Matthew 7 - Sermon on the Mount (Part 3)
Matthew 7 - Sermon on the Mount (Part 3)
Collin Leong. March 6, 2025
This is a continuation of Jesus' sermon in chapter 6.
v1-6: Judging Others (Luke 6:37-42; Romans 14:1-12)
Jesus thought them not to judge others, because you yourself will be judged. And the measure you use to judge others, the same measure will be used against you. (v1-2)
Jesus emphasizes that the way we judge others impacts how God will judge us. The word measure" refers to the metaphorical "yardstick" or criteria you apply in evaluating others. If someone judges harshly or unfairly, they can expect to be judged (by both God and others) using a similar strict standard. Conversely, showing mercy, kindness, and understanding in judgment, then they will be treated with the same qualities in return.
Jesus asked us to examine ourselves first, before we examine others. He use metaphor that we need to remove the "plank" in our eye, before we can see clearly to remove the "speck" (eg: a speck of sawdust) from our brother's eye. (The "eye" represent our life). (v3-5)
Jesus questions how someone could have the audacity to offer to "help" another person with their small flaw when they are blind to their own significant shortcomings. This underscores the hypocrisy of judging others without first addressing one's own issues. He emphasizes self-examination and repentance before attempting to help or judge others.
In verse 6, Jesus gave another metaphor. He said not to throw sacred and valuable (pearls) things to dogs and pigs. They will only trample them under their feet and tear you into pieces.
In Jesus' time, dogs and pigs were often viewed as unclean animals. The "dogs" and "pigs" in this verse symbolize people who are unreceptive or hostile to the message of the Gospel or spiritual truths. "What is sacred" and "pearls" refer to the valuable and holy teachings of God.
Jesus is asking us to exercise discretion in sharing the Gospel (which is the right way to "remove the specs" from their eyes). It recognizes that not everyone will respond to spiritual teachings in the same way, and it’s important to focus efforts where they will be fruitful.
These mindset is also thought in OT and NT literature:
Psalm 139:23-24: "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."
Romans 2:1 - "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things."
(See Proverbs 21:2 and James 4:12 as well)
In summary, it's a reminder to approach others with grace and compassion, rather than with a hypocritical or judgmental spirit.
v7-12 Ask, Seek, Knock (Luke 11:5-13)
Jesus then told them: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (v7)
He said though we are evil (sinful) and can give our own children what they asked, then surely our Father in heaven will give good gifts to those who ask Him.
These is a promise from Jesus. However, it doesn't mean that God will give us anything that is based on our wrong motivation or when it is outside of God's will for our lives. He is a loving Father, and He knows what is beneficial for our body, mind and spirit. He will not give us anything that will corrupt us now or later. Just as I won't do so for my children as well.
The scripture also teach us the same:
1 John 5:14: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."
James 4:3: "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
There are also times when we ask for something good and in the will of God, but He took very long to give it to us. The reason could be His divine timing - He may be orchestrating circumstances behind the scenes to ensure everything aligns for His greater purpose for His Kingdom and for others around us (Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord).
Sometimes we may not be ready to receive it yet. Waiting often helps us grow in faith, patience, and reliance on God. During the waiting period, we learn to trust Him deeply, even when we can't see the full picture (Romans 5:3-4: "suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope"). Waiting will give us time to reflect our desires and purify our motives.
Hebrews 11:6: "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
When answers are delayed, we are often drawn closer to God through prayer, study, and worship. This strengthens our relationship with Him and reminds us that He is our ultimate source of hope (Psalm 27:14: "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord"). Our relationship with God is far more important that what we want from Him.
Sometimes, when we did not get we want from God, we go ahead and find out own means to get what we want. Then when consequences hit us, we cannot blame God, but only ourselves. He is not that genie we see in cartoons that give whatever wish the person ask for and it turned out to be a nightmare!
Verse 12 is often referred to as the Golden Rule, says: "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets."
Just as we are invited to ask God for what we need, Jesus reminds us to extend the same generosity, reciprocal grace, and kindness to others. When we seek good from God, it calls us to treat others with the same spirit of goodwill and fairness. If we desire God’s kindness and blessings, we should strive to live out that kindness toward others.
Verses 7-11 focus on how we can approach God with faith and trust, and verse 12 transitions into how we should approach others with love and fairness.
v13-14: Narrow and Wide Gates (Luke 13:22-30)
Jesus changed the subject and spoke about two paths in life. One leading to life, and the other to destruction.
The wide gate and broad road symbolize the easy, popular, and self-indulgent way of life that does not follow God's commands. This path is often appealing because it requires little effort or sacrifice, but it ultimately leads to destruction. Jesus warns that "many enter through it," emphasizing its popularity but also its danger.
The narrow gate and road represent a life of obedience, faith, and commitment to God’s will. It is more challenging and less popular, as it requires self-denial and spiritual discipline. Luke 9:23: "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me".
However, this path leads to eternal life, and "only a few find it," suggesting that it requires intentionality and dedication to the Word and His will.
They used to say that Christianity is for the weak, as they used religion as their "crutch". However, the fact that only a few have chosen the unpopular, narrow gate and to deny ourselves and take up our cross daily has disprove the theory. It takes someone who is strong enough to be humble and obey the scriptures even though the easier (and weaker) way is to do whatever he wants.
v15-20: True and False Prophets (Matthew 12:33-37)
Jesus warn them about the false prophets who come in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. You can recognize them with their fruits. You cannot pick good fruits such as grapes and figs from bad trees like thornbushes and thistles. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. (v15-18)
Good fruit signifies genuine righteousness and alignment with God's will, while bad fruit reveals hypocrisy, selfishness, or deception. Jesus is teaching that a person's true character and intentions become evident over time through the tangible results of their actions. It encourages discernment and a deeper look beyond appearances.
