Matthew 7

Chapter 7

Jesus warns people not to judge others

1Jesus then said, ‘Do not judge anyone, to say that they are a bad person. If you do that, God will judge you in the same way. 2God will think about you in the same way that you think about other people. He will use the same rules for you as you use for other people.

3Perhaps you want to tell your friend about his little mistake. If you want to do that, first remember your own bigger mistakes. 4You are like a person who has a big piece of wood in his eye. But then he says to his friend, “Let me take that little piece of dirt out of your eye for you.” 5Do not be like that person. You think that you are better than your friend. But you are not. First, you must take the big piece of wood out of your own eye. After that, your eyes will see clearly. Then you can take the small piece of dirt out of your friend's eye.

6Do not give holy things that are for God to dogs. The dogs will turn round and attack you. Do not throw valuable things to pigs. The pigs will only stand on them and bury them in the dirt.’ #7:6 When Jesus talked about dogs and pigs here he was talking about people who do not want to know the truth about God.

God gives good things to his children

7Jesus said, ‘Go on asking God for what you need. Then God will give it to you. Go on looking for what you need. Then you will find it. Go on knocking at the door, and God will open it for you. 8Everyone who asks for something will receive it. Everyone who looks for something will find it. God will open the door for everyone who knocks on it.

9Some of you are fathers. If your son asks you for some bread, you would not give him a stone. 10If he asks you for a fish, you would not give him a snake. 11You may be bad, but even you know how to give good things to your children. Your Father in heaven knows much better than you do how to give good things to his children. He will give good things to everyone who asks him. 12So do the good things for other people that you would want them to do for you. That is true in everything you do. That is what God's Law and the messages of God's prophets teach us.’

The way to true life is like a narrow road

13‘Go in through the narrow gate to get true life with God. There is a wide gate that is easy to go through. The wide path is easy to travel on. Many people find that wide gate, but it is the way that goes to God's final punishment. 14It is difficult to go through the small gate. And it is difficult to walk on the narrow road. But when you do go that way, you will get true life. Not many people find that narrow gate.’

Jesus tells a story about a tree and its fruit

15‘Some people say that they are prophets from God. But their words are false. They seem to be like sheep that are not dangerous. But they are really like hungry wild dogs. What they teach will hurt you.

16You will know these people by the way that they live. The things that they do are like their fruit. Grapes do not grow on thorn bushes. Figs do not grow on weeds. 17Good fruit grows on a tree that is good. Bad fruit grows on a tree that is not good. 18A good tree cannot make bad fruit. A bad tree cannot make good fruit. 19A farmer will cut down any tree that does not make good fruit. He will burn it on a fire. 20In the same way, look at the way people live. Then you will know what they are really like.

True disciples and false disciples

21Some people say to me, “Master, Master!” But not all of them will come into the kingdom of heaven. Only the people who obey God, my Father in heaven, will come in. They do what he wants them to do. 22On the day when God judges people, many of them will say, “Master, Master! We used your authority and we spoke a message from you. We used your authority and we sent bad spirits out of people. We used your authority to do many powerful things.” 23But I will say to these people, “I never knew you. You are wicked people who do not obey God. So go away from me.” ’

Jesus tells a story about two men who each built a house

24Jesus then said, ‘Some people listen to my message and they obey it. Those people are like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25Then a storm came with a lot of rain and wind. The rivers rose up high. Strong winds blew hard against that house. But the house did not fall down because the man had built it on rock. 26Other people listen to my message but they do not obey it. Those people are like a fool who built his house on sand. 27Then a storm came with a lot of rain and wind. The rivers rose up high. Strong winds blew hard against the house. That house fell down. The storm destroyed it completely.’

28Jesus finished speaking. The crowds of people were very surprised at the things that he taught them. 29When Jesus taught them, he showed that he had authority. That was not like the way that the teachers of God's Law taught people.

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Matthew 7: EASY

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