Matthew 7

Notes for BSF

WHO ARE WE TO JUDGE? (Matthew 7:1-5)

We are ALL sinners. We may easily see faults in others, but Jesus points out that we often have worse faults. So, before we are eager to point our fingers at other people, examine ourselves and focus on fixing our own faults instead.

Luke 6:37-42
Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch? A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.

There is a godly way to deal with people who have sinned against us

Example 1 -- Matthew 18:15-17
If someone does something to wrong us, we should go to that person in private and tell him what he has done to hurt us. If he listens, then we have gained a friend. If he doesn’t, then we should take him to talk with 2-3 elders who can offer advice. And if he continue to refuse to listen to reason, then we close the door and shut him out. This may sound "mean," but the idea here is to make sure he doesn't remain in around us, our family, even the church, because he is bad influence. Note here that we do not shut him out immediately. This is reserved as the last resort, when we have tried all methods to reason with him. When a person purposefully chooses to go against God's Word and His people, he choose to side with the devil -- and that is not an influence we should keep around our young and innocent. We protect children from rabid dogs. Why not from devil-driven men?

Example 2 -- Galatians 6:1-5
Help each other out. If we see someone who needs help, we should go and help him. If someone is walking off the path,we should go guide him back. At the same time, we should be aware of our own works. We should never be prideful and think we are doing just fine, that there is nothing wrong with us. We should be open to other people's criticism of us.


JESUS CAME FOR THE JEWS (Matthew 7:6)

In His first coming, Jesus did not come for the Gentiles -- He came for the Jews. Yes, God's salvation is for ALL (2 Peter 3:9), however, Jesus first came to fulfill the Law and the prophecies of His coming, as the Messiah. As God's people, the Israelites were to live by the Word of God, be an example to the world, so that through them, all would come to God. Unfortunately, history taught us that the Israelites not only strayed from God's Word, they also rejected their Messiah.


ASK, SEEK, KNOCK (Matthew 7:7-12)

Matthew 7:8
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Luke 11:13
… how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!

When we come across Scriptures that we don't understand, encounter events that we don't understand, we can claim this promise and ask God for understanding.


BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS AND PRODUCE GOOD FRUIT (Matthew 7:13-20)

Jesus is the Narrow Way
Many people like to say that Christianity is exclusive. The Truth, by definition, is exclusive; it excludes everything that is false. So, yes, Christianity is exclusive -- but it is INCLUSIVE as well. Jesus didn't just die for certain groups of people. Jesus died for EVERYONE. The path is narrow, because Jesus is the only One who leads us to salvation. Jesus is the one Truth who excludes all other false religions.

Matthew 7:14
Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Few find it, because we are not all interested in finding the Truth (John 5:40). We are often more interested in lies and deceptions, anything that allows us to keep living the lives we want to live, as opposed to humbling ourselves and earnestly seek the Truth, seek God. For those who are interested in seeking the Truth, God makes Him evident in the world around us.

John 5:43
I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him.

Jesus is the Word incarnate. He is the Truth of God personified. Yet, there are still those who refuse the Truth and would prefer to live in lies. One day, there will be one who would come claiming as the Savior -- and many will follow him, not knowing he will lead them straight into Hell.

Who is this "he," who comes in his own name? The Antichrist. For details, check out all the studies under the tab Revelation.

Be aware of wolves in sheep's clothing
Not all people who claim they are Christians are Christians. They may come as friends, but listen to the things they say, and we will soon find out that they are not here to glorify God but themselves. It is very sad that people use the name of Christianity to advance their own agenda while preying on the innocent and using God's good people (Acts 20:29-30; 2 Peter 2:1-2; 1 John 4:1). They will answer for their actions upon the Great White Throne. However, in the mean time, we should be aware of people who use the name of Christianity to promote false doctrines. How? Study the Word ourselves. Do not just believe everything people tell us, including the things I blog here. Always go directly back to the source of Truth -- God. Measure everything against the Word of God.

Acts 7:11
[The Bereans] were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether those things were so.

Be fruitful
Trees that do not bear fruit are cut down and thrown into the fire. The fruit of a tree is the result of how productive the tree is. Similarly, if we claim we are Christians, and yet we do nothing of God, we live carnal lives, suffocating our relationship with God, what kind of fruit will we bear? 

The warning we get from this passage is that if we do not produce GOOD fruit, we will be thrown into fire. This is a serious warning. If we say we are Christians, then our lives ought to reflect our claim. Our fruit should be our lives. When we live godly lives, others would see us and learn of God through us.


NOT ALL WHO CLAIM TO KNOW JESUS WILL ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN (Matthew 7:21-29)

Matthew 7:22-23
Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"

These people lacked true faith. They say they are Jesus’ disciples, but in reality, the rituals they perform were just that: rituals. They performed these acts with no heart. Worse, they followed through the motions wishing nothing but to glorify themselves, certainly not God. 

They thought they were the most godly people because of all the rituals they were able follow and perform. When we stop to think about it, we realize that these people aren’t doing any of this because they wished to worship God. They did all this because they wanted people to see how godly they are. This is the a good example of what it means to glorify ourselves. When we do things to show off, we are no longer performing God’s will; we are no longer glorifying God but ourselves.

And since their heart was selfish, Jesus will not recognize them at the end of days. Jesus never knew them because they never knew Jesus.

Build upon Jesus, our Rock
We should build our life on a rock, THE rock, which is Jesus Christ!

The true foundation is a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation (Isaiah 28:16).

There is no other true foundation than Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Jesus is the true foundation, our living stone, who was rejected by men but chosen by God (1 Peter 2:4-8). As Jesus’ disciple, we, too, are a part of that true foundation. For those who believe, the true foundation brings us salvation and joy. For those who do not believe, the true foundation stumbles them.