Frameworks: Matthew's Gospel, chapter 7

 

(The objective of these ‘Frameworks' is to provide an easy-to-read layout of the text in order then to use these individual verses for verse-by-verse study or meditation. To focus each verse we have also added in italic a description of what is happening)

      

FRAMEWORKS: Matthew, chapter 7

v.1-6 On not Judging Others

v.7-12 Confidence in asking God

v.13,14 Realising Kingdom entry restrictions

v.15-23 Be Discerning about imitation believers

v.24-29 Parable of Two House Builders & Need for Obedience

 

    

v.1-6 On not Judging Others

 

v.1 (judging others is a dangerous practice) “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

v.2 (what we do gets done to us, how we give is how we get) For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

v.3,4 (why pick up others' faults while ignoring your own) “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

v.5 (sort yourself out first) You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

v.6 (don't be casual with what is precious) “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

  

   

v.7-12 Confidence in asking God

 

v.7 (keep on [the tense here] asking God and He will give) “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

v.8 (you only get when you ask) For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

v.9,10 (consider how you treat your children) “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

v.11 (surely loving God will treat you even better) If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

v.12 (treat others as you'd like to be treated; that sums it all up) So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

   

  

v.13,14 Realising Kingdom entry restrictions

 

v.13 (to do God's will, means real life only comes His way) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

v.14 (rejecting the ‘any means' of the world means accepting His demands only) But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

 

   

v.15-23 Be Discerning about imitation believers

 

v.15 (not every person coming in His name is His) “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

v.16 (see what they do and say and understand) By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

v.17,18 (learn from the fruit on trees) Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

v.19 (the bad will be removed) Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

v.20 (so, yes, look at the fruit) Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

v.21 (it's not words but obedience to God that matters) “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

v.22,23 (many claiming access to heaven will be rejected) Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

   

 

v.24-29 Parable of Two House Builders & Need for Obedience

 

v.24 (obedience and its consequences are seen in this story of two house builders) “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

v.25 (the storms of life have no effect on the life built on the Rock) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.

v.26 (the disobedient are like the house on sand) But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

v.27 (when the storms of life come, they fall) The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

v.28,29 (Jesus amazed his listeners by his authority and clarity) When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.