Matthew 7:1-29 - G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

Bible Comments

After thus enunciating the laws of the Kingdom, and bringing men into the realm of direct dealing with God, the King authoritatively set up the standard of judgment. No man is to be his brother's judge. He cannot, first because he can never know all the facts of the case, and, further, because '' his own need is so great that any time occupied in censorious criticism is so much taken from the all-important work of attending to his own "beam." And yet there is to be discrimination in dealing with holy things, for "dogs" and "swine" have no understanding of their value.

Just as the bewildered soul is on the verge of crying out, "Who is sufficient for these things?" there comes a glorious announcement of an open treasure house. The things enjoined are, indeed, too hard for us in our own strength, Then "ask, seek, knock," and in every case the promise is simple and sublime, "It shall be given," "Ye shall find," "It shall be opened."

Then our Lord gave His invitation to His Kingdom. The entrance is through a strait gate. Character and conduct are supreme. The proof of loyalty is always in the fruit borne, never in the profession made, or the works done.

A profession that is not sincere is profanation; and service rendered that has not a pure motive is sacrilege. What of those who enter that strait gate, and, hearing the words of the King-do them? To them is ensured a permanence of character no storms or waves can wreck.

What of those who, hearing the words, disregard them? To them all building is folly, for the sandy foundations of wrong motives will cause irremedial ruin in the day of testing. What wonder that the crowds were astonished at such teaching!

Here ends the Manifesto of the King, the Great Charter of humanity. When presently man shall rest in perfect peace and joy, it will be within the sacred circle of this unfolding of law.

Matthew 7:1-29

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 straita gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Becauseb 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.