and interpretations of other men. cp. Mark 7:6-13
Jesus spoke-
- - from the Scriptures directly (eg., 5:18-20; 11:10; 21:13; 26:24; Luk 24:46; Joh 5:39).
- - in the first person, (eg., 'I say unto you...', 5:22,28,32,34,39,44).
- - about Himself often (eg., 5:11; 5:17; 7:21-23).
- - as the Word of God (cp. Joh 1:1,2,14,18).
- - as the King, announcing the principles of His Kingdom ('these sayings' v.28 refers to the Sermon on the Mount, Mat 5:2 through 7:27).