1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
The seventh chapter of the book of Matthew in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a continuation of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. The chapter is laden with profound teachings that revolve around themes of judgment, the power of prayer, the narrow and wide gates, the true and false prophets, and the wise and foolish builders. These teachings are not just mere religious instructions but carry deep life lessons that are applicable in our daily lives. This essay will delve into these themes, exploring their meanings and implications in a broader life context.
Chapter 7 starts with a profound admonition against judging others: "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matthew 7:1). This is a powerful teaching that discourages self-righteousness and encourages empathy and understanding. The verses that follow explain the principle of reciprocity in judgment; the same measure we use to judge others will be used to judge us. This is encapsulated in the analogy of the speck and the plank (Matthew 7:3-5). Jesus challenges His listeners to first remove the plank from their own eyes before attempting to remove the speck from their brother's eye. This teaching underscores the importance of self-examination and personal growth before passing judgment on others. In essence, it calls for introspection, humility, and empathy in our interactions with others.
In verses 7 to 11, Jesus teaches about the power of prayer. He encourages persistent prayer, saying, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7). This teaching affirms the responsiveness of God to our prayers and the importance of persistence in prayer. It is an invitation to a relationship with God, one that is based on communication and trust. Furthermore, Jesus compares God's willingness to give good gifts to His children to a human father's willingness to give good gifts to his children, emphasizing God's love and generosity.
The theme of the narrow and wide gates (Matthew 7:13-14) is a metaphorical representation of the paths of righteousness and unrighteousness, respectively. The wide gate, which many people go through, leads to destruction, while the narrow gate, which few find, leads to life. This teaching underscores the importance of making the right choices in life. It suggests that the path of righteousness, though difficult and less trodden, ultimately leads to life.
In verses 15 to 20, Jesus warns against false prophets, describing them as wolves in sheep's clothing. He teaches that the true nature of a prophet can be discerned from their fruits, similar to how trees are recognized by their fruits. This teaching is a call to discernment. It suggests that actions and outcomes, rather than appearances and words, are the true indicators of a person's character and intentions.
The chapter concludes with the parable of the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27). The wise builder is likened to a person who hears Jesus' teachings and puts them into practice, while the foolish builder is likened to a person who hears the teachings but does not put them into practice. The teaching emphasizes the importance of not just hearing the word of God but also applying it in our lives. It is a call to action, to live out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives.
In conclusion, Chapter 7 of the book of Matthew is a rich source of wisdom and guidance. It teaches us about the importance of self-examination, empathy, persistence in prayer, making right choices, discernment, and putting the word of God into action. These teachings are timeless and universally applicable, providing us with valuable life lessons that can guide us towards a fulfilling and meaningful life.
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