Matthew 7 ends the Sermon on the Mount with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. This parable compares the security promised for those who hear and obey Christ to the utter destruction which comes to those who hear but don't obey. As the chapter ends, Matthew comments on the amazement the crowd had toward Jesus’ doctrine and authority. However, one wonders how many of these were like the foolish builder and would end up with lives utterly destroyed because they heard but didn't listen. The end of the chapter makes it clear, we can't just hear but we have to obey also.
The first of two things I can't leave unsaid while examining this chapter is the often quoted verse, "Judge not." This isn't a command about never correcting anyone, for later in this chapter Jesus tells his followers to examine the lives of teachers and make sure they aren't false. What do we do when we examine someone's life? We are judging. The difference is our attitude. The one that Jesus is condemning is the person who judges, without looking at their own life, or I might say with an attitude of superiority. The idea is that we need to first and foremost deal with our own life and know that God is the ultimate judge.
The other thing I want to
look at, though there is far more in this chapter, is what has been called the
Golden Rule. Most of us have heard "do unto others as you would have them
do unto you" or "treat others like you want to be treated." However,
I want to look at something I have noticed for the first time, though other
commentators did notice it, and that is the beginning of verse 12 starts off
with a conjunction. This verse looks back on what has come before. We obey the
golden rule because of the understanding of Divine judgment (verses 1-6) and
divine goodness (verses 7-11). To say it another way, we live out the golden
rule because we realize who God is.
Mat 7:1-29
(1) Judge not, that ye be not judged.
(2) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
(3) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
(4) 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?
(5) 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.
(6) 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.
(7) Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
(8) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
(9) Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
(10) Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
(11) 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?
(12) 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.
(13) 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:
(14) Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
(15) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(16) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(17) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(18) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(19) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(20) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
(21) 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.
(22) 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?
(23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
(24) 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:
(25) 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.
(26) 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:
(27) 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.
(28) And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
(29) For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
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