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.