Matthew 7

Value of Prayer and Trust in God Matthew 7:6–11

⁶Verse 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. ⁷Verse 7. “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. ⁸Verse 8. For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened. ⁹Verse 9. Or who is there among you, who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰Verse 10. Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?

¹¹Verse 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!

The Golden Rule and the Narrow Way Matthew 7:12–14

¹²Verse 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. ¹³Verse 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. ¹⁴Verse 14. How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.

Discernment of False Prophets Matthew 7:15–20

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

True Discipleship Defined Matthew 7:21–23

²¹Verse 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. ²²Verse 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?’ ²³Verse 23. Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’

Wisdom in Building a Foundation Matthew 7:24–27

²⁴Verse 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. ²⁵Verse 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. ²⁶Verse 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. ²⁷Verse 27. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

Authority of Jesus' Teaching Matthew 7:28–29

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