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.’
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.
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? James 2:14
When we think of the word "faith," we almost always think of it as something we possess. While this understanding is not wrong, it provides only a partial understanding of faith. Faith is more than something we possess; it carries a verbal component. In other words, true faith involves action.
James, Jesus' half-brother, called readers to action in James 2. He wrote, "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?" (verse 14). James explained in this verse that faith is demonstrated through our actions. For example, if we say we have faith that a chair will support us when we sit but refuse to sit on the chair, we don't really have faith in that chair. Faith is demonstrated by the actions we show that support our words.
When James wrote the words in James 2, he reiterated the words of Jesus in Matthew 7. Jesus said in this chapter, "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" (verse 21). Why did Jesus say this? He explained here that empty words are not an accurate representation of faith. Instead, we must put our faith into action and do God's will. We have to let our faith transform us so that it impacts the way we live.
Friends, our faith must be displayed through our actions. What we say and what we do must align. Only when we live this way is our faith proved genuine.
Moving toward action
Pull out your journal or a notebook. Write down James 2:14. After you write out the words in this verse, write about how this verse helps you have a better understanding of faith and what faith is. Then, think of one way you can show your faith in Christ through your actions this week. Make plans to do it as you go throughout this next week.
Going Deeper
Matthew 7:1-23
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