Jesus said that every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. The "fire" is a symbol of divine judgment, which can include eternal separation from God (often associated with hell).
Other books that spoke about false prophets include:
a) Jeremiah 23:16-18 - Jeremiah speaks against false prophets who fill people with false hopes, claiming to have received messages from God when they have not. He emphasizes that their visions and words are born out of their own hearts, not from God.
b) 2 Peter 2:1-3 - Peter cautions about false teachers introducing destructive heresies, exploiting people with lies, and bringing swift destruction upon themselves. This passage also highlights their greed and manipulation.
c) Matthew 24:24 - Jesus warns His disciples that false messiahs and false prophets will appear, performing signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if possible. This aligned with what John saw in Revelation 19:20.
d) 1 John 4:1 - John advises believers to test every spirit to see if it is from God, as many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This underlines the need for discernment and reliance on God's truth. Today, we have the bible everywhere, and we should read and familiarize it, and refer to the bible to see if what we heard in aligned to it.
v21-23: True and False Disciples (Luke 6:43-45)
Jesus said not everyone who called him "Lord" will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of his Father in heaven. Even those who claimed to prophecy in Jesus name, and drove out demons and perform miracles in His name may not be able to enter into the Kingdom. Instead, Jesus will tell them on that day: "‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (v21-23)
Firstly, this is a very clear fact that Jesus called Himself a God, as He is the one who can accept and reject people into heaven. He also said that God is his Father in heaven, and therefore, He is the Son of God.
Secondly, it appears that Jesus is saying that no one is guaranteed a place in heaven. Even those who are apparently serving Him through sermons, exorcism, and miracles.
Did this contradict what Jesus said in John 5:24 - "Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."? Or What Paul said in Romans 10:9-10 - "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." ?
To understand the context of what Jesus said in this passage, we need to look at other passages that agreed with Jesus' statement.
a) In 1 John 2:4-6, John said: "Whoever says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person." Jesus also said in Luke 6:46 - "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" in fact, Jesus clearly said in v21 that unless we do the will of the Father, we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
As Paul said in Ephesians 5:11 "In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will."
These verses emphasize the need for obedience to Jesus' teachings rather than just giving lip service.
b) In Acts 19:13-16, some Jews went around driving our evil spirits by invoking the Lord's name to the demon-possessed. They may have been successful at first, but at one day, a demon answered them: "'Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?' The demon jumped on them and gave them a beating, and they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.
This account proves that using Jesus name without any true connection of Him will not be accepted by both the demons and by God. Knowing Jesus involves faith, trust, and a life transformed by the Holy Spirit.
c) In 1 Cor 13:1-2, Paul said that speaking in tongues of men and angels, prophesying, understand mysteries and knowledge, and faith that can move mountains - they are nothing, if we do not have love.
In other words, spiritual gifts and miraculous acts are meaningless without the love of God in our hearts for other people.
d) In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul said that salvation is by grace, through faith, not by works alone. God does not look at our abilities and what we did, but He looks into our hearts to see if our faith is real. This can be seen by the "fruit" Jesus spoke of earlier in Matthew 7:16-20—a life that demonstrates God's character through love, justice, humility, and service.
e) Finally, Revelation 3:15-16 told us that our half-hearted commitment is not acceptable to God. Jesus said: "because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth."
Jesus teaches that the entrance to heaven is determined by God's grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, and evidenced by a life transformed by that faith. It is not merely outward actions or signs but the inner reality of a heart aligned with God.
v24-27: The Wise and Foolish Builders (Luke 6:46-49)
Jesus then emphasizes obedience to His words. Whoever practice it is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. This house will not fall even if a strong storm comes over it, because the foundation is on the rock. (v24-25)
Everyone who hears His word but did not practice it is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The house will fall with a great crash when storms comes over it. (v26-27)
The "house" symbolizes a person's life, while the foundation represents the principles and values upon which that life is built.
Building on the "rock" signifies having a strong, unshakable foundation based on faith, obedience, and righteousness. When life's challenges—symbolized by rain, floods, and wind—come, the house stands firm because it is grounded in solid and the right principles.
Building on "sand" represents a life without a strong foundation or a wrong foundation, one that lacks firm values or spiritual grounding. When trials and difficulties arise, their life will crash.
Both the OT and NT also remind us of the same things:
- Isaiah 28:16: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who relies on it will never be stricken with panic." This foreshadows the Messiah, Jesus, as the "rock" that gives a solid, reliable foundation.
- Psalms 1:2-3: "but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers." Meditating on his law is like being planted near the water, helping us to absorb the spiritual nutrients that make us grow spiritually.
- James 1:22-25: James writes about being doers of the Word, not just hearers. He compares hearing without action to looking in a mirror and forgetting what you see, resonating with Jesus' teaching about acting on His words.
- Ephesians 2:19-22: Paul speaks of believers being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Himself as the cornerstone. This emphasizes the structure of a life built on faith and spiritual integrity.
v28-29: End of The Sermon
The crowds were amazed at His teachings, for He thought as one with authority, unlike the teachers of the law.
The other religious leaders often relied on citing traditions, interpretation of scriptures, and use the authority of others. Whereas Jesus taught directly and confidently, as one who had divine insight and authority.
His message is original - eg, "You have heard it said...but I say to you", as if He was the author of the law.
His words were profound and practical, addressing the heart of spiritual and moral issues. It carried a conviction and deep resonance to the soul of the audience.
Are you amazed at this teachings too? I learned so much more and I'm overwhelmed by the way He thinks and speak. Afterall, He is the Son of God!
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