The Bible — World English Bible
Matthew 7
In brief
Matthew 7 concludes the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus asks you not to judge harshly, forgetting the plank in your own eye, to pray with perseverance, trusting in the Father's goodness, to treat others as you want to be treated. He invites you to enter by the narrow gate, to be wary of false prophets known by their fruit, and reminds you that saying "Lord, Lord" is not enough. The chapter ends with two houses: the one who hears his words and practices them builds on rock.
The chapter in 5 parts
1“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged.
2For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?
4Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye?
5You 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.
7“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.
8For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.
9Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
10Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?
11If 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!
12Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
13“Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it.
14How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.
15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.
16By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles?
17Even so, every good tree produces good fruit; but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
18A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
19Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.
20Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
21Not 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.
22Many 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?’
23Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’
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 a rock.
25The 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.
26Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.
27The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”
28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,
29for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.
Key verses
“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.
Jesus does not ask you to give up all discernment, but to avoid harsh and hypocritical judgment. The measure you use for others will also be used for you.
“Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.
The three verbs describe confident and persevering prayer. Jesus grounds this confidence in the Father's goodness, greater still than that of a parent for his child.
Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
This rule, often called the golden rule, sums up the law and the prophets: act toward others as you want them to act toward you.
“Enter in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in by it. How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.
Jesus contrasts two gates and two paths. The message is a call to choose and to enter, not to be content to follow the crowd.
“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. 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.
The wise one is not the one who hears only, but the one who practices. The storm comes to both houses; it is the foundation that makes the difference.
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What the sermons say
Frequently asked questions about Matthew 7
What does "judge not" mean in Matthew 7:1?
Jesus warns against judgment that condemns, that is harsh and forgets its own faults, like the plank in your eye. He does not eliminate discernment altogether: the same chapter speaks of being wary of false prophets. It is about examining your own heart first before correcting another.
What is the narrow gate in Matthew 7?
It is the image Jesus gives of the way that leads to life, as opposed to the wide gate that leads to destruction. It invites you to choose a life following Jesus rather than taking the easy way or following the crowd. All Christian traditions see it as a call to personal decision.
What does the parable of the two houses mean?
Jesus compares the one who hears his words and practices them to a wise man who builds on rock, and the one who hears without acting to a foolish man who builds on sand. The storm touches both houses: it is the foundation - obedience to the Word - that makes the difference.
Articles quoting Matthew 7
- 20 Bible Verses for a New School Year in Japan: Entrusting the New Class to God
- 20 Bible Verses for an Engagement: Love, Patience and a Home Built on Christ
- Mark 14: She Did What She Could, the Perfume of Nard
- Matthew 7: Ask, Seek, Knock, God Is a Good Father
- Matthew 7: Look Within and Toward God Before You Judge
- Matthew 13: A Treasure of New and Old to Share
World English Bible translation — public domain.