Matthew 7

Summary. In Chapters 5 and 6, the Lord teaches the crowds about personal relationships, our relationship with the Father, and heaven. In Chapter 7, the Lord continues to teach the people the same themes, and the people become astonished at His teachings. The Lord Jesus’ teachings prove that He is not only “God the Man” but also “God the Teacher of men” since He teaches with authority. In this chapter, the Lord Jesus teaches some important rules about the kingdom of heaven. 1) Do not judge. Use the Bible as the scale between right and wrong. 2) Ask for faith, seek the truth, and knock on the door of understanding, and our faith will continue to grow. 3) The Lord Jesus is the narrow gate to heaven; enter by it. 4) Recognize false prophets by their fruits and know that not everyone who says to the Lord Jesus, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. We must believe in the Lord Jesus and follow His teachings to enter the kingdom of heaven; this is the Father’s will for us. 5) The rock of our faith must be the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

[1] Judge not, that you be not judged.

Comments Matthew 7:1 You can judge neither faith nor behavior; there is nothing to judge. The Lord doesn’t want us to be accusers. You cannot make your own way straight, so how can you judge someone else? You can only judge if it goes against the Word of God. The Bible is the scale between right and wrong.

[2] For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you.

[3] And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam in your eye?

[4] Or how will you say to your brother, Permit me cast out the speck from your eye; and behold, the beam is in your eye?

[5] You hypocrite, cast out first the beam from your eye, and then you will see clearly to cast out the speck from your brother’s eye.

[6] Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, nor throw your pearls before the pigs, lest they will trample them with their feet, and having turned rend you.

Comments Matthew 7:6 What “is holy” here refers to the understanding of the Bible. Do not try to explain it to dogs; “dogs” refers to those who say they are believers, but in reality, they are not. You will recognize them by their fruits.
“Pearls” refers to the understanding of the Word of God. So, when you see people starting to argue and not believing, stop arguing.
“Pigs or swine” refers to those who never think about God (such as atheists who do not believe that God created everything they see).

[7] Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you;

Comments Matthew 7:7 “Ask ... you.” Ask for faith and understanding.
“Seek ... find.” Seek for the truth, and the truth will set you free.
“Knock ... you.” When you kneel down before the Lord and pray, the door of understanding will open, and you will understand more about the Lord.

[8] for everyone who asks receives; and the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

Comments Matthew 7:8 Practice these three things (ask, seek, and knock), and your faith will thrive.

[9] Or which one of you, who, if his son will ask for bread, will give him a stone?

[10] Or also if he will ask for a fish, will give him a snake?

[11] If you then, being evil, know to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in the heavens give good things to those asking Him!

[12] All things therefore, whatever you wish that people should do to you, even so do you also to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

[13] Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way leading to destruction, and many are those entering through it.

[14] For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, leading to life, and few are those finding it.

Comments Matthew 7:14 “For narrow ... leading to life.” Humans are selfish and believe in themselves, so it is hard for them to accept that a man can be God. They cannot accept that God walked on earth as a man. The dark mind covers the eyes of humans. The way is narrow, and there is only one way to heaven: through the Lord Jesus. There is no other way to heaven but to believe in the Lord Jesus. How many humans are there willing to give their life for another human?
“Few are ... finding it.” People try to find reasons to fight against the virgin birth. They limit God’s power to make a human baby without the action in a human manner. Only a few have clear minds and can accept that God has the power to do unbelievable things; those will find the way to heaven.

[15] Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Comments Matthew 7:15 It is hard to recognize a false prophet because they cover themselves with sheep’s skin. But you can recognize them by their stance on the following three points:
1. Jesus’ birth must be by the Holy Spirit through the Virgin Mary.
2. Jesus’ death must be death on the cross for atonement for our sins.
3. Jesus’ resurrection must be bodily (in the flesh) resurrection.

[16] From their fruits you will recognize them. Do they gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?

[17] Even so every good tree makes good fruit; but the bad tree makes evil fruits.

Comments Matthew 7:17 In this verse, “tree” refers to humans, “good fruits” refers to faith in the Lord Jesus, and “evil fruits” refers to the unfaithfulness of those who turn away after receiving the Lord Jesus as their Savior.

[18] A good tree cannot make evil fruits, nor can a bad tree make good fruits.

[19] Every tree that does not make good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

[20] Therefore by their fruits you will recognize them.

[21] Not everyone saying to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of My Father in the heavens.

Comments Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone ... of the heavens.” Those who have faith by mouth will call “Lord, Lord” only through speech but not by heart.
“but the one ... in the heavens.” The Lord Jesus Himself always does the will of the Father. Likewise, we need to believe in the Lord Jesus and be obedient to the teachings that He gives us, which is the will of the Father for us.

[22] Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many miracles?

Comments Matthew 7:22 “That day” refers to the Judgment Day for all.

[23] And at that time, I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart you from Me, those working lawlessness.

Comments Matthew 7:23 “I never knew you; depart you from Me …” Some call themselves pastors and teachers, but they do not believe. By the words they used to teach, they will be judged.

[24] Everyone therefore, whoever hears these words of Mine, and does them, will be likened to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock;

Comments Matthew 7:24 “House” refers to faith. Build your faith and keep your faith strong by reading, meditating, and practicing the Word of God. A house without the Bible cannot be a house.
“Rock” refers to the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He rose in the body, not in the spirit. It is a material body that is risen (the same flesh that was crucified rose from the grave).

[25] and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; but it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.

Comments Matthew 7:25 “and the rain …” “Rain” and “winds” refer to general earthly troubles. “Floods” refers to attacks that are directed at one’s faith.
“but it did not fall, …” The best weapon to fight against all troubles is the Bible. The Word of God must grow roots in our hearts.

[26] And everyone hearing these words of Mine, and does them not, will be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand;

Comments Matthew 7:26 “Foolish man” refers to non-Christians, the ones who know about the Lord but do not believe.
“Sand” in this verse refers to false doctrines; false doctrines are produced by those who use their own understanding to teach others in the wrong way.

[27] and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and struck against that house; and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

[28] And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the multitudes were astonished at His teaching;

[29] for He was teaching them as having authority, and not as their scribes.

Comments Matthew 7:29 The Lord Jesus is not just “God to be a Man” but “God to be a Teacher of men.” The Lord Jesus teaches what He hears from the Father; it is the Father’s will for Him to teach. He came down from heaven to do the Father’s will on earth.

Life and Faith Applications. 1) The Lord Jesus is “God our Teacher,” and He is the narrow gate to heaven. 2) The rock of our faith must be the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus. 3) Practice the three faith principles: ask, seek, and knock, and your faith will continue to grow.