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Matthew Chapter
Seven
I.
Content of the Chapter
Judgments Citizens of Kingdom of Heaven
should Have before Men
A. do not judge others (v.1-2)
B. because they are not qualified to judge others (v.3-5)
C. they should know how to discern (v.6)
D. they should ask God for the ability of discernment (v.7-11)
E. they should live in the line of being considerate (v.12)
II. They should have wise judgments:
A. the judgment about two kinds of gates and two kinds of ways (v.13-14)
B. the judgment about two kinds of trees and two kinds of fruits
(v.15-20)
C. the judgment about two kinds of work (v.21-23)
D. the judgment about two kinds of foundations (v.24-27)
E. the judgment about two kinds of teachings (v.28-29)
II.
Verse by Verse commentary
Matt. 7:1 “‘Judge
not
that you be not judged.”
YLT: “`Judge not
that ye
may not be judged
”
Meaning of Words: “judge”: condemn
distinguish and decide.
Literal Meaning: “judge”: pick on others’
disadvantages and condemn others’ sins.
“Judge not” The Lord here did not mean
that we should not discern cautiously according to facts or judge of and
approve the things that are more excellent (Pill. 1:9-10). The Lord meant that
we should not put our subjective feelings
bias and etc into objective facts
and judge others with malice.
“That you be not judged.” “Be judged” is
the obverse of “judge”. Here
the composition of “being judged by God” is more
that that of “being judged by men” (see 1Cor. 4:3-4).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Judge” means that I
standing on the side of my
words
speak with my subjective opinions instead of with objective opinions.
Those who judge others certainly have not been divorced from selves.
2) The principle of God’s instruction is that
others will treat you by the way that you treat others.
3) The principle of citizens of the kingdom of
heaven is to be strict with themselves and lenient towards others. The more
progress a believer makes in spirit
the more will he judge himself and the
less will he judge others.
4) In the age of grace
what we need is not
judicial judgment but provision of life. We testify Christ not by the
correction of outward behaviors but by the inner manifestation of life.
5) If believers
concentrating on details and
forgetting the main purpose
only seek for increase of spiritual knowledge
instead of growth of spiritual life
the spiritual intelligence will make them
become judgers who use spiritual knowledge to condemn others.
6) Those who love to judge others live on the
principle of the law instead of the reality of life. The more deeply we live in
the reality of life
the more easily we are divorced from the spirit of
judgment.
7) We have to live in the light of the Lord if we
do not want to judge others. Only those who are full of the light of the Lord
are able to not judge others.
8) The reason why one judges others is that he does
not know his own corruption. The more one knows himself
the less he dares to
criticize others and the more lenient he is towards others.
Matt. 7:2 “For with what judgment
you judge
you will be judged; and with the measure you use
it will be
measured back to you.”
YLT: “for in what
judgment ye judge
ye shall be judged
and in what measure ye measure
it shall
be measured to you.”
Literal Meaning: “measure” originally
means utensil used to measure food (e.g. basket). Here it is used as the
measure to judge the rightness and wrongness of men.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) There are two principles about treating others:
one is righteousness and the other is mercy. Those who treat others with
righteousness will be treated with righteousness. Those who treat others with
mercy will be treated with mercy.
2) For judgment without mercy to him that has shown
no mercy. Mercy glories over judgment (James. 2:13). Citizens of the kingdom of
heaven shall be merciful and love their neighbors as themselves (Matt. 19:19).
3) It is a common fault of men to only measure
others and not to be measured with the same standard (
4) Nobody is blameless. If one wants to avoid being
blamed by others
he should not blame others at first. Moreover
we make almost
the same faults. Therefore whatever reason we use to criticize others
we
should make ourselves ready because others may criticize us with the same
reason.
5) The more heavenly tolerance one has
the more
magnanimous he is towards men. On the contrary
the less heavenly tolerance one
has
the less magnanimous he is towards men. The key to enlarge one’s heavenly
tolerance is to deny oneself.
6) “With the measure you use
it will be measured back to you.” The more one gives
the more he will
receive. The less one gives
the less he will receive. It is an unchangeable
principle. With a great measure with which you mete
it shall be measured to
you greatly (Luke. 6:38).
7) When you are criticized by others
do not be
indignant at once because you have probably criticized others in the same way.
Matt. 7:3 “And why do you look at
the speck in your brother's eye
but do not consider the plank in your own eye?”
YLT: “`And why dost thou
behold the mote that in thy brother's eye
and the beam that in thine own eye
dost not consider?”
