Matthew 7
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
Don’t Be Judgmental of Others. But Use Discernment In Your Actions Toward Others
7 “Do not be judging[a], in order that you may not be judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what measure you measure, it will be measured to you. 3 And why do you look-at the speck in the eye of your brother, but do not consider[b] the log in your eye? 4 Or how will you say to your brother, ‘Permit me to take out the speck from your eye’, and behold— the log is in your eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take out the log from your eye, and then you will see-clearly to take out the speck from the eye of your brother. 6 Do not give the holy thing to the dogs[c], nor throw your pearls in front of the pigs, so that they will not perhaps trample them with their feet, and having turned, tear you to pieces.
Keep Pursuing What You Need From God. He Will Give You Good Things
7 “Be asking, and it will be given to you; be seeking, and you will find; be knocking, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone asking receives; and the one seeking finds; and to the one knocking, it will be opened. 9 Or what person is there from-among you whom his son will ask-for bread— he will not give him a stone[d], will he? 10 Or indeed he will ask-for a fish— he will not give him a snake[e], will he? 11 Therefore if you, being evil, know-how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in the heavens give good things to the ones asking Him!
Treat Others As You Yourself Want To Be Treated
12 “Therefore, everything that you want[f] people to be doing to you, thus also you be doing to them. For this is the Law and the Prophets.
Enter God’s Kingdom Through The Narrow Gate, Which Is Found By Few
13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because wide is the gate and broad[g] is the road leading-away to destruction— and many are the ones entering through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and constricted[h] is the road leading-away to life— and few are the ones finding it.
Beware of False Prophets. The Nature of What They Produce Will Reveal Them
15 “Beware of the false-prophets— who come to you in the clothing of sheep, but inside are ravenous[i] wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. They do not collect grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles, do they? 17 Thus, every good tree produces good fruit, but the bad tree produces bad[j] fruit. 18 A good tree is not able to produce bad fruit, nor is a bad tree able to produce good[k] fruit. 19 Every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So indeed, you will know them by their fruits.
Not Everyone Talking About God Knows Him. Only Those Doing His Will Enter His Kingdom
21 “Not everyone saying to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter into the kingdom of the heavens, but the one doing the will of My Father in the heavens. 22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast-out demons in Your name, and do many miracles[l] in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare[m] to them that ‘I never knew[n] you. Depart from Me, ones working lawlessness’. 24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and is doing them will be-like a wise[o] man who built his house upon the bed-rock. 25 And the rain came down, and the rivers[p] came, and the winds blew— and they fell against that house. And it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the bed-rock. 26 And everyone hearing these words of Mine and not doing them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. 27 And the rain came down, and the rivers came, and the winds blew— and they struck-against that house. And it fell, and the falling[q] of it was great”.
The Works of The King: Divine Power In Action
28 And it came about that when Jesus finished these words, the crowds were astounded[r] at His teaching. 29 For He was teaching them as One having authority, and not as their scribes.
Footnotes
- Matthew 7:1 That is, in the sense of finding fault with, criticizing, passing judgment on.
- Matthew 7:3 Or, notice, perceive.
- Matthew 7:6 That is, unholy persons, God-rejecters, as in Rev 22:15. This statement balances v 1 and 3, since this requires a proper kind of judging.
- Matthew 7:9 That is, something useless.
- Matthew 7:10 That is, something harmful.
- Matthew 7:12 Or, wish, desire, intend.
- Matthew 7:13 Or, spacious, roomy.
- Matthew 7:14 Or, pressed in, compressed.
- Matthew 7:15 Or, thieving, vicious.
- Matthew 7:17 good ... good... bad... bad. Two different words are used for ‘good’ and ‘bad’ here. Jesus may mean every ‘beneficial’ type of tree (like a fruit tree) produces fruit ‘fit’ to eat, but every ‘unusable’ type of tree produces ‘useless’ fruit or none at all. Or, He may mean every ‘good’ fruit tree produces ‘healthy’ fruit, but the ‘rotten’ fruit tree produces ‘bad’ fruit or none at all.
- Matthew 7:18 good... bad... bad... good. That is, the ‘beneficial’ type of tree cannot produce ‘useless’ fruit, nor the ‘unusable’ tree fruit ‘fit’ to eat; or, the ‘good’ fruit tree cannot produce ‘bad’ fruit, nor can the ‘rotten’ fruit tree produce ‘healthy’ fruit.
- Matthew 7:22 Or, works of power.
- Matthew 7:23 Or. confess.
- Matthew 7:23 That is, as one of My family.
- Matthew 7:24 Or, prudent, sensible.
- Matthew 7:25 That is, rivers of flood waters.
- Matthew 7:27 Or, collapse, downfall.
- Matthew 7:28 Or, overwhelmed, amazed, astonished.
Matthew 7
English Standard Version
Judging Others
7 (A)“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 (B)For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and (C)with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but (D)do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
6 (E)“Do not give (F)dogs what is holy, and do not throw your (G)pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.
