Matthew 7

Conclusion

Ask, Seek, Knock

Matthew 7:7 NRSV

“Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.

Matthew 7:8 NRSV

For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Matthew 7:9 NRSV

Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone?

Matthew 7:10 NRSV

Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake?

Matthew 7:11 NRSV

If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

The Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12 NRSV

“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Two choices in life:

1. Two Paths

Matthew 7:13 NRSV

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.

Matthew 7:14 NRSV

For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

2. Two Fruits

Matthew 7:15 NRSV

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 7:16 NRSV

You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles?

Matthew 7:17 NRSV

In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.

Matthew 7:18 NRSV

A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

Matthew 7:19 NRSV

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Matthew 7:20 NRSV

Thus you will know them by their fruits.

The hard truth...

Matthew 7:21 NRSV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Matthew 7:22 NRSV

On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’

Matthew 7:23 NRSV

Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’

3. Two Houses

Matthew 7:24 NRSV

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.

Matthew 7:25 NRSV

The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock.

Matthew 7:26 NRSV

And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

Matthew 7:27 NRSV

The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!”

Not a fan, but a sold-out Jesus follower

heb12.1

Hebrews 12:1 NET 2nd ed.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us,

Hebrews 12:2 NET 2nd ed.

keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

The response

Matthew 7:28–29 NRSV

Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Matthew 8:1 NRSV

When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him;