7
‘Do not judge other people. Then you will not be judged. 2 You will be judged in the same way you judge others. You will be measured in the same way you measure others. 3 ‘You look at the bit of sawdust in your friend's eye. But you pay no attention to the piece of wood in your own eye. 4 How can you say to your friend, “Let me take the bit of sawdust out of your eye”? How can you say this while there is a piece of wood in your own eye? 5 You pretender! First take the piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you will be able to see clearly to take the bit of sawdust out of your friend's eye.
6 ‘Do not give holy things to dogs. Do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they might walk all over them. They might turn round and tear you to pieces.
7 ‘Ask, and it will be given to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find. The door will be opened to the one who knocks.
9 ‘Suppose your son asks for bread. Which of you will give him a stone? 10 Or suppose he asks for a fish. Which of you will give him a snake? 11 Even though you are evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 In everything, do to others what you would want them to do to you. This is what is written in the Law and in the Prophets.
7:1–12 Jesus wanted his people to live holy lives full of love. He said in a few words what the entire Old Testament teaches. People must treat others the way they want to be treated. When they do, they are part of God's kingdom coming on earth. They are part of the community of people who believe that Jesus is the King. But some people think that God's instructions for living give them authority to judge others. They believe they can decide who God needs to bring judgement against. This isn't what God wants. Only God makes decisions about judgement. His children must be humble, wise and full of mercy. That way they can help others. God has good gifts to give and longs for all people to ask for them. He wants all people to search for his kingdom and be part of his family.
13 ‘Enter God's kingdom through the narrow gate. The gate is large and the road is wide that leads to ruin. Many people go that way. 14 But the gate is small and the road is narrow that leads to life. Only a few people find it.
15 ‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you pretending to be sheep. But on the inside they are hungry wolves. 16 You can tell each tree by its fruit. Do people pick grapes from bushes? Do they pick figs from thorns? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit. But a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree can't bear bad fruit. And a bad tree can't bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down. It is thrown into the fire. 20 You can tell each tree by its fruit.
21 ‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Only those who do what my Father in heaven wants will enter. 22 Many will say to me on that day, “Lord! Lord! Didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we drive out demons in your name? Didn't we do many miracles in your name?” 23 Then I will tell them clearly, “I never knew you. Get away from me, you who do evil!”
7:13–23 Jesus continued teaching on the mountainside. He talked about the important choice that all people face. Every person must decide between two ways of living. They can choose the way of eternal life with God. People who want eternal life with God do what their Father wants. They are part of the kingdom of heaven. They are like healthy trees that bear good fruit. The other way of living is to refuse God's life. That way destroys people. Some people pretend to follow God's ways. They say or do things that make them seem like they are God's children. But they are like trees that bear bad fruit. Because they are doing evil, they aren't part of the kingdom of heaven.
24 ‘So then, everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. He builds his house on the rock. 25 The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. But it does not fall. It is built on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man. He builds his house on sand. 27 The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. And it falls with a loud crash.’
28 Jesus finished saying all these things. The crowds were amazed at his teaching. 29 That's because he taught like one who had authority. He did not speak like their teachers of the law.
7:24–29 Jesus was finishing his long message on the mountainside. He told a story to show how important his teachings are. People who hear Jesus' words and obey them are like wise builders. Those who don't listen to Jesus or obey him are like foolish builders. Jesus wasn't like other rabbis who only taught what they had learnt from Moses. He brought new teaching from God with great power and authority.