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Matthew Chapter Seven

 

I. Content of the Chapter

Judgments Citizens of Kingdom of Heaven should Have before Men

I. They have to know how to judge themselves at first

   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. 7:1Judge 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 (Rom. 2:1). Do not use any standard with which you do not like to be criticized to criticize others.

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. 7:6Do 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. 7:7Ask 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. 7:13Enter 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 (Rom. 11:5). Overcomers are always very few.

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. 7:15Beware 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 land of Canaan (Hab. 3:17). They symbolize the manifestations of spiritual life in all aspects. Therefore the spiritual meaning of this verse is that it is impossible to bear spiritual fruits of life from the natural flesh.

   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. 7:21Not 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 kingdom of God is closely connected with the will of God (Matt. 6:10). Only those who do the will of God could be counted as ones that live in the reality of the kingdom of heaven.

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 kingdom of God (Matt. 12:28).

  “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. 7:24Therefore 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. 7:26But 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 land of Judah it is usually very dry in summer and there is heavy rain in winter. Usually men build their house in summer. However foolish men build their house on the sand for they have forgotten that there is heavy rain in winter.

   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 Kingdom of Heaven

I. Life of love------judge not and love one’s neighbor (v.1-12)

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

I. We should guard our mouth (v. 1-6)

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 Kingdom of Heaven

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 HuangChristian Digest Bible Commentary Series

   Translated by Sharon Ren