Meaning of Words: “speck”: twig from
wood; “plank”: a stick of timber.
Literal Meaning: “speck” originally
means twig from wood. Here it means the small fault.
“Plank” originally means plank used in
buildings. Here it means the big fault.
“Speck” would hurt men but “plank” would
press men to death.
The former verse refers to the
consequence of judgment and this verse shows the inappropriateness of judging.
Commonly judgers only see others’ small faults and have not seen their own
bigger faults.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Anyone that is unable to see his own
shortcomings is not qualified to criticize others’ shortcomings.
2) Every time we criticize others
we should keep
in mind that we may have bigger faults.
3) The unclean ones would see uncleanness of others
easily. The holy ones find it difficult to find others’ faults.
4) Our opinions towards faults are always not
exact. Those who are righteous in their own eyes always put the trivial above
the important (Matt. 18:9-14). The more faults one commits himself
the more he
loves to find fault with others.
5) The greatest problem in our contacting with
others is lack of love. Those who love to criticize others are lacking the
mostly wanting love in themselves.
6) If we have more love in us
we won’t in a hurry
criticize others for the things that they have and we do not have and we will
show more mercy and compassion when judging others.
Matt. 7:4 “Or how can you say to
your brother
"Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look
a plank
is in your own eye?”
YLT: “or
how wilt thou
say to thy brother
Suffer I may cast out the mote from thine eye
and lo
the
beam in thine own eye?”
Literal Meaning: “a plank is in your
own eye” “plank” not only means one’s serious fault but also implies that one
has prejudice against others and therefore his sight has been covered to see
the truth.
“How can you say to your brother” shows
that he is unable to judge justly.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Believers should examine themselves before they
criticize others.
2) The more one knows himself
the less he dares to
condemn others.
Matt. 7:5 “Hypocrite! First remove
the plank from your own eye
and then you will see clearly to remove the speck
from your brother's eye.”
YLT: “Hypocrite
cast out
first the beam out of thine own eye
and then thou shalt see clearly to cast
out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Firstly
we have to get rid of the evil
intention of censoriousness and kick the impious bad habit of finding fault
with others
and then we may clearly see the fact.
2) Others would use the same standard by which we
treat others to treat us.
3) What we should see clearly is how to remove the
speck instead of the speck itself. When we want to remove the speck from
brother’s eye
seeing the speck clearly is not important
what’s important is
to be looked lovely in brother’s eyes and naturally the speck will be removed.
4) Firstly we have to be dealt with by the Lord and
then may help to deal with others. Our personal experience would be of real
help to others. The cross always begins from us.
Matt. 7:6 “‘Do
not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine
lest they
trample them under their feet
and turn and tear you in pieces.”
YLT: “`Ye may not give
that which is to the dogs
nor cast your pearls before the swine
that they may
not trample them among their feet
and having turned -- may rend you.”
Literal Meaning: “what is holy”:
things that are sanctified to God.
“Pearls”: precious adornments.
“Dogs” and “swine” are dirty and unclean
men (2Pet. 2:22).
This verse taught us to be wise in the
world (Matt. 10:16)
and not to introduce precious things to others randomly
lest they ruin the precious things and assault us. It shows that the Lord
wanted us to know who are evil ones like dogs and swine and did not want us to
be Christians without discernment.
Spiritual Meaning: “what is holy”
symbolize objective truth that is of God. The Sermon on the Mount from Matt. 5
to Matt.7 is holy.
“Dogs” are those who do not know the
Lord (Pill. 3:2).
“Pearls” symbolizes believers’
subjective experience of God.
“Swine” symbolizes the dirty and unclean
men (2Pet. 2:22). Believers should not tell unbelievers the precious truth and
experience randomly.
Controversial Clarification: Here it is not the meaning of the Lord that we
should not preach glad tidings and bear witness of our salvation to the world.
He meant that some spiritual truth and experience of life such as the sermon
“whoever shall strike you on your right cheek
turn to him also the other”
(Matt. 5:39) and experience of being tested and chastened by God are not
suitable to let unbelievers know because they do not know the preciousness of
these and contrarily they may use these blackly.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should not hold the hypercritical attitude
towards others and we should have the ability to prove all things (1Thess.
5:21).
2) Do not randomly tell unbelievers the teachings
of the Lord because some of these words may not help them at all and contrarily
may be used by them to mock and make fun of Christians.
3) Spiritual teachings should be taught properly.
Noble teachings should not be trampled by irresponsible and inappreciative
ones.
