Matthew 7

Matthew 7 (NKJV)

Do Not Judge

7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Note: A principle in the Kingdom of God is “whatever you sow, you shall reap. This is a principle. This works in everything. Judging others, loving, mercy, finances, faith…

It applies to our whole lives. Don’t look for faults in others to make you look good. Love, it will cover your own sin and theirs.

6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Note: Jesus went to many places preaching and healing the sick. The whole idea was for the people to repent and turn to God. In some cities He healed the sick but they didn't turn to God. Jesus said it would be worst for them then it was at Sodom and Gomorrah. Sow into good godly ground.

Keep Asking, Seeking, Knocking

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Note: Don’t give up. God knows what we have need of. Sometimes it’s yes, sometimes no, and sometimes it’s not yet. Our job is to keep going after God. I love the way he finishes with “whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” How we treat God and each other has a lot to do with the way our lives go. Keep building relationship with Jesus, keep building relationships with people.

The Narrow Way

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Note: “There are few who find it.” That statement alone should cause us to get into relationship with Jesus like never before. Grow in Christ Jesus. Jesus declared that “He is the way, the truth, and the life, no one goes to the Father but through Him.”

To come to God the Father, we must be known in Christ and Him in us. There is no way around this.

You Will Know Them by Their Fruits

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Note: Wow! Don’t just look at the fruit of others. Take time to look in the mirror and see what kind of fruit you’re producing. Would people accuse you of being a Christian?

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Note: “Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart and you shall be saved.” That’s what Romans tells us to do. Believing is a total commitment to Jesus. It is with all your heart, soul, and mind. Don’t hold back from God, go all in!

Build on the Rock

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Note: To build your house on the Rock, means that we do things Jesus way. What He is telling us in His word we do. Don’t make room to do things your own way. Let’s line our attitudes, our talk, and our walk up with Jesus.