Matthew 7

Judging Others

1“1Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and 23by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3Why do you 4look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 45Or how 6can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

6“7Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Prayer and the Golden Rule

7“89Ask, and 10it will be given to you; 11seek, and you will find; 12knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9Or what man is there among you 13who, when his son asks for a loaf, 14will give him a stone? 10Or 15if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 16how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

12“In everything, 17therefore, 18treat people the same way you want 19them to treat you, for 20this is the Law and the Prophets.

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13“21Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

15“Beware of the 22false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are 23ravenous wolves. 16You will 2425know them by their fruits. 26Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17So 27every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 1928Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, you will 29know them 30by their fruits.

21“31Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 2232Many will say to Me on 33that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many 34miracles?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; 35depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

The Two Foundations

24“Therefore 36everyone who hears these words of Mine and 37acts on them, 38may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell, and the 39floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not 40act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27The rain fell, and the 41floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and great was its fall.”

284243When Jesus had finished these words, 44the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.