Matthew 7

Mt 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.”

‘There is always one fact more in every life of which we know nothing, therefore Jesus says, “Judge not.”‘ (Oswald Chambers)

The command is against a critical spirit, not against the exercise of a critical faculty. The necessity of the latter is clear from v6 and vv15-20, to look no further.

Mat 7:2  For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”

‘Probably a current proverb quoted by Jesus like our people in glass houses throwing stones. Tholuck quotes an Arabic proverb: “How seest thou the splinter in thy brother’s eye, and seest not the cross-beam in thine eye?”‘ (Robertson)

Mat 7:4  How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

Mat 7:5  You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Mt 7:6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.”

Mt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

This section should be viewed not merely as a piece of teaching about prayer, but as an integral part of the sermon. In answer to the question, “How can I achieve the godliness of character taught and exemplified by Jesus, the answer is, ‘Ask God for it’; ‘Seek diligently for it’; ‘Knock on the door of heaven until you get it’.”

“Ask and it will be given to you”

‘Lord

I crawled across the barrenness

to you with my empty cup

Uncertain

in asking any small drop of refreshment.

If only I had known you better

I’d have come running with a bucket.’

Cf. Jam 4:1f.

Mat 7:8  For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Mat 7:9  “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

Mat 7:10  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

Mt 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

“Your Father in heaven will give good gifts to those who ask him” – ‘There is a great difference between praying for temporal things and spiritual. In praying for spiritual things we must be absolute. When we pray for pardon of sin, and the favour of God, and the sanctifying graces of the Spirit, which are indispensably necessary to salvation, we must take no denial; but when we pray for temporal things, our prayers must be limited; we must pray conditionally, so far as God sees them good for us. He sometimes sees cause to withhold temporal things from us: when they would be snares, and draw our hearts from him; therefore we should pray for these things with submission to God’s will.’ (Thomas Watson)

Mt 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

= Lu 6:31. This verse defines and summarises what has just been said about achieving Christlikeness of character.

It has often been pointed out that something like the ‘Golden Rule’, or the ethic of repricocity, can be found in the writings of many different religions and philosophies. Here are some examples:

1. Bahai Faith – And if thine eyes be turned towards justice, choose thou for thy neighbour that which thou choosest for thyself.

2. Hindu Faith – This is the sum of duty: do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain.

3. Jewish Faith – What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary. (The Talmud)

4. Zoroastrian Faith – Whatever is disagreeable to yourself do not do unto others.

5. Buddhist Faith – Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.

6. Muslim Faith – No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.

Most of these, be it noted, are cast in a negative form. More importantly, it is clearly a mistake to suppose that the whole of the Christian faith can be reduced to ‘Golden Rule’:-

‘A theologian and an astronomer were talking together one day.  The  astronomer said that after reading widely in the field of religion,  he had concluded that all religion could be summed up in a single  phrase.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” he said, with a bit of smugness, knowing that his field is so much more complex.

After a brief pause, the theologian replied that after reading widely in the area of astronomy he had concluded that all of it could be summed up in a single phrase also.

“Oh, and what is that?” the astronaut inquired.

“Twinkle, twinkle, little star; how I wonder what you are!”‘ (Selected)

Mt 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”

The Sermon closes with a series of illustrations showing the need for faithful obedience to the words of Jesus. The section as a whole asserts that there are just two ways to live: one leading to life and the other to death. There are two paths, two trees, two claims, two houses.

“The narrow gate” – ‘Heaven is large but the way to heaven must be narrow.’ (Henry Smith)

‘Truth is narrow. If we were hiking and came to a wide river, and we learned that there was one bridge, down the river a mile or two, we wouldn’t stomp in disgust and moan about how that was such a narrow way to think and that the bridge should be right there, where we were. Instead, thankful that there was a bridge, we would go and cross it.

‘Or consider the following. When we go to the doctor, we want a prescription for exactly what we will need to get well. We would be quite startled if the doctor said, “These pills ought to cure you if you’re sincere. After all, we believe in health, don’t we?” Or would you trust yourself to a surgeon who had received no specialised training but was simply a really good person who meant well? Of course not! You know that truth is narrow. And you will trust your life only to someone who knows exactly what he or she is doing.’ (J.S. Stewart, Illustrations Unlimited)

“The road that leads to destruction” – ‘Ignorant people have such a wonderful charity for all mankind, that they cannot bear to hear that any should go to hell; but whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear, I must tell you that there is a way which leads to hell, and great numbers of the children of men are walking in it. I dare not flatter you.’ (Matthew Henry)

Mat 7:14  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Mt 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.”

“False prophets” – Cf. De 13:1-5 Jer 23:9-32 Mt 24:11,24 2Pe 2:1 1Jo 4:1-3.