4) Any spiritual teaching should be taught
according to learners’ spiritual absorption ability.
5) When we talk about spiritual things with men
if
we do not consider whether the other person accepts and tell him all the things
we know
the precious may be trampled and unnecessary trouble may be caused.
6) Any spiritual experience is to edify us to
become vessels of spreading God’s grace. We have to be good at using spiritual
experience to reveal God’s grace to edify others
otherwise we may corrupt
others.
7) We must be cautious towards sinners (dogs) and
false brothers (swine) and do not randomly show the conclusion that we consider
the best before them.
Matt. 7:7 “‘Ask
and it will be given to you; seek
and you will find; knock
and it will be
opened to you.”
YLT: “`Ask
and it shall
be given to you; seek
and ye shall find; knock
and it shall be opened to
you;”
Literal Meaning: “ask”: common
prayer;
“Seek”: to ask single-mindedly;
“Knock”: to request further;
By the words from v.7 to v.11
the Lord
taught us to ask
seek
knock God and then to get the right way in order to
discern (v.6) and commune with men. Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Our prayers will never fail. God may not merely
answer us according to what we pray because He knows what we really need.
2) The power produced by our prayers will never
disappear just like the law of conservation of mass in Physics. One substance
may disappear in one form but it still exists in another form. God will answer
our prayer according to His sovereignty and infinite wisdom.
3) God’s opening is determined by our knocking.
God’s will is dominated by men’s prayers. The working principle of God is: God
starts to work after His people have prayed.
4) “Ask
seek and knock” shows that we should pray
at all seasons (Eph. 6:18) till God answers us.
5) If we want to have normal relation with men
we
have to have normal relation with God------live a life relying on God and
having intimate communication with God by “asking
seeking and knocking”.
Matt. 7:8 “For everyone who asks
receives
and he who seeks finds
and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
YLT: “for every one who
is asking doth receive
and he who is seeking doth find
and to him who is
knocking it shall be opened.”
Literal Meaning: v.7 is a promise and
this verse is the principle.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) God loves that we ask Him in everything. You
have not because you ask not (James. 4:2).
2) “Asking” has a concentrated aim; “Seeking” takes
great effort. “Knocking” makes practical action.
3) There is only “and” between asking and
receiving
seeking and finding and knocking and being opened and there is not
any other condition being set here.
Matt. 7:9 “ Or what man is there among you who
if his son asks for bread
will
give him a stone?”
YLT: “`Or what man is of
you
of whom
if his son may ask a loaf -- a stone will he present to him?”
Spiritual Meaning: “bread” symbolizes
the provision of life; “Stone” symbolizes the lifeless thing.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Children may ask wrongly. However
parents won’t
give wrongly. Father in heaven will not only give us the right thing but also
give us far exceedingly above all which we ask or think (Eph. 3:20).
2) Many times
it seems that we are asking for
bread. Actually
what we ask is a stone. Many times
we think that God has
given us the stone. Actually
what God gives us is bread.
3) The devil always deceives us with a stone as
bread (Matt. 4:3). However what the Lord gives us is real.
Matt. 7:10 “Or if he asks for a fish
will he give him a serpent?”
YLT: “and if a fish he
may ask -- a serpent will he present to him?”
Spiritual Meaning: “fish” swims in
water freely. Fish symbolizes Christ and His life that could enable us to
overcome the surrounding circumstances.
“Serpent” symbolizes Satan and any man
or thing that has connection with Satan that would deceive and frame us.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Many times
we ask for a fish. Actually what we
ask is a serpent. Many times what God gives us looks like a serpent but
actually it is a fish.
2) As long as we ask our Father
He will assuredly
answer us. But He probably does not answer us according to what we ask. He
answers us according to what is profitable to us in His sight.
Matt. 7:11 “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!”
YLT: “if
therefore
ye
being evil
have known good gifts to give to your children
how much more shall
your Father who in the heavens give good things to those asking him?”
Literal Meaning: “if you then
being
evil” It does not merely mean that we are sinners. It also includes that we are
imperfect in morality and nature.
“How much more will your Father who is
in heaven”. Our Father
wants us to have profit with a heart as a father (Heb.
12:10).
“Give good things to those who ask Him!”
Broadly speaking
good things mean the way for us to do the Sermon on the
Mount. Narrowly speaking
good things mean the best way to treat men.
Spiritual Meaning: good gifts mean
things profitable to children and good things mean the Holy Spirit (Luke.