Ask, and It Will Be Given
7 (H)“Ask, (I)and it will be given to you; (J)seek, and you will find; (K)knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for (L)bread, will give him (M)a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, (N)who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will (O)your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
The Golden Rule
12 “So (P)whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is (Q)the Law and the Prophets.
13 (R)“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and (S)the way is hard that leads to life, and (T)those who find it are few.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 (U)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are (V)ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them (W)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, (X)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 (Y)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them (Z)by their fruits.
I Never Knew You
21 (AA)“Not everyone who (AB)says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will (AC)enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who (AD)does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 (AE)On that day (AF)many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not (AG)prophesy in your name, and cast out demons (AH)in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 (AI)And then will I declare to them, ‘I (AJ)never knew you; (AK)depart from me, (AL)you workers of lawlessness.’
Build Your House on the Rock
24 (AM)“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like (AN)a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like (AO)a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
The Authority of Jesus
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, (AP)the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 (AQ)for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Footnotes
- Matthew 7:13 Some manuscripts For the way is wide and easy
Matthew 7
King James Version
7 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 strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because 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.
Matthew 7
The Voice
7 Jesus: If you judge other people, then you will find that you, too, are being judged. 2 Indeed, you will be judged by the very standards to which you hold other people.
So when someone is tempted to criticize his neighbor because her house isn’t clean enough, she seems ill-tempered, or she is a bit flighty—he should remember those same standards and judgments will come back to him. No one should criticize his neighbor for being short-tempered one morning, when he is snippish and snappish and waspish all the time.
Jesus: 3 Why is it that you see the dust in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but you can’t see what is in your own eye? 4 Don’t ignore the wooden plank in your eye, while you criticize the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eyelashes. 5 That type of criticism and judgment is a sham! Remove the plank from your own eye, and then perhaps you will be able to see clearly how to help your brother flush out his sawdust.
6 Don’t give precious things to dogs. Don’t cast your pearls before swine. If you do, the pigs will trample the pearls with their little pigs’ feet, and then they will turn back and attack you.
Now Jesus returns to prayer, an important and sometimes difficult topic. Here He gives the very essence of prayer.
7 Just ask and it will be given to you; seek after it and you will find. Continue to knock and the door will be opened for you. 8 All who ask receive. Those who seek, find what they seek. And he who knocks, will have the door opened.
9 Think of it this way: if your son asked you for bread, would you give him a stone? Of course not—you would give him a loaf of bread. 10 If your son asked for a fish, would you give him a snake? No, to be sure, you would give him a fish—the best fish you could find. 11 So if you, who are sinful, know how to give your children good gifts, how much more so does your Father in heaven, who is perfect, know how to give great gifts to His children!
12 This is what our Scriptures come to teach: in everything, in every circumstance, do to others as you would have them do to you.
13 There are two paths before you; you may take only one path. One doorway is narrow. And one door is wide. Go through the narrow door. For the wide door leads to a wide path, and the wide path is broad; the wide, broad path is easy, and the wide, broad, easy path has many, many people on it; but the wide, broad, easy, crowded path leads to death. 14 Now then that narrow door leads to a narrow road that in turn leads to life. It is hard to find that road. Not many people manage it.
15 Along the way, watch out for false prophets. They will come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath that quaint and innocent wool, they are hungry wolves. 16 But you will recognize them by their fruits. You don’t find sweet, delicious grapes growing on thorny bushes, do you? You don’t find delectable figs growing in the midst of prickly thistles. 17 People and their lives are like trees. Good trees bear beautiful, tasty fruit, but bad trees bear ugly, bitter fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear ugly, bitter fruit; nor can a bad tree bear fruit that is beautiful and tasty. 19 And what happens to the rotten trees? They are cut down. They are used for firewood. 20 When a prophet comes to you and preaches this or that, look for his fruits: sweet or sour? rotten or ripe?
21 Not everyone who says to Me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Simply calling Me “Lord” will not be enough. Only those who do the will of My Father who is in heaven will join Me in heaven. 22 At the end of time, on that day of judgment, many will say to Me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name? Did we not drive demons out of the possessed in Your name? Did we not perform miracles in Your name?” 23 But I will say to them, “I never knew you. And now, you must get away from Me, you evildoers!”
24 Those people who are listening to Me, those people who hear what I say and live according to My teachings—you are like a wise man who built his house on a rock, on a firm foundation. 25 When storms hit, rain pounded down and waters rose, levies broke and winds beat all the walls of that house. But the house did not fall because it was built upon rock. 26 Those of you who are listening and do not hear—you are like a fool who builds a house on sand. 27 When a storm comes to his house, what will happen? The rain will fall, the waters will rise, the wind will blow, and his house will collapse with a great crash.
28 With that Jesus finished His teaching, and the crowds were amazed by all He had said. 29 But Jesus taught in His own name, on His own authority, not like the scribes.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.