Mat 7:16  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Mat 7:17  Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Mat 7:18  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

Mat 7:19  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Mt 7:20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

“By their fruit you will recognize them” – This phrase is repeated from v17, bracketing off the beginning and end of the ilustration in the form of an ‘inclusio’, a commonly-used literary device.

Mt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Here, vv21-23, we are introduced to those ‘who apparently believe themselves to be genuine disciples and can appeal to their charismatic activities to prove it, but nonetheless turn out to have no real relationship with the Lord to whom they appeal. The false prophets of v 15 were deceivers, but these are self-deceived. Acceptance depends not on profession, nor even on apparently Christian activity, but on whether Jesus knew them. Note the extraordinary authority he assumes as judge; to enter the kingdom of heaven depends on his acknowledgment and consists in being with him.’ (NBC)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, lord’” – Such people we might describe as ‘nominal Christians’, and there are many around.

‘When you lift up your eyes in hell, or when Jesus comes, you will cry, “Lord, Lord;” but all diligence will then be too late. When the boat has left the shore, it is vain for you to run.’ (McCheyne)

“…but only he who does the will of my Father…” – ‘Faith and morals are two sides of the same coin. Indeed the very essence of faith is moral. Any professed faith in Christ as personal Saviour that does not bring the life under plenary obedience to Christ as Lord is inadequate and must betray its victim at the last. The man that believes will obey. God gives faith to the obedient heart only. Where real repentance is, there is obedience.’ (A.W. Tozer)

Mt 7:22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

v22-23 ‘On the day of judgement, there will be some who claim to be Christians who will be turned away from God’s kingdom. They will be like counterfeit money when it reaches the bank. Suppose you are given a forged note. Thinking it is genuine, you use it to pay for some petrol. The petrol station owner uses it to pay one of his employees, who uses it to buy groceries. From there it goes to the bank where to clerk says, “I’m sorry, but this note is forged.” The note may have been used to do a lot of good while it was in circulation, but when it arrived at the bank, it was exposed for what it really was and put out of circulation. A counterfeit Christian may do many good works, but still be rejected at the gates of judgement.’ (Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, 419)

“On that day” – referring to the final judgement.

Demons – ‘There is only one devil (Satan), but there are many demons. The demons are those angels who sinned with Satan by following him when he revolted against God. Some are confined, {2Pe 2:4} but many are active in the world (12:43-45). They seek to thwart the purposes of God; {Eph 6:11-12} they promote their own system of doctrine; {1Ti 4:1} they can inflict diseases (9:33); and they possess the bodies of men and of animals.’ {4:24 Mr 5:13} (Ryrie)

‘On the pages of the Gospels there is no indication that Jesus healed all or even a majority of the sick people in his day. He warns against those who would work counterfeit signs and wonders in his name, {Mt 7:21-23} especially as the last days unfold. {Mt 24:5} he refuses to work signs on demand and warns against an inappropriate dependence on the spectacular. {Mt 12:38-42 Joh 4:48 20:29} Even the most well-authenticated signs do not necessarily prove their divine origin; {Mt 9:32-33 12:22-24} Christian faith should therefore be based on a more solid foundation.’ (Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels)

Mt 7:23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

“Away from me, you evildoers” – quoting a psalm about the vindication of the righteous (Ps 6:8; cf. Ps 119:115 139:19).

Mt 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Stott characterises the message of this paragraph as ‘the danger of a merely intellectual knowledge.’ The basic question is, ‘What will you do with the teaching of Christ? Will you hear it and ignore it, or will you hear and obey it?

“These words of mine” – No Jewish teacher had ever claimed such authority for his own words; such authority was always reserved for the law itself. ‘In this age of permissiveness and pluralism (which we forget was much the same in Jesus’ own day), his claims stand out sheer and stark. He does not ‘ (Green)

“Everyone who hears these words…and puts them into practice” See Eze 33:32-33. The ‘putting into practice’ recalls the ‘fruit’ of vv 16-20.

‘As it is often difficult to distinguish the true professors of the Gospel from the false, Christ shows, by a beautiful comparison, where the main difference lies. He represents two houses, one of which was built without a foundation, while the other was well-founded. Both have the same external appearance: but, when the wind and storms blow, and the floods dash against them, the former will immediately fall, while the latter will be sustained by its strength against every assault. Christ therefore compares a vain and empty profession of the Gospel to a beautiful, but not solid, building, which, however elevated, is exposed every moment to downfall, because it wants a foundation. Accordingly, Paul enjoins us to be well and thoroughly founded on Christ, and to have deep roots, {Col 2:7} “that we may not be tossed and driven about by every wind of doctrine,” {Eph 4:14} that we may not give way at every attack. The general meaning of the passage is, that true piety is not fully distinguished from its counterfeit, till it comes to the trial. For the temptations, by which we are tried, are like billows and storms, which easily overwhelm unsteady minds, whose lightness is not perceived during the season of prosperity.’ (Calvin)

