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Matthew 7: Search the scriptures
1. Matthew 7: Search the scriptures
This page is a quick overview of Matthew 7 with links to additional detailed material.
To keep the overview concise, the actual Greek words are omitted.
We start with the rules for "Love your God" and "Love your neighbor".
2. Context
Here are some verses for context.
3. Matthew 22:36
KJV: Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Greek: διδασκαλε ποια εντολη μεγαλη εν τω νομω
4. Matthew 22:37
KJV: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Greek: ο δε ιησους ειπεν εφη αυτω αγαπησεις κυριον τον θεον σου εν ολη τη καρδια σου και εν ολη τη ψυχη σου και εν ολη τη διανοια σου
5. Matthew 22:38
KJV: This is the first and great commandment.
Greek: αυτη εστιν πρωτη και η μεγαλη και πρωτη εντολη
6. Matthew 22:39
KJV: And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Greek: δευτερα δε ομοια αυτη αγαπησεις τον πλησιον σου ως σεαυτον
7. Matthew 22:40
KJV: On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Greek: εν ταυταις ταις δυσιν εντολαις ολος ο νομος κρεμαται και οι προφηται κρεμανται
First law: "Love your God" (Matthew 6).
Second law: "Love your neighbor", Golden rule (Matthew 7)
If one of the two laws are absent, issues result.
Jesus addresses this in Matthew 7. Let us search (examine) the scriptures by first looking at the narrow/strait gate and the wide gate.
8. Matthew 7:13-14 Strait talk about narrow and wide gates
Matthew 7:13 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: [kjv]
7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. [kjv]
In Matthew 7, Jesus talks of the
"straight" "gate" and
"wide" "
area". The
TR (Textus Receptus) adds the
"gate" to the
"wide" "
area". What exactly is a
"strait" "gate"? The ancient Greek word
"πλατύς" ≈ "wide, flat" and is related to the English word
"flat" and
"platypus" as, literally, "
flat feet".
How
"many" is
"many"? How
"few" is
"few"?
What does the word translated as "leadeth" mean?
What is the "life"? Is this eternal "life"?
What is the "loss" - translated as "destruction"? Is this eternal "destruction"?
[Psalm 23, He Leadeth Me (hymn)]
9. Judgment
The word "judge" means "selecting between alternatives" such as innocent or guilty, good or bad, heaven or hell, etc.
Greek has two words for "not". The word "not" here means subjective within context and not an absolute unqualified "not".
The two verses are all one thought. The first verse needs the second one for understanding. This means everyone will be "judged" for the "narrow/strait gate" or the "wide gate".
10. Matthew 7:1
KJV: Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Greek: μη κρινετε ινα μη κριθητε
11. Matthew 7:2
KJV: For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Greek: εν ω γαρ κριματι κρινετε κριθησεσθε και εν ω μετρω μετρειτε αντιμετρηθησεται μετρηθησεται υμιν
12. Gate prediction
In the context in which Jesus is speaking, the "
judge" verses appear to refer to deciding and/or selecting whether someone will go to hell (wide gate to destruction) or heaven (narrow/strait gate leading to life).
13. Song: When we all get to heaven
One should not say "
That person went to heaven" or "
That person is going to hell".
Rather, one should say "
My hope is heaven" where the Greek hope means a high expectation or "
When I get to heaven, I expect to see that person there.".
14. Beam and mote
The Greek for "pull out" is "cast out", used often for the casting out of demons (twice in the next chapter)
The Greek for "eye" comes from the words for "hole" and "chamber" - into the "heart" of the person.
15. Matthew 7:3
KJV: And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
Greek: τι δε βλεπεις το καρφος το εν τω οφθαλμω του αδελφου σου την δε εν τω σω οφθαλμω δοκον ου κατανοεις
16. Matthew 7:4
KJV: 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?
Greek: η πως ερεις τω αδελφω σου αφες εκβαλω το καρφος απο εκ του οφθαλμου σου και ιδου η δοκος εν τω οφθαλμω σου
17. Kanizsa triangle: seeing what is not there
We often see or perceive things that are not actually there. Do you see the triangle?
There is no triangle! Your brain makes the triangle that you see. The eye just passed along the image information to the brain which organizes ind recognizes it.
Abstraction involves looking at
similarities and
differences and filling in missing details - sometimes appropriately, sometimes inappropriately. This abstraction can be used to deceive by providing some details but leaving other details to be filled in by unsuspecting listeners or viewers.
