Matthew 7
7
Do Not Judge
1 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.#sn The point of the statement do not judge so that you will not be judged is that the standards we apply to others God applies to us. The passive verbs in this verse look to God’s action. 2 For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive.#tn Grk “by [the measure] with which you measure it will be measured to you.” 3 Why#tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated. do you see the speck#sn The term translated speck refers to a small piece of wood, chaff, or straw; see L&N 3.66. in your brother’s eye, but fail to see#tn Or “do not notice.” the beam of wood#sn The term beam of wood refers to a very big piece of wood, the main beam of a building, in contrast to the speck in the other’s eye (L&N 7.78). in your own? 4 Or how can you say#tn Grk “how will you say?” to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own? 5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces.#tn Or “otherwise the latter will trample them under their feet and the former will turn around and tear you to pieces.” This verse is sometimes understood as a chiasm of the pattern a-b-b-a, in which the first and last clauses belong together (“dogs…turn around and tear you to pieces”) and the second and third clauses belong together (“pigs…trample them under their feet”).
Ask, Seek, Knock
7 “Ask#sn The three present imperatives in this verse (Ask…seek…knock) are probably intended to call for a repeated or continual approach before God. and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door#tn Grk “it”; the referent (a door) is implied by the context and has been specified in the translation here and in v. 8 for clarity. will be opened for you. 8 For everyone who asks#sn The actions of asking, seeking, and knocking are repeated here from v. 7 with the encouragement that God does respond. receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 Is#tn Grk “Or is there.” there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?#sn The two questions of vv. 9-10 expect the answer, “No parent would do this!” 11 If you then, although you are evil,#tn The participle ὄντες (ontes) has been translated concessively. know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts#sn The provision of the good gifts is probably a reference to the wisdom and guidance supplied in response to repeated requests. The teaching as a whole stresses not that we get everything we want, but that God gives the good that we need. to those who ask him! 12 In#tn Grk “Therefore in.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated. everything, treat others as you would want them#tn This is a generic use of ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo"), referring to both males and females. to treat you,#sn Jesus’ teaching as reflected in the phrase treat others as you would want them to treat you, known generally as the Golden Rule, is not completely unique in the ancient world, but here it is stated in its most emphatic, selfless form. for this fulfills#tn Grk “is.” the law and the prophets.
The Narrow Gate
13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves.#sn Sheep’s clothing…voracious wolves. Jesus uses a metaphor here to point out that these false prophets appear to be one thing, but in reality they are something quite different and dangerous. 16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered#tn Grk “They do not gather.” This has been simplified to the passive voice in the translation since the subject “they” is not specified further in the context. from thorns or figs from thistles, are they?#sn The statement illustrates the principle: That which cannot produce fruit does not produce fruit. 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad#tn Grk “rotten.” The word σαπρός, modifying “tree” in both v. 17 and 18, can also mean “diseased” (L&N 65.28). tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.
Judgment of Pretenders
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’#sn The double use of the vocative is normally used in situations of high emotion or emphasis. Even an emphatic confession without action means little. will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and in your name cast out demons and do#tn Grk “and in your name do.” This phrase was not repeated here in the translation for stylistic reasons. many powerful deeds?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’#tn Grk “workers of lawlessness.”
Hearing and Doing
24 “Everyone#tn Grk “Therefore everyone.” Here οὖν (oun) has not been translated. who hears these words of mine and does them is like#tn Grk “will be like.” The same phrase occurs in v. 26. a wise man#tn Here and in v. 26 the Greek text reads ἀνήρ (anhr), while the parallel account in Luke 6:47-49 uses ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") in vv. 48 and 49. who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the flood#tn Grk “the rivers.” came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because it had been founded on rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed; it was utterly destroyed!”#tn Grk “and great was its fall.”
28 When#tn Grk “And it happened when.” The introductory phrase καὶ ἐγένετο (kai egeneto, “it happened that”) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching, 29 because he taught them like one who had authority,#sn Jesus’ teaching impressed the hearers with the directness of its claim; he taught with authority. A study of Jewish rabbinic interpretation shows that it was typical to cite a list of authorities to make one’s point. Apparently Jesus addressed the issues in terms of his own understanding. not like their experts in the law.#tn Or “their scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.
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1996 - 2007 by Biblical Studies Press, LLC
Matthew 7
7
1Judge not, that ye may not be judged; 2for with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you. 3But why lookest thou on the mote that is in the eye of thy brother, but observest not the beam that is in thine eye? 4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Allow me, I will cast out the mote from thine eye; and behold, the beam is in thine eye? 5Hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine eye, and then thou wilt see clearly to cast out the mote out of the eye of thy brother. 6Give not that which is holy to the dogs, nor cast your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them with their feet, and turning round rend you.
7Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and ye shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 9Or what man is there of you who, if his son shall ask of him a loaf of bread, will give him a stone; 10and if he ask a fish, will give him a serpent? 11If therefore ye, being wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much rather shall your Father who is in the heavens give good things to them that ask of him?
12Therefore all things whatever ye desire that men should do to you, thus do ye also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets. 13Enter in through the narrow gate, for wide the gate and broad the way that leads to destruction, and many are they who enter in through it. 14For narrow the gate and straitened the way that leads to life, and they are few who find it.
15But beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but within are ravening wolves. 16By their fruits ye shall know them. Do men gather a bunch of grapes from thorns, or from thistles figs? 17So every good tree produces good fruits, but the worthless tree produces bad fruits. 18A good tree cannot produce bad fruits, nor a worthless tree produce good fruits. 19Every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire. 20By their fruits then surely ye shall know them.
21Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but he that does the will of my Father who is in the heavens. 22Many shall say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied through thy name, and through thy name cast out demons, and through thy name done many works of power? 23and then will I avow unto them, I never knew you. Depart from me, workers of lawlessness. 24Whoever therefore hears these my words and does them, I will liken him to a prudent man, who built his house upon the rock; 25and the rain came down, and the streams came, and the winds blew and fell upon that house, and it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock. 26And every one who hears these my words and does not do them, he shall be likened to a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand; 27and the rain came down, and the streams came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, and it fell, and its fall was great. 28And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were astonished at his doctrine, 29for he taught them as having authority, and not as their scribes.
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First published in 1890. This edition is maintained by the British and Foreign Bible Society.