11:13). The guidance of the Holy Spirit in us is unction (1John. 2:27) to teach
us how to get along with men.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) The abundance of the kingdom of heaven
------“good things”------“bread” (abundance on the land) and “fish” (abundance
in the sea) are prepared for sons instead of dogs and swine (v.6). Therefore
all that own the sonship should ask the Father boldly.
2) Many times
we may ask for wrong things but He
won’t give us wrongly. What He gives us is the “good thing”.
3) As long as men indeed seek God
He will give
them the best because He treats those who seek Him as a father to his son.
4) Many times we think that God does not answer our
prayer and He does not love us. Actually
God wants to give us good things.
5) Sometimes
the sorrowful and difficult things
are permitted by God to come upon us. It is not that He does not love us but He
wants to edify us and gives us better things.
Matt. 7:12 “Therefore
whatever you
want men to do to you
do also to them
for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
YLT: “`All things
therefore
whatever ye may will that men may be doing to you
so also do to
them
for this is the law and the prophets.”
Literal Meaning: “therefore”
continues from the preceding verses
indicating that the former verses are the
foundation of this verse. It means:
1) The normal relation between men and God is the
foundation of the normal relation among men.
2) Since God treats us as a father and gives us
good things
we should treat others with God’s heart.
3) Since we receive God’s grace by asking and
receiving
we should deal kindly with others in the same way and become
channels of grace to spread God’s grace to each other.
“Whatever you want men to do to you
do also to
them.” The principle of citizens of the kingdom of heaven to deal with others
is to consider others in their positions. The way you do to others depends on
how you want men to do to you instead that how men do to you.
“For this is the Law and the Prophets” “The Law and
the Prophets” are teachings in the Old Testament. Love your neighbor as
yourself. On this commandment the whole law and the prophets hang (Matt.
22:39-40). If we indeed love our neighbor as ourselves
we should deal with our
neighbor as ourselves.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Confucius said that “do not do to others what
you would not have them do to you” And in other religions
there were similar
teachings. “Do not do…” is negative philosophic word. However what the Lord
taught is positive. He asked us to “do this” positively. It is the difference
in Christianity compared with all the other religion and philosophy.
2) How Christians treat others is according to
supreme principle instead of the fact.
3) It is not to control oneself not to harm others
but to profit others. It is not merely that you do not seize from others. You
should give to others. It is not merely that you should not murder. You should
also love others.
4) What God points to by the Law and the prophets
is Christ and therefore Christ is the center when we deal with others.
Believers should manifest Christ and provide Christ to others when dealing with
others.
5) The new law of the kingdom of heaven does not
contradict with the law of the Old Testament and contrarily it fulfills and
completes the law of the Old Testament.
Matt. 7:13 “‘Enter
by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to
destruction
and there are many who go in by it.”
YLT: “`Go ye in through
the strait gate
because wide the gate
and broad the way that is leading to
the destruction
and many are those going in through it;”
Meaning of Words: “destruction”: ruin
perdition and waste.
The
Background: there were rivers
around the city of the Jews. There was a narrow bridge in the place to enter
into the city. There was a small gate in the middle of the great gate.
Literal Meaning: “enter by the narrow
gate” Here the gate is the pass to another way. Only by entering by “the narrow
gate” could one find the right way.
“For wide is the gate and broad is the
way that leads to destruction
and there are many who go in by it.” The
principle of the world is presumption (Rom. 1:27). They walk randomly and
therefore their gate and way are “broad”. They not only practice them and have
fellow delight in those who do (Rom. 1:32). Therefore there are many on this
way but its end is destruction.
This verse could also means the work and
behavior of believers. Most of believers do not like to be restricted and
consequently they suffer losses (see 1Cor. 3:15). Citizens of the kingdom of
heaven should find the gate at first and then walk in the way. What we should
enter into is the narrow gate
indicating that the requirements to the kingdom
of heaven are extremely strict and men’s natural conceptions
motives out of
themselves and the fleshly behaviors must be abandoned outside of the narrow
gate.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to risky end
and there are many who go in by it
2) Believers should at first enter into the gate
and then walk in the way. Entering into the gate is only a beginning and
walking in the way is a lifelong procedure.
3) It is partial to stress on entering into the
gate and neglect walking in the way. It is also partial to stress on walking in
the way and neglect entering into the gate. Entering into the gate and walking
in the way are both important.
4) It is impossible to walk in the difficult way
without entering into the narrow gate. Once we have entered through the wrong
gate
the way we walk on after must be wrong. Therefore we have to be very
cautious in the beginning.
