last third

The 7^th chapter of Matthew's account of Jesus' life is the final chapter of 3 chapters normally known as the Sermon on the Mount.

It contains all kinds of basic ideas that we unheard of in Jesus' time - & seem to still be unheard of by many these days too!

The headings are provided by the translators of the New Living Translation website.

Maybe after reading this you might want to go back & read all 3 chapters in one fell swoop – it can be a bit daunting as well as a sensory overload, but I'd recommend it. ;-)

Matthew 7

Do Not Judge Others

1 "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged.

2 For you will be treated as you treat others.

The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

  3 "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye* when you have a log in your own?

4 How can you think of saying to your friend,

'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,'

when you can't see past the log in your own eye?

5 Hypocrite!

First get rid of the log in your own eye;

then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.

  6 "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy.

Don't throw your pearls to pigs!

They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.

Effective Prayer

7 "Keep on asking,

and you will receive what you ask for.

Keep on seeking,

and you will find.

Keep on knocking,

and the door will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks,

receives.

Everyone who seeks,

finds.

And to everyone who knocks,

the door will be opened.

  9 "You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?

10 Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake?

Of course not!

11 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children,

how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

The Golden Rule

12 "Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.

This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.

The Narrow Gate
13 "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate.

The highway to hell is broad,

and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult,

and only a few ever find it.

The Tree and Its Fruit

15 "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep

but are really vicious wolves.

16 You can identify them by their fruit,

that is, by the way they act.

Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

17 A good tree produces good fruit,

and a bad tree produces bad fruit.

18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit,

and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.

19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.

20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit,

so you can identify people by their actions.

True Disciples

21 "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.

22 On judgment day many will say to me,

'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.'

23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'

Building on a Solid Foundation

24 "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise,

like a person who builds a house on solid rock.

25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the flood waters rise and the winds beat against that house,

it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock.

26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish,

like a person who builds a house on sand.

27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house,

it will collapse with a mighty crash."

  28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,

29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.