Matthew 7 Overview

This chapter concludes Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, offering practical teachings on judgment, prayer, the path to life, discerning true followers, and building a firm foundation in faith.

Judging Others (vv. 1-6)

1 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? 4 Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

• Jesus warns against hypocritical judgment, urging self-examination before correcting others, and advises discernment in sharing sacred truths.

Ask, Seek, Knock and the Golden Rule (vv. 7-12)

7 “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, who will 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 desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”

• Jesus encourages persistent prayer, assuring God’s generous response, and summarizes righteous living with the principle of treating others as one wishes to be treated.

The Narrow and Wide Gates (vv. 13-14)

13 “Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it. 14 How narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it.”

• Jesus describes two paths: a broad way leading to destruction taken by many, and a narrow way leading to life found by few.

True and False Prophets (vv. 15-20)

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”

• Jesus cautions against deceptive teachers, teaching that true character is revealed by actions, like a tree by its fruit.

True and False Disciples (vv. 21-23)

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ 23 Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’”

• Jesus emphasizes that entry into the kingdom requires doing God’s will, not just words or impressive deeds.

The Wise and Foolish Builders (vv. 24-27)

24 “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell—and its fall was great.”

• Jesus compares those who hear and obey his teachings to a wise builder on rock, enduring storms, versus the foolish who hear but ignore, leading to collapse.

The Crowds’ Amazement (vv. 28-29)

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.

• The crowds are amazed by Jesus’ authoritative teaching, distinct from their religious leaders.