Matthew 7

Judging Others

1“1Do not 2judge, so that you will not be judged. 2For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and 34by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3Why do you 5look at the 6speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 47Or how 8can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the 9speck out of your eye,’ and look, 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 10speck out of your brother’s eye!

6“11Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Prayer and the Golden Rule

7“1213Ask, and 14it will be given to you; 15seek, and you will find; 16knock, and it will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9Or what person is there among you 17who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, 18will give him a stone? 10Or 19if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11So if you, despite being 20evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, 21how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

12“In everything, 22therefore, 23treat people the same way you want 24them to treat you, for 25this is the Law and the Prophets.

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13“26Enter 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 narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

15“Beware of the 27false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are 28ravenous wolves. 16You will 2930know them by their fruits. 31Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17So 32every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 1933Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20So then, you will 34know them 35by their fruits.

21“36Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 2237Many will say to Me on 38that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many 39miracles?’ 23And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; 40leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’

The Two Foundations

24“Therefore, 41everyone who hears these words of Mine, and 42acts on them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25And the rain fell and the 43floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. 26And everyone who hears these words of Mine, and does not 44act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27And the rain fell and the 45floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell--and its collapse was great.”

284647When Jesus had finished these words, 48the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29for He was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.