5) Cross is a test for citizens of the kingdom of
heaven to enter into the narrow gate. It makes us to be restricted everywhere
and not walk randomly.
Matt. 7:14 “Because narrow is the
gate and difficult is the way which leads to life
and there are few who find
it.”
YLT: “how strait the
gate
and compressed the way that is leading to the life
and few are those finding
it!”
Literal Meaning: whether our life and
work have everlasting value depends on the principle of “broad” and “narrow”.
In other words
if we are willing to be restricted and accept the deprivation
of cross to remove everything that does not accord with heavenly nature
we
will walk in the way everlasting (Ps. 139: 24). Unfortunately
there are few
who are willing to pay this price.
Spiritual Meaning: “narrow gate” and
“difficult way” are the type of Christ (see John. 10:9
14:6).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) In the heavenly realm
everything should be
entered into by Christ the gate and everything should be done in Christ.
Besides Christ
there isn’t the second gate or the second way.
2) Everything in our life
service and experience
should be of Christ
by Christ and unto Christ.
3) Anyone who is not willing to enter into the
narrow gate and dislike the difficult way cannot be a real Christian.
4) “The narrow gate” and “difficult way” are the
way of cross. Only through cross can we find God and receive the eternal life.
This is the unchangeable truth.
5) Abandoning personal interests and being
separated from cares and entertainment would make the gate narrow and the way
difficult.
6) “There are few find it.” There has been a
remnant according to election of grace (
7) There are two aspects of Christians’ confidence:
one is believing in God and the other is relying on God. Entering into the
narrow gate is like believing in God at one time and walking in the difficult
way is like relying on the Lord all one’s life.
Matt. 7:15 “‘Beware
of false prophets
who come to you in sheep's clothing
but inwardly they are
ravenous wolves.”
YLT: “`But
take heed of
the false prophets
who come unto you in sheep's clothing
and inwardly are
ravening wolves.”
Literal Meaning: “the prophets”:
those who speak for God. They are so-called ministers of God in Christianity.
Citizens of the kingdom of heaven should have spiritual discernment towards
those who lead us (1Thess. 5:20-21) because there are many false prophets. They
may speak movingly
teach subtle teachings and work effectively
however
they
are not the prophets from God.
“Who come to you in sheep’s clothing
but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” It indicates that it is difficult to
discern false prophets from their outward appearance. But they have evil
intentions and motives inwardly.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) When we walk in difficult way
we should be
aware of false prophets. That’s to say
on the lifelong road as a Christian
the most we should be aware of is all kinds of falseness.
2) False prophets
though are with sheep’s clothing
outwardly
do not have the life of sheep inwardly. They have the knowledge of
life but do not have the reality of life.
3) False prophets shout truth loudly to others with
their mouth and abandon truth in spirit. Therefore the teachings of false
prophets may be correct and their message may be orthodox. However
they behave
hypocritically (see Matt. 23:3). This kind of people would lead men abandon
truth.
4) Most of the false prophets do not magnify the
Lord and garble the Bible with special purpose and express specious and
heretical teachings to deceive ignorant Christians (2Pet. 2:1).
5) He is not a Christian who one outwardly. He is a
Christian inwardly (Rom. 2:28-29). The service of new covenant is not of
letter
but of spirit (2Cor. 3:6).
6) Many people hold gain to be piety (1Tim. 6:5).
They have a form of piety but deny the power of it (2Tim. 3:5) and specially
devour believers (2Cor. 12:20
Luke. 20:47).
Matt. 7:16 “You will know them by
their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?”
YLT: “From their fruits
ye shall know them; do gather from thorns grapes? or from thistles figs?”
The
Background: it is said that
thornbushes could bear dark fruits like grapes and thistles could bear fruits
like immature figs. The fruits look like grape and figs and actually they are
not grapes or figs.
Literal Meaning: “you will know them
by their fruits.” “Fruits” are fleshly behaviors by men’s nature. We judge
people not only by their appearance and their words (John. 7:24)
but also by
proving their fruits of life and service behind men.
Spiritual Meaning: “do men gather
grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?” The land yield “thorns” and
“thistles’ by God’s curse after men’s fall (Gen. 3:18). Therefore they
symbolize men’s natural flesh. “Grapes” and “figs” are the representation of
the products in the
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) “Fruits” are the manifestation of internal life.
We could know the nature of life by fruits. It is inaccurate to see spiritual
things by appearance and it is accurate to see by outcome.
