Matthew 7 (KJV)

Matthew 7:1–6

Judging others

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 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? 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.

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 you.

Jesus warns against judging others, since the same standard will be applied to the one who judges. With a comic image he tells his hearers to remove the plank from their own eye before pointing out the speck in someone else's. He adds a puzzling saying about not giving holy things to dogs or pearls to pigs.

What does this mean?

A 'mote' (KJV) is a speck of dust; a 'beam' is a large wooden plank. 'Mete' means measure out. Street dogs (scavengers) and pigs (unclean under the Law) were insulting images.

Why does it matter?

The warning targets hypocritical condemnation; Matthew elsewhere expects discernment (7:15–20) and correction within the community (18:15–17). The meaning of verse 6 is uncertain. Some read it as advice not to press teaching on those who scorn it; an early Christian manual, the Didache, applied it to admitting only the baptised to the Lord's Supper.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Matthew 7:7–12

Ask, seek, knock

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 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? 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.

Jesus encourages persistent prayer: ask, seek and knock, and it will be given. If human parents give their children bread rather than stones, God will give good things to those who ask. He then sums up the Law and the Prophets in what is often called the Golden Rule.

What does this mean?

'The Golden Rule' is a much later name for verse 12: treating others as one would wish to be treated.

Historical context

Similar sayings existed elsewhere. The Jewish teacher Hillel, a generation before Jesus, is reported to have taught a negative form ('What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour'), and versions appear in Greek and Chinese thought. Many commentators note that Jesus' positive form calls for active kindness rather than only avoiding harm.

Why does it matter?

The phrase 'the law and the prophets' looks back to 5:17, framing the main body of the Sermon. Jesus later sums up the Law in the two great commandments (22:40).

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Matthew 7:13–23

Two ways, true and false

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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. 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? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Jesus contrasts a narrow gate and hard road that lead to life with a wide road that leads to destruction. He warns against false prophets, who can be recognised by their 'fruit', and says that not everyone who calls him 'Lord' will enter the kingdom, but only those who do the will of his Father.

What does this mean?

'Strait' (KJV) means narrow, not straight. 'Ravening' means ravenous. 'Iniquity' means lawlessness or wrongdoing. 'In that day' means the day of judgment.

Historical context

The image of two ways, one leading to life and one to death, was familiar from Jewish teaching (Deuteronomy 30:15–20; Psalm 1) and was taken up in early Christian writings such as the Didache.

Why does it matter?

The Sermon's ending stresses doing, not just hearing or saying. Strikingly, Jesus pictures himself as the one before whom people stand at the judgment; even miracles done in his name are no substitute for obedience. Fruit as the test of character echoes John the Baptist (3:10) and returns in 12:33.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Matthew 7:24–29

Two builders

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: 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. 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: 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. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Jesus ends the Sermon with a parable: whoever hears his words and does them is like a man who builds his house on rock, which survives the storm; whoever ignores them is like a man who builds on sand, whose house collapses. The crowds are astonished at the authority of his teaching.

Historical context

In Galilee and Judea, dry stream beds could flood suddenly in the winter rains, sweeping away anything built on loose ground. Scribes typically taught by citing scripture and earlier authorities rather than in their own name.

Why does it matter?

Jesus speaks of 'these words of mine', and it is this personal authority the crowds notice. 'When Jesus had ended these sayings' (KJV) is the first of the formulas that close each of Matthew's five major discourses. The authority shown here in words is shown in deeds in the miracle stories of chapters 8–9.

Editorial notes, not scripture.