Matthew 7

Concerning Judgement
Verses 1-6

Here we have one of the Bible’s most misquoted and misused passages. Many times people will point to this passage as an approval of their sin. They will say that Jesus would not judge them and will accept them as they are. Nothing can be further from the truth. What Jesus is condemning here is hypocritical judgment. Notice how our Lord said you will be judged by the same measure as you judge. Another way of saying this is we ought to be careful that we practice what we preach. It would be wrong for a person to speak against a particular sin when he himself is caught up in the same sin or is having trouble with that same sin.

Jesus is not ruling out all judgment. Judgment is important. Right and proper judgment is righteous and fair. In John 7:24 the Bible says, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” Also in 1 Corinthians 6:2, “Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?”

I am sure you have heard, “Thou shalt not judge” on the lips of the ungodly. I am sure many times you have heard the opening words of Matthew 7 used in this way. As we have just learned, our Lord never said it is wrong to judge nor did he say it is wrong to point out faults in others until we are faultless ourselves. If the opposite was true, then there would be no place for a Judge in a court of law. The role of God’s ministers is to edify and teach the people of God. A key part of this is pointing out errors and declaring the truth in love.

Many do not see their need for repentance. In verse 6 Jesus is warning us that it is unwise to continue trying to reprove and rebuke the wickedness of some ungodly people. To these, it is like, “casting your pearls before swine.” It does them no good. It is like as if your words go in one ear and out of the other. God's wisdom is required here. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent.

Ask and it shall be given
Verses 7-14

Here are the principles of fervent prayer. These three are expressed greatly in the text ask, seek, knock, for everyone that asks shall receive, and everyone that seeks shall find, everyone that knocks the door shall be opened.

Christ shows the willingness of God to hear the prayers of men and women. Jesus links this to the love and care of our earthly parents. Fathers and mothers being subject to sin and the fall of our first parents Adam and Eve still know how to give good gifts and love to their children. How much more then shall God who is not sinful give good gifts to us if we ask him.

If we have never asked to be saved, then we are not saved. If we ask with the Philippian jailer, “what must I do to be saved” or say with a tax collector, “God, be merciful to me a sinner.” God shall receive, for everyone that asks of God shall receive.

Treating others as you would want to be treated is a principle in Scripture. We ought to treat others fairly and respectfully. This is sometimes called the Golden Rule. In the spirit of warning believers, Matthew writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that the way which leads to eternal damnation is broad and wide, and the way which leads to eternal life is narrow, and there are few that are on this path. This does not mean that it is difficult to be a righteous person, but rather there is only one way that leads to eternal life. Jesus Christ is the way to the father and no one can enter except through him.

Walking the path of righteousness may not be easy or popular and some friendships may come to an end, but take heart. Those who walk on the path of righteousness inherit eternal life.

False and True Prophets
Verses 15-20

We are to be careful when listening to someone who claims to be a teacher or preacher. Not all so-called preachers and teachers are sound. Not all have the best intentions. Not all have the interests of God’s people in their hearts. Matthew warns us some come in sheep’s clothing but are wolves. This means they appear to be sound but are not. They appear to be of the truth but are ministers of darkness.

These people are those who compromise on key truths. They will preach only what people want to hear and not the truth as it is in Holy Scripture. They will tickle the ears and dare not preach anything that will cause the ungodly to ponder on the truth. They will appeal to the flesh. They will never say anything that may cause someone to feel uncomfortable regarding spiritual matters.

Christians must watch out for false teachers. Even godly people can be beguiled by their much speaking. Some people claim to be preachers of the Gospel and in truth are not. They will offer health, wealth, fame, power, and all manner of things. In reality, they will offer anything apart from the true Gospel of God. You can tell who they are because they will preach a false Jesus, who is foreign to Scripture. They will minimise Christ and glorify themselves. Jesus teaches us that you shall know them by their fruits.

A good spiritual leader will have spiritual fruits of faithfulness to the Word of God. The wolf in sheep’s clothing will not have spiritual fruits. They will have only things of the world to show. Preachers are only to be followed and believed if their doctrine agrees with Scripture and can be proved by Scripture. Sound teachers of truth point to Christ and give glory to Him. This is the hallmark of a good preacher. Keep this in mind.

Be Doers of the Word
Verses 21-29

Jesus moves from speaking about false preachers to speaking about false professions. Men and women can make a profession of faith and take part in the life of the assembly of believers, but not have saving faith. Men and women can have head knowledge, but no heart knowledge.

They can be satisfied with their condition and even believe they are Christians, but are not. The question you need to ask yourself is do you do the will of God? This is a question of eternal value. Not everyone who claims to have repented and believe in Christ truly has.

The godly is one who makes a practice of true faith, not a mere profession. We will do well to test if we are truly in the faith. Search your heart and soul in the light of the truth shown in Holy Scripture. We must ask spiritual questions of ourselves as this does matter. It will be a dreadful fate to hear those words of condemnation, “I never knew you,” Notice how Christ said I “never” knew you. He does not say I once knew you. The soul that has been redeemed by Christ is redeemed eternally. The soul that Christ has saved is saved forever and can never be lost. Those who find rest in Christ are kept by God and thus will be seek to live righteously before God. True faith, saving faith will not fail, it will last forever.

Do not be led astray by feelings and desires. The devil can use feelings and desires to beguile men and women into falsehood. He also leads the ungodly into a false sense of security. Build your faith and hope on the sure promises of Christ given in Scripture. James 1:22 encourages us to be doers and not hearers only. This verse is very helpful when dealing with the passage of Scripture in Matthew 7. Those who are not true believers never go beyond merely hearing. The true child of God is a hearer and a doer. Here concludes the Sermon on the Mount.