Scripture
Do Not Judge Others
1“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. 2For you will be treated as you treat others.[1] The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.[2]
3“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye[3] when you have a log in your own? 4How can you think of saying to your friend,[4] ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.
6“Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy.[5] Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
Effective Prayer
7“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
9“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? 10Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! 11So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
The Golden Rule
12“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
The Narrow Gate
13“You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell[6] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
The Tree and Its Fruit
15“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
True Disciples
21“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’
Building on a Solid Foundation
24“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
Translation notes (6)
- 7:2a Or For God will judge you as you judge others.
- 7:2b Or The measure you give will be the measure you get back.
- 7:3 Greek your brother’s eye; also in 7:5.
- 7:4 Greek your brother.
- 7:6 Greek Don’t give the sacred to dogs.
- 7:13 Greek The road that leads to destruction.
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.
No person in the house hunting process wants to hear the words “foundation issues” regarding the house they are interested in buying. However, foundation issues are a red flag for any house hunter. This is because when the foundation is unsteady or falling apart, the entire house is at stake. The same is true for us as we face the storms of life. If we have foundation issues, we will crash with storms and hard times, but we can withstand even the most brutal storms if we have a firm foundation.
Jesus Himself taught about the importance of building a foundation on Him. He ended a time of teaching crowds of people on a mountainside by saying, “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents, the floodwaters rise, and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock” (verses 24-25). Anyone who follows Christ knows His teaching and obeys Him is building a firm foundation for their lives.
Why do we need a firm foundation? We need a firm foundation so that we will be protected and remain standing during storms that arise. When Christ is our foundation, He will strengthen and uphold us through any storm that we face. Although the world and the evil one want to pull us apart, He keeps us together. He is our solid rock.
Our question today is, do we have a foundation rooted in Christ? If not, what is holding you back? May you and I build our life upon Christ, who is a firm foundation, and may we experience His peace and make Him known to the people around us as a result.
Moving Toward Action
What do you think it looks like to have a firm foundation rooted in Christ? As you think about this question, write down some of your answers. Then, when you have finished writing, think about one step you will take starting today to build a strong foundation in Christ that will hold you in any storm you face.
Going Deeper
Matthew 7:1-25 (NLT)
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