‘Both the men mentioned in the parable are builders, for to live means to build. Every ambition a man cherishes, every thought he conceives, every word he speaks, and every deed he performs is, as it were, a building block. Gradually the structure of his life arises. Not all builders are the same, however. Some are sensible, some foolish.’ (Hendriksen)

‘In Palestine the builder must think ahead. There was many a gully which in summer was a pleasant sandy hollow, but was in winter a raging torrent of rushing water. A man might be looking for a house; he might find a pleasantly sheltered sandy hollow; and he might think this a very suitable place. But, if he was a short-sighted man, he might well have built his house in the dried-up bed of a river, and, when the winter came, his house would disintegrate. Even on an ordinary site it was tempting to begin building on the smoothed-over sand, and not to bother digging down to the shelf of rock below, but that way disaster lay ahead.’ (DSB)

‘Some of Jesus’ more biblically literate hearers may have thought of Pr 24:3 (“by wisdom a house is built”) and the contrast between wisdom (which builds a house in 9:1) and folly in Pr 9:1-18.’ (NT Background Commentary)

Mt 7:25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

“The rain…the streams…the winds” – The time of testing arrives for both houses. This may be in the form of trial, Ge 22:1; Job), temptation, Ge 39:7-18 Mt 26:69-75; bereavement, Ge 42:36 Job 1:18-22 Lu 7:11-17 Joh 11:1 ff; and death, Ac 7:59-60 9:37. In the present context, it is the day of judgement that is especially in view, cf. v22.

Mt 7:26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

‘His foundation is whatever is the basis of his character, and the ground of his hopes for eternity. This is not the true and faithful sayings of the Saviour, for though he hears them, he does not conform his mind to them – he he does not believe them. His foundation is that set of false principles, whatever they may be, or wherever they may have been got, which regulate his temper and conduct, and are the basis of his character, the ground of his hopes. These vary in different individuals. In the case of those whom our Lord was addressing, the traditions of the fathers, the doctrines of the Scribes and Pharisees, were probably the foundation on which they were building.

The edifice itself is just that character, that mode of thinking, feeling, and acting, which such false principles naturally produce, or those hopes which they naturally inspire. That character has often a great degree of plausibility, and gains in no ordinary measure the esteem and approbation of men. Those hopes are often very confidently entertained. But the stability of the edifice must be tested.’ (Brown)

Both houses looked alike to the casual observer. So it is with real and false Christians: both have the appearance of genuineness. Both go to church, listen to sermons, use Christian vocabulary. Both appear to be respectable, orthodox and clean-living. But only one is built on the secure foundation of obedience to the teaching of Christ. The final judgement will reveal the difference.

‘In applying this teaching to ourselves, we need to consider that the Bible is a dangerous book to read, and that the church is a dangerous society to join. For in reading the Bible we hear the words of Christ, and in joining the church we say we believe in Christ. As a result, we belong to the company described by Jesus as both hearing his teaching and calling him Lord. Our membership therefore lays upon us the serious responsibility of ensuring that what we know and what we say is translated into what we do.’ (Stott)

‘So we must build on the Rock. How? Jesus’ reply to that question is the heart of Old Testament religion. We must hear and obey. Not just hear, but obey. The theological and religious world is full of hearing; it is overloaded with God-talk. What will thrill the heart of God and make the pagans realize that the gospel is true is pratical, generous obedience – obedience that transforms our characters (5:11f), affects our influence (5:13-16), shows itself in practical righteousness (5:17-48), touches our devotional life (6:1-18), radically alters our ambitions (6:19-34), transforms our relationships (7:1-12) and marks us out as totally wholehearted servants of the King (7:13-27). That is what Jesus is looking for.’ (Green)

The rest of the NT underlines the futility of a mere verbal profession, 1Jo 1:6 2:4 Jas 1:22-25 2:14-20.

Mt 7:27 “The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

(a) we can build on a rock – we can hear and obey the words of Jesus

(b) we can build on sand – we can hear and not put them into practice In either case, stormy times will come. And it is then that the difference in the foundations will be revealed. There are just two ways to build They can have much in common – but one fundamental difference Storms and calamities are inevitable The danger of knowledge without obedience; it’s not so much what we know, or what we say, but what we do, that counts

We should not suppose, as some do, that this passage contrasts believing and doing, as though we were saved, not by faith, but by actions. The contrasts is, rather, between hearing and doing. On the other hand, the passage is misunderstood when it is taken to mean that it matters little what doctrine we believe, so long as we live a good life. It is precisely that doctrine which, heard and obeyed, leads to a good life, that our Lord commends here.

Mt 7:28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,

‘The scribes (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.’ {Joh 1:1} (HBA)

Mt 7:29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

‘The scribes had to rely on tradition for authority; Christ’s authority was his own. It disturbed the Pharisees that he had no “credentials” as an official teacher in their system.’ (Ryrie)