Scripture Study: Matthew 7

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Matthew 7  •  3 min. read  •  grade level: 7
Listen from:
• BibleTruthPublishers.com
Matthew 7:1-51Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4Or 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? 5Thou 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. (Matthew 7:1‑5). The disciples were to beware of allowing in themselves a fault finding spirit. To imagine evil or to judge motives is forbidden. If any one does, he gives others occasion to blame him. He sees a mote in his brother’s eye, but does not see the beam in his own eye. Likely, if the beam was out of his own eye, he would see that the mote was out of his brother’s eye. Perhaps he imagined it.
Love hopes all things and believes all things. Hypocrisy is spoken of here in its full character, but we are all in danger from it.
But Christians are to judge evil, in order to have true fellowship. 1 Corinthians 5:12-1312For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? 13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (1 Corinthians 5:12‑13), instructs us, as an assembly, to refuse evil when it would come in, and to put away wickedness if it has come in. To exercise scriptural discipline, needs godly care, and long-suffering grace, and dependence on the Lord to act for Him. To allow unrighteousness, fundamentally wrong doctrine, or schism to go on unreduced, hinders fellowship in the truth.
Matthew 7:66Give 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. (Matthew 7:6). It is right to preach the gospel to every one, in love, meekness and faithfulness, but arguments and loud discussions are worse than fruitless, and to discuss the precious treasures of the riches of Christ with dogs that have no conscience, but bite and devour; or with swine— creatures of no discernment, they cannot chew the cud. If you do, you waste your time, grieve your heart, and the precious truth is degraded. The gospel alone suits the unconverted. There “is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.”
Matthew 7:13-1413Enter 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: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13‑14). It needs energy to enter the kingdom—"strive.” It is easy to enter the wide gate and to walk the broad road, but alas! it leads to destruction. The pleasures of sin are only temporal; the pleasures of Christ are for evermore—it is worthwhile overcoming difficulties to possess the treasure. What inward satisfaction is formed in the “strait gate,” and the “narrow way.”
Matthew 7:15-2015Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:15‑20) puts them on their guard against false teachers, for their teaching produces bad fruit; and what they teach, leads away from Christ, rather than to Him, and produces coldness, indifference, and other evils (Acts 20:28-3028Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:28‑30); Rom. 16:17-1817Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:17‑18); 1 John 4:11Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1)). We are not called upon in this portion to judge if a man is saved or not. That remains with the Lord who knows them that are His (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)).
Matthew 7:28-2928And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28‑29). The Lord’s teaching was with authority; it was the Word of God. No wonder the multitudes were astonished. The scribes gave their opinions.