18. Hypocrite
This verse has a nice interpretation, heard in many sermons, of hypocrisy. You are seeing things that are not actually there.
On careful analysis, the religious establishment does not appear to be hypocritical when Jesus uses the term "
hypocrites" (and that is not what the word meant then). The religious establishment believed what they were doing and saying. However it was not in touch with reality since it ignored the "
Love your neighbor"
19. Matthew 7:5
KJV: 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.
Greek: υποκριτα εκβαλε πρωτον την δοκον εκ του οφθαλμου σου την δοκον και τοτε διαβλεψεις εκβαλειν το καρφος εκ του οφθαλμου του αδελφου σου
20. Paraphrase
Here is a paraphrase of the above in the context of the chapter.
You actors. You pretenders. Get in touch with reality and truth. First remove the demons (as in brood of vipers) from yourself. Then you will be able to remove the demon from your brother. (But, from the earlier verses, who gave you the decision as to who is going to hell and who is going to heaven?)
21. Actors and pastors
It can be a mixed blessing to have a pastor with an acting background.
Actors speak of things imaginary as if they were real, while you preachers too often speak of things real as if they were imaginary. Thomas Betterton (English actor and theater manager during Restoration England) (1635-1710)
Actors (tend to) take an imaginary world and make it seem real.
Pastors (tend to) take a real world and make it seem imaginary.
With a pastor with an acting background, it can be hard at times to separate reality from fiction.
22. Actors and pastors
The truth Jesus talks about is the truth of reality. For more information, see the following.
23. Holy and dogs and pearls and swine
24. Matthew 7:6
KJV: 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.
Greek: μη δωτε το αγιον τοις κυσιν μηδε βαλητε τους μαργαριτας υμων εμπροσθεν των χοιρων μηποτε καταπατησωσιν καταπατησουσιν αυτους εν τοις ποσιν αυτων και στραφεντες ρηξωσιν υμας
25. Ask, seek and knock
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: [kjv]
αιτειτε και δοθησεται υμιν ζητειτε και ευρησετε κρουετε και ανοιγησεται υμιν [gnt]
7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. [kjv]
πας γαρ ο αιτων λαμβανει και ο ζητων ευρισκει και τω κρουοντι ανοιγησεται [gnt]
The sequence
"ask",
"seek" and
"knock" appears many times in the
GNT (Greek New Testament), both explicitly and implicitly. What exactly is one
"asking" for,
"seeking" for, and
"knocking" at?
Jesus usually uses a
bottom-up forward-chaining process from start point to goal.
(start) "ask" then "seek" then "knock" (goal).
John often uses a
top-down backward-chaining process that leads from goal to start point.
(goal )"knock" if "seek" if "ask" (start).
26. Gifts and children
Who would give bad gifts to their children? Not parents and children, not the Heavenly Father. Who?
27. Matthew 7:11
KJV: 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?
Greek: ει ουν υμεις πονηροι οντες οιδατε δοματα αγαθα διδοναι τοις τεκνοις υμων ποσω μαλλον ο πατηρ υμων ο εν τοις ουρανοις δωσει αγαθα τοις αιτουσιν αυτον
28. Bad gifts
Jesus will not "condemn" in his first coming. He does that by stating the truth, or by omission - which must be inferred.
Who would give bad gifts to their children?
A wolf-dog, as part of the religious establishment, would give their "children" bad gifts.
29. Love your neighbor
This is the "Love your neighbor" and is the central focus of this chapter and what the religious establishment is missing. They were doing the "Love your God" rule.
Discussion question: What happens if the "Love your neighbor" is observed but not the "Love your God" rule? Might Jesus need to come back again?
30. Matthew 7:15 Sheep dogs and wolf dogs
Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. [kjv]
προσεχετε απο των ψευδοπροφητων οιτινες ερχονται προς υμας εν ενδυμασιν προβατων εσωθεν δε εισιν λυκοι αρπαγες [gnt]
Dogs are known as man's best friend. The
dog breed is related to the
wolf breed and can
interbreed. Two
dogs may appear similar, but one may be a
sheep dog and another a
wolf dog.
A sheep dog is like a bishop who travels around keeping the faithful in line.
A wolf dog or ravenous wolf is a (false ) leader or eye in the church not sparing the flock. Jesus uses the word "wolf" in a manner similar to how he refers to the "birds".
