Matthew 7:1-6 (Jesus Teaches about Judging Others)
Verses 1-2
Jesus tells us to examine our own motives and conduct instead of judging others. The traits that bother us in others are often the habits we have ourselves. Our bad habits and behavior patterns are the very ones that we most want to change in others. Do you find it easy to magnify others’ faults while excusing your own? If you are ready to criticize someone, check to see if you deserve the same criticism. Judge yourself first, and then lovingly forgive and help your neighbor.
Verses 1-5
Jesus’ statement, “Do not just others,” is against the kind of hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears others down in order to build oneself up. It is not a blanket statement to overlook wrong behavior of others but a call to be discerning rather than negative.
Jesus said to expose false prophets (7:15-23), and Paul taught that we should exercise church discipline (1st Corinthians 5:1-2), choose between good and bad people and things (1st Corinthians 5:9), to test everything (1st Thessalonians 5:21), to and trust God to be the final Judge (1st Corinthians 4:3-5).
Verse 6
The unclean dogs of the street were held in low esteem; and you would not give them the meat sacrificed in the Temple. Pigs were unclean animals according to God’s law (Deuteronomy 14:8). Anyone who touched an unclean animal became “ceremonially unclean” and could not go to the Temple to worship until the uncleanness was removed.
Jesus says that we should not entrust holy teachings to unholy or unclean people. It is futile to try to teach holy concepts to people who don’t want to listen and will only tear apart what we say. We should not stop giving God’s Word to unbelievers, but we should be wise and discerning in our witnessing, so that we will not be wasting our time. Teaching about the kingdom should be given in accordance with spiritual capacity of the learners.
Matthew 7:7-11 (Jesus Teaches about Asking, Looking, Knocking)
Verses 7-8
Jesus tells us to persist in pursuing God. These words in the Greek are present imperatives and indicate a constant asking, seeking and knocking. Persistent prayer is being emphasized (James 4:2-3).
People often give up after a few halfhearted efforts and conclude that God cannot be found or that He doesn’t hear or answer prayers. But knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow-through, and Jesus assures us that we will be rewarded. Don’t give up in your efforts to seek God or in prayer. Continue to ask him for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love, and understanding. He will give them to you.
Verses 9-10
The children in Jesus’ example asked their father for bread and fish – good and necessary items. If the children had asked for a poisonous snake, would the wise father have granted the request? Sometimes God knows we are praying for snakes and does not give us what we ask for, even though we persist in our prayers. Nor will God give us stones or snakes instead of what we need. As we learn to know God better as a loving Father, we learn to ask for what is good for us, and then he grants it.
Verse 11
Christ is showing us the heart of God the Father. God is not selfish, begrudging, or stingy, and we don’t have to beg or grovel as we come with our requests. He is a loving Father, who understands, cards, and comforts. If humans can be kind, imagine how kind God, the Creator of kindness, can be.
Jesus used the expression “you sinful people” to contrast sinful and fallible human beings with the holy and perfect God.
Matthew 7:12 (The Golden Rule)
This is commonly known as the Golden Rule. In many religions (Rabbinic Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Confucianism) and in Greek and roman ethical teaching it is stated negatively: “Don’t do to others what you don’t want done to you.” By stating it positively, Jesus made it more significant. It is not very hard to refrain from harming others; it is much more difficult to take the initiative in doing something good for them. The Golden Rule, as Jesus formulated it, is the foundation of active goodness and mercy – the kind of love God shows to us every day. Think about the 2nd Greatest Commandment; “Love your neighbor as yourself” and think of a good and merciful action you can do for another.
Matthew 7:13-14 (Jesus Teaches about the way to Heaven – The Narrow and Wide Gates)
Verses 13-14
The gate that leads to eternal life (John 10:7-9) is called “narrow.” This does not mean that it is difficult to become a Christian but that there is only one way to eternal life with God and that only a few decide to walk that road. Believing in Jesus is the only way to heaven, because he alone died for our sins and made us right before God. Living his way may not be popular, but it is true and right. Thank God there is one way!
Matthew 7:15-20 (Jesus Teaches about Fruit in People’s Lives)
Verse 15
False prophets were common in Old Testament times. They prophesied only what the king and the people wanted to hear, claiming it was God’s message. Jesus indicates that false prophets were just as prevalent in his time. False teachers are just as common today. Jesus says to beware of those whose words sound religious but who are motivated by money, fame, or power. You can tell who they are because in their teaching they minimize Christ and glorify themselves.
Verse 20
We should evaluate teachers’ words by examining their lives. Just as trees are consistent in the kind of fruit they produce, good teachers consistently exhibit good behavior and high moral character as they seek to live out the truths of Scripture. This does not mean we should have witch-hunts, throwing out Sunday school teachers, pastors, and others who are less than perfect. Every one of us is subject to sin, and we must show the same mercy to others that we expect for ourselves. When Jesus talks about worthless trees, he means teachers who deliberately teach false doctrine. We must examine the teachers’ motives, the direction they are taking, and the results they are seeking.
Matthew 7:21-29 (Jesus Teaches about Building on a Solid Foundation)
Verse 21
Some people can “talk” a great game, but that tells you nothing about their skill. And not everyone who talks about heaven belongs to God’s Kingdom. Jesus is more concerned about our walk than our talk. He wants us to do right, not just say the right words. What you do cannot be separated from what you believe.
Verses 21-23
Jesus exposed those people who sounded religious but had no personal relationship with him. On “judgment day” – the final day of reckoning when God will settle all accounts – only our relationship with Christ – our acceptance of him as Savior and our obedience to him – will matter. Many people think that if they are “good” people and say religious things, they will be rewarded with eternal life. In reality, faith in Christ is what will count at the judgment.
Verse 24
To build “on solid rock” meant to be a hearing, responding disciple, not a phony, superficial one. Practicing obedience becomes the solid foundation to weather the storms of life. See James 1:22-27 for more on putting into practice what we hear.
Verses 24-27
The two lives Jesus compares have several points in common: they both build, both hear Jesus’ teaching, and both experience the same circumstances. The difference between them isn’t caused by ignorance but by one ignoring what Jesus said. Externally, their lives look similar; but the lasting, structural differences will be revealed by the storms of life. To what degree does your life reflect the directions Jesus gave in this sermon?
Verses 26-27
Like a house of cards, the fool’s life crumbles. Most people do not deliberately seek to build on a false or inferior foundation; instead, they just don’t think about their life’s purpose. Many people are headed for destruction, not out of stubbornness but out of thoughtlessness. Part of our responsibility as believers is to help others top and think about where their lives are headed and to point out the consequences of ignoring Christ’s message.
Verse 29
The teachers of religious law (religious scholars) often cited traditions and quoted authorities to support their arguments and interpretations. But Jesus spoke with a new authority – his own. He didn’t need to quote anyone because he was the original Word (John 1:1).