2) Words of the Lord show that the fruits in this
verse come from the teachings (of prophets) in former verse. Only correct
teachings could bear correct fruits.
Matt. 7:17 “Even so
every good tree
bears good fruit
but a bad tree bears bad fruit.”
YLT: “so every good tree
doth yield good fruits
but the bad tree doth yield evil fruits.”
Literal Meaning: a kind of life would
bear that kind of fruits (Rom. 6:21-22
7:4-5). If we live and work by the life
of God (“good tree”)
we will naturally bear spiritual “good fruits”.
Otherwise
what men see from us will assuredly be “bad fruits” borne by
corruptive flesh (“bad tree”).
Some Bible exegetes held that “tree”
meant the teaching
“good tree” meant correct teaching and “bad tree” meant the
teachings of false prophets. The correct teaching would generate correct
character (“fruit”) of listeners and the wrong teaching would generate wrong
character (“fruit”) of listeners.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) A kind of life would bear that kind of
performance and achievements of work.
2) In order to seek spiritual things
one has to be
cautious to follow the leader. If we follow the wrong leader such as the false
prophets
we will suffer losses in future.
Matt. 7:18 “A good tree cannot bear
bad fruit
nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.”
YLT: “A good tree is not
able to yield evil fruits
nor a bad tree to yield good fruits.”
Literal Meaning: this verse is the
judgment that God has made towards two kinds of life------ after their kind
(Gen. 1:11). Fruits borne from holy life (“good tree”) and natural life (“bad
tree”) are totally different (Gal. 5:19-23).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Two kinds of gates and two kinds of ways
(v.13-14) refer to our outwardly life and service. Two kinds of fruits refer to
our inward life.
2) Our problem does not lie in whether it is good
or not outwardly
but lies in by which kind of life we do the things. If we do
by the life of Christ
we will bear good fruits. If we do by natural life
we
will assuredly bear bad fruits even the thing we do is good.
3) Though the outward appearance could be
pretended
the inward life could not be pretended. The Holy will inevitably
lead men to concentrate on God Himself and love heavenly things. Natural life
will inevitably lead men to look at themselves and care about earthly things.
Matt. 7:19 “Every tree that does not
bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
YLT: “Every tree not
yielding good fruit is cut down and is cast to fire:”
Literal Meaning: If we do not live in
His grace and bear holy fruits of life
we will be cut off and thrown into the
fire (Rom. 11:22
John. 15:6
Matt. 3:10).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Every work of men will be tried by the fire. If
the work of any one shall be consumed
he shall suffer loss (1Cor. 3:12-15).
2) Any work that could not manifest the beauty of
Christ will lose its value in the life eternal.
Matt. 7:20
“Therefore
by their fruits you will know them.”
YLT: “therefore from
their fruits ye shall know them.”
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Remember your leaders who have spoken to you the
word of God and considering the issue of their conversation
imitate their
faith (Heb. 13:7).
2) So that we henceforth have known no one
according to the flesh (2Cor. 5:16).
Matt. 7:21 “‘Not
everyone who says to Me
’Lord
Lord
' shall enter
the kingdom of heaven
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
YLT: “`Not every one who
is saying to me Lord
lord
shall come into the reign of the heavens; but he
who is doing the will of my Father who is in the heavens.”
Literal Meaning: “not everyone shall
enter…” It is not as man sees. Man looks upon the outward appearance. But
Jehovah looks upon the heart (1Sam. 16:7). The Lord is the one that searches
reins and hearts (Rev. 2:23). He knows many people honor Him with the lips but
their heart is far away from Him (Matt. 15:8). This kind of people will
definitely not partake in the kingdom of heaven.
“But he who does the will of My Father
in heaven” The kingdom of heaven is the area under God’s reign. The one who
does not do the will of Father and walks as he pleases does not obey the
authority of God and inevitably will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) We should follow the Lord with lips (“Lord
Lord”) and we should also follow Him by actual deeds (“who does the will of My
Father in Father”).
2) The
3) Men could not replace obedience with work.
Nobody could replace the obedience to the will of God by toil and busyness.
4) Unless one does the will of God
all the work of
men will be abandoned by the Lord.
Matt. 7:22 “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?'”
YLT: “Many will say to me
in that day
Lord
lord
have we not in thy name prophesied? and in thy name
cast out demons? and in thy name done many mighty things?”
Literal Meaning: “in that day”: the
judgment in the last day (Mal. 3:17-18).
