Matthew 7 begins with Jesus warning against a judgmental and hypocritical spirit. He cautions His followers not to judge others harshly, since they themselves will be judged by the same standard. Using the vivid image of a speck and a log in the eye, Jesus illustrates the folly of criticizing others’ faults while ignoring one’s own greater failings, calling for self-examination before correcting others.
Jesus then instructs His followers not to give what is holy to those who will only trample and reject it, using the image of giving pearls to pigs, suggesting the need for discernment in sharing spiritual truth with those unwilling to receive it.
He encourages persistent prayer, teaching that those who ask, seek, and knock will receive from God, comparing God’s generosity to that of a loving father who gives good gifts to his children, far surpassing human generosity. This leads into the Golden Rule, where Jesus summarizes ethical behavior toward others: “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them.”
Jesus then describes the narrow and wide gates, explaining that the way to destruction is broad and easy, followed by many, while the way to life is narrow and difficult, found by few. This introduces a warning about false prophets, who appear outwardly righteous but are inwardly harmful, compared to wolves in sheep’s clothing. Jesus teaches that true identity is revealed through fruit, meaning that genuine faith produces good works, while false faith produces corrupt outcomes.
Jesus further warns that not everyone who claims to follow Him, even those who prophesy or perform miracles in His name, will enter the kingdom of heaven. True discipleship is marked by doing the will of the Father, not merely verbal profession or outward religious activity.
The sermon concludes with the parable of the two builders. The wise man builds his house on rock, representing those who hear Jesus’ words and act on them, and his house withstands the storm. The foolish man builds his house on sand, representing those who hear but do not obey, and his house collapses under pressure. Matthew notes that the crowds were astonished at Jesus’ teaching, recognizing His authority, which was distinct from that of the religious scribes.
Chapter 7
1 Be not judges of others, and you will not be judged.
2 For as you have been judging, so you will be judged, and with your measure will it be measured to you.
3 And why do you take note of the grain of dust in your brother’s eye, but take no note of the bit of wood which is in your eye?
4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me take out the grain of dust from your eye, when you yourself have a bit of wood in your eye?
5 You false one, first take out the bit of wood from your eye, then will you see clearly to take out the grain of dust from your brother’s eye.
6 Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, or put your jewels before pigs, for fear that they will be crushed under foot by the pigs whose attack will then be made against you.
7 Make a request, and it will be answered; what you are searching for you will get; give the sign, and the door will be open to you:
8 Because to everyone who makes a request, it will be given; and he who is searching will get his desire, and to him who gives the sign, the door will be open.
9 Or which of you, if his son makes a request for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he makes a request for a fish, will give him a snake?
11 If you, then, being evil, are able to give good things to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who make requests to him?
12 All those things, then, which you would have men do to you, even so do you to them: because this is the law and the prophets.
13 Go in by the narrow door; for wide is the door and open is the way which goes to destruction, and great numbers go in by it.
14 For narrow is the door and hard the road to life, and only a small number make discovery of it.
15 Be on the watch for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inside they are cruel wolves.
16 By their fruits you will get knowledge of them. Do men get grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?
17 Even so, every good tree gives good fruit; but the bad tree gives evil fruit.
18 It is not possible for a good tree to give bad fruit, and a bad tree will not give good fruit.
19 Every tree which does not give good fruit is cut down and put in the fire.
20 So by their fruits you will get knowledge of them.
21 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will go into the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the pleasure of my Father in heaven.
22 A great number will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, were we not prophets in your name, and did we not by your name send out evil spirits, and by your name do works of power?
23 And then will I say to them, I never had knowledge of you: go from me, you workers of evil.
24 Everyone, then, to whom my words come and who does them, will be like a wise man who made his house on a rock;
25 And the rain came down and there was a rush of waters and the winds were driving against that house, but it was not moved; because it was based on the rock.
26 And everyone to whom my words come and who does them not, will be like a foolish man who made his house on sand;
27 And the rain came down and there was a rush of waters and the winds were driving against that house; and it came down and great was its fall.
28 And it came about, when Jesus had come to the end of these words, that the people were surprised at his teaching,
29 for he was teaching as one having authority, and not as their scribes.
Important Verses
Matthew 7:1-2 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged.” This teaches humility and self-awareness before evaluating others.
Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” This verse, known as the Golden Rule, summarizes the ethical heart of biblical teaching on treating others.
Matthew 7:24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” This verse emphasizes that true wisdom is shown through obedience, not mere intellectual agreement.