Jesus warns of this. It might be important and useful to distinguish these types of
dogs.
31. Fruit and un-fruit - thorns
Jesus provides a decision procedure to help determine if a dog is a sheep-dog or a wolf-dog.
32. Matthew 7:17-20 Fruit trees programmed to produce fruit of their kind
Matthew 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [kjv]
7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [kjv]
7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. [kjv]
7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. [kjv]
In Matthew 7 (and elsewhere) Jesus makes some interesting remarks about fruit trees. Plants, such as fruit trees, have DNA which determines which fruit is produced by which trees.
A peach tree always produces peaches.
An apple tree always produces apples.
This works well for
literal trees and fruit. However, in these verses, Jesus uses one adjective for the
trees and a
different adjective for the
fruit.
33. Matthew 7:21-23 Sermon on the Mount before the summary
Matthew 7:21 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. [kjv]
7:22 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? [kjv]
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [kjv]
There is a
surprise waiting. The verses for the "
houses" built on "
rock" and on "
sand" follow which end the Sermon on the Mount.
How valuable is a "prophet's" "reward"?
How valuable is a "righteous" or "ministering" reward? Think "goats" in the parable of the "sheep" and "goats".
If one is not of God, can one actually "
cast out" "
devils" since that would "
divide" the "
house" (built on sand)? The Greek word for
"profess" is that of "
agree" as in "
same reasoning" and often translated as
"confess".
In the TenWordPin model, this sequence of
three verses completes
four verses after the Beatitudes and the first sequence of seven.
34. Matthew 7:21-23 Audience
Matthew 7:21 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. [kjv]
7:22 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? [kjv]
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. [kjv]
The Greek for
"iniquity" is that of going "
against the law". That is, "
against the law" of God.
What are God's laws?
How would one go against them?
The people who need to "
depart" think they have been doing good. Were they actually "
lawless"? Did they work
"iniquity"? Were they in any way "
against the law" of God? Did they "
misinterpret"?
35. Surprises
When one asks, seeks and knocks, there may be some surprises. What is the gate on which you seeking to knock?
The "casting out demons" is in line with the earlier verses on the beam and the mote where the mote is a "demon" and the beam is a greater "demon" (such as Satan).
36. House on rock
37. Matthew 7:24
KJV: 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:
Greek: πας ουν οστις ακουει μου τους λογους τουτους και ποιει αυτους ομοιωσω αυτον ομοιωθησεται ανδρι φρονιμω οστις ωκοδομησεν αυτου την οικιαν αυτου επι την πετραν
38. Matthew 7:25
KJV: 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.
Greek: και κατεβη η βροχη και ηλθον ηλθαν οι ποταμοι και επνευσαν οι ανεμοι και προσεπεσον προσεπεσαν τη οικια εκεινη και ουκ επεσεν τεθεμελιωτο γαρ επι την πετραν
39. House on sand
40. Matthew 7:26
KJV: 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:
Greek: και πας ο ακουων μου τους λογους τουτους και μη ποιων αυτους ομοιωθησεται ανδρι μωρω οστις ωκοδομησεν αυτου την οικιαν αυτου επι την αμμον
41. Matthew 7:27
KJV: 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.
Greek: και κατεβη η βροχη και ηλθον ηλθαν οι ποταμοι και επνευσαν οι ανεμοι και προσεκοψαν τη οικια εκεινη και επεσεν και ην η πτωσις αυτης μεγαλη
42. Houses
The Greek word "
house" is in the English words "
economy" and "
ecology".
The rain, rivers (not floods) and winds beat on the house, not on the foundation.
The "rock", such as granite, is used many places to refer to Jesus as God.
Humans are made in the image of God.
A piece of sand is a "Chip off the old block" is in a small piece of granite made in the image of granite.
The sand appears to be a human infrastructure or hierarchy such as the religious establishment of the day.
43. Matthew 7 Houses built on rock and sand
44. Summary diagram
45. Conclusion
Why were the people "astonished"?
Jesus taught with authority whereas the scribes taught selected parts of the scripture, out of context, using other words and/or definitions, to give their "children" bad gifts to their own benefit while totally ignoring important parts of the law.