“Prophesied”: preaching the words of God
as prophets.
“Casting out demons”: bringing in the
“Doing many wonders”: using the power of
the age to come.
Prophesying
casting out demons and
doing many wonders are all spiritual works. These work are all done in the name
of the Lord
indicating that they have done the right and correct spiritual
works (Mark. 16:17-18). However
doing spiritual works does not mean doing the
will of God. The spiritual works may be done by one’s own will and interest and
even by envy and strife (Pill. 1:15).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Many people call the Lord as lord with their
lips and work in the name of the Lord. But this could not judge whether their
identity and works are right.
2) Prophesying
casting out demons and doing many
wonders are all spiritual gifts. Believers should be emulous of spiritual gifts
(1Cor. 14:1). However we should not replace doing the will of God with these.
3) Life is more important than work. Fruits borne
by the Holy Spirit are more important than spiritual gifts.
4) Many times we are wrong and the Lord put up with
us and has not point it out until “that day”. I wish that we could awake as
early as possible lest in that day there will be no chance for remedy.
Matt. 7:23 “And then I will declare to them
‘I never
knew you; depart from Me
you who practice lawlessness!'”
YLT: “and then I will
acknowledge to them
that -- I never knew you
depart from me ye who are
working lawlessness.”
Meaning of Words: “knew”: praise
acknowledge; “lawlessness”: illegality
a violation of law
wickedness.
Literal Meaning: doing the work of
the Lord by one’s own will is lawlessness (wickedness in original). This kind
of people will not be praised and will be punished by the Lord before the
judgment-seat of Christ in future.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Working-----prophesying
casting out demons and
doing wonders------is not equivalent to do the will of God (v.22). Working
alone will not be praised by God.
2) God’s will is the test to our work. God cares
about whether our work is of God or of us instead of the greatness or
prosperity of our work.
3) Not all the signs are of God and not everyone
who does wonders is praised by God because the evil spirit is able to make use
of men to do supernatural wonders.
4) Walking not according to the principle of God is
“lawlessness”. The principle of God is none other but the cross of Christ.
Anything that is done not according to the principle of cross will not be
acknowledged by the Lord.
5) Those who have not been dealt with by the cross
only pay attention to the effect of work and praise of men instead of the
acknowledgement of the Lord. And certainly their work is of no spiritual value.
Matt. 7:24 “‘Therefore
whoever hears these sayings of Mine
and does them
I will liken him to a wise
man who built his house on the rock:”
YLT: “`Therefore
every
one who doth hear of me these words
and doth do them
I will liken him to a
wise man who built his house upon the rock;”
Literal Meaning: “these sayings of
Mine” are words said by the Lord from Matt. 5 to Matt. 7
i.e. the words to
reveal the will of God. Words of the Lord are the rock and foundation to the
life and work of citizens of the kingdom of heaven. If we hear the sayings of
the Lord and do them
we are building our whole life on the foundation of words
of the Lord.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) Words of God are settled
as rock
in the
heavens (Ps. 119:89). Only on the basis of the words of the Lord could we have solid
building.
2) The assembly (“house”) must be built “on the
rock” (Matt. 16:18). Only Christ is the foundation to build the assembly (1Cor.
3:11).
3) The teachings of Christianity is not for men to
tell and to hear the news (Acts. 17:20-21)
but to put into practice.
Matt. 7:25 “and the rain descended
the floods came
and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not
fall
for it was founded on the rock.”
YLT: “and the rain did
descend
and the streams came
and the winds blew
and they beat on that house
and it fell not
for it had been founded on the rock.”
Spiritual Meaning: “the rain descended”
symbolizes the test from God; “the floods came” symbolizes the test from men;
“the winds blew” symbolizes the test from Satan.
Another explanation: “the rain
descended” refers to the work of the evil spirit; “the floods came” refers to
the power of the evil spirit; “the winds blew” means systematized error (Eph.
4:14).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If citizens of the kingdom of heaven live and
work on the basis of words of the Lord
they will withstand tests of
circumstances in all aspects (Matt. 13:21)
and they won’t be immediately
offended when tribulation or persecution happens.
2) Today if we walk on earth by the principle of
the Lord
any trial will not overcome us. In that day the trail of judgment
will not overcome us.
3) If believers’ walking is built on the basis of
words of the Lord
their character will withstand the rain and the winds.
Matt. 7:26 “‘But
everyone who hears these sayings of Mine
and does not do them
will be like a
foolish man who built his house on the sand:”
YLT: “`And every one who
is hearing of me these words
and is not doing them
shall be likened to a
foolish man who built his house upon the sand;”
The Background:
in the
Literal Meaning: “a foolish man”: a
foolish man (Matt. 25:2) is not an evil one or one who has not been saved. If
any man may be a hearer and not a doer (James. 1:23)
he is a foolish man who
follows his own inclinations.
Spiritual Meaning: Man is formed by the
dust of ground (Gen. 2:7) and therefore “sand” symbolizes natural love
opinions and ways.
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) On men’s eyes
whether one is wise or foolish
depends on his ability to do things. However in God’s eyes
whether one is wise
or foolish depends on his attitude towards words of the Lord.
2) If we build our life on the basis of anything
besides the Lord Himself
even the best things such as the Law of God and
virtue of men
we build on the sand and the building cannot resist trials.
Matt. 7:27 “and the rain descended
the floods came
and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And
great was its fall.’”
YLT: “and the rain did
descend
and the streams came
and the winds blew
and they beat on that house
and it fell
and its fall was great.'”
Literal Meaning: If our life and work
are built on the basis of men’s will
they won’t withstand tests in all kinds
of circumstances. It will fell and we will suffer loss. The loss is certainly
very great. We may suffer loss not only in this age but also in the coming
(1Cor. 3:15).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If any man may be a hearer and not a doer
the
result is very serious (“And great was its fall”).
2) If our life is built on the basis of ways and
opinions besides the Lord
it will not withstand any trial and will suffer
greater loss in future.
Matt. 7:28 “And so it was
when Jesus
had ended these sayings
that the people were astonished at His teaching
”
YLT: “And it came to
pass
when Jesus ended these words
the multitudes were astonished at his
teaching
”
Literal Meaning: “the people were
astonished at His teaching” because never man spoke like this man (John. 7:46).
His doctrine was of God and He did not speak of Himself (John. 7:16-17).
Matt. 7:29 “for He taught them as one
having authority
and not as the scribes.”
YLT: “for he was teaching
them as having authority
and not as the scribes.”
Literal Meaning: “the scribes” are
teachers who explain the Old Testament. Their doctrines were of reasons and
letter. The teaching of the Lord was with authority (Luke. 4:32) for He was
born the king of the Jews (Matt. 2:2) and we should hear Him (Matt. 17:5).
Enlightenment in the Word:
1) If our words are of the Lord
certainly the
words are with authority. Otherwise
we tell some reasons and knowledge like
the scribes.
2) When reading the Bible
we should be convinced
with the words of the Lord and respect the authority of His words. In this way
the Bible is profitable to us (2Tim. 3:16-17).
III.
Outlines of the Spiritual Lessons
Citizens of the
Kingdom of Heaven should not Judge Others
I. Judge not------because you may be judged
by others (v.1-3)
II. Judge not------because a plank is in our
own eye (v.4-5)
III. Judge not------because men do not
accept and it is of no effect to men (v.6)
IV. Judge not------because God will teach
each one (v.7-11)
V. Judge not------because you want men not
to judge yourself (v.12)
The Life of Citizens
of the
II. Watchful life------enter into the narrow
gate
walk in difficult way
be beware of false prophets and do the words of
the Lord (v.13-29)
The Principle of
Spiritual Life
II. We should seek for the Lord (v.7-11)
III. We should do the will of God and do
words of the Lord (v.12-29)
Choices of Citizens
of the
I. Two kinds of gates and two kinds of ways
(v.13-14):
A. wide is the gate and
broad is the way (one could walk freely) that leads to destruction.
B. narrow is the gate and difficult is the
way (one is restrained by the Lord) which leads to life.
II. Two kinds of trees and two kinds of
fruits (v.15-20):
A. every good tree bears good fruit (holy
life bears spiritual fruits).
B. a bad tree bears bad fruit (natural life
bears corruptive fruits).
III. Two kinds of work (v.21-23):
A. men
though doing
spiritual work in the name of the Lord
are not praised by the Lord for their
lawlessness.
B. those who do all the will of God can
enter into the kingdom of heaven.
IV. Two kinds of foundations (v.24-27):
A. one that hears the
word and does it could withstand trials.
B. one that hears the
word and does not do it could not withstand trails.
V. Two kinds of teachings (v.28-29):
A. teachings of the
scribes are of reasons and letter.
B. teachings of the
Lord are with authority.
──
Caleb Huang《Christian Digest Bible
Commentary Series》
Translated by Sharon Ren