46. Matthew 7:28
KJV: And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Greek: και εγενετο οτε συνετελεσεν ετελεσεν ο ιησους τους λογους τουτους εξεπλησσοντο οι οχλοι επι τη διδαχη αυτου
47. Matthew 7:29
KJV: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Greek: ην γαρ διδασκων αυτους ως εξουσιαν εχων και ουχ ως οι γραμματεις αυτων
48. Understanding
The common people knew in their hearts that something was wrong, but they had a hard time identifying that something.
Jesus clearly identified this something using language that the people understood - but whose meaning was somewhat not fully recognized by the religious authorities.
To see this, one must get to the original meanings of the words, as above, and not let those words be obscured or changed by the religious authorities.
49. Both love your God and love your neighbor as yourself needed
Jesus clearly states the two laws on which the law and the prophets hang in Mark 12:30-31 (and elsewhere).
Law/Pearl 1: Love God (and the rules of God).
Law/Pearl 2: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Some churches omit the "
as yourself" in order to help get world culture (that goes against the rules of God) into their church.
The religious establishment at the time of Jesus emphasized law 1, "Love your God", but ignored law 2, "Love your neighbor as yourself" rule. This is, literally, "against the law" (of God).
According to Jesus, both rules are needed. What happens if the religious establishment ignores "Love your God" and emphasizes only "Love your neighbor" and often leaves out "as yourself"? This is, literally, "against the law" (of God)
50. Laws
What if the religious establishment adhered to the "Love your neighbor" but ignored "Love your God"?
51. Observations
If the religious establishment adhered to the "
Love your neighbor" but ignored "
Love your God" we might have the following.
Do not "judge" anyone (in the modern sense) for anything. Anything goes, except insisting that we follow the rules of God.
Do not concern yourself with gates, we are "better together" even if we all go to the wide gate (to hell).
Anyone passing away who has been part of the church is described as "in heaven".
52. More observations
The "Love your neighbor" is the most and only rule. Love is the only way.
We must be inclusive. The other rules of God are less important than love. Love is god.
Do not build your house on sand of the world, build it on the rock of the church, as Jesus told Peter. (The church hierarchy is a sand organization).
Do not be a "hypocrite" (in the modern sense). We will let you know what that means.
Ask for "anything" and you will get it. That is what it says. Is that right?
53. Arguments of Satan
Some of Satan's arguments.
To Eve: Did God really say that?
To Jesus: You should have wealth (bread, money, etc.).
To Jesus: You should have health (no pain, hurt).
To Jesus: You should have power (and control).
In general: Does the Bible really say that?
54. Love is the only way
The ancient Greek word
"αγάπη" ≈ "totally devoted to, love" from which we get the word
"agape".
The difference between "
God is love" and "
Love is god" can be subtle and deceptive - especially when spoken without the distinction between the one and only creator "
God" and a "
god" as in an idol or a desire.
This fallacy is common, covered extensively by Aristotle, and called the
converse fallacy as one of many names describing it.
55. Jesus and teaching
Whenever I read about Jesus teaching and the reaction of the religious establishment, I think of the following verses. First, Nicodemus.
Paraphrased, Jesus is saying to a religious leader of his time, "In your position as a teacher of the scriptures, you should know these things".
And I think about Jesus at his staged crucifixion hearing.
56. John 3:9
KJV: Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Greek: απεκριθη νικοδημος και ειπεν αυτω πως δυναται ταυτα γενεσθαι
57. John 3:10
KJV: Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
Greek: απεκριθη ο ιησους και ειπεν αυτω συ ει ο διδασκαλος του ισραηλ και ταυτα ου γινωσκεις
58. John 18:22-23 Shoot the messenger
59. Learning
These "
teachers" would load down the people with many rules and teachings, providing entire volumes of what today would be called "
academic garbage" when those rules and teaching could be greatly simplified to just a few basic rules: "
Love your God" and the "
Love your neighbor".
Those teachings might not even be relevant to the problems or solutions as the words and definitions had been changed so much as to make the relevance not meaningful.
60. Knowledge of the truth
2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. [kjv]
παντοτε μανθανοντα και μηδεποτε εις επιγνωσιν αληθειας ελθειν δυναμενα [gnt]
This verse appears to describe some academic professors (especially those without any real world experience in what they are teaching). Note the double negative in Greek, as most of the world outside of English are accustomed to using double negatives for emphasis.
"
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" reminds one of the Penrose steps (made famous by Escher as elaborations on the theme).
The English word "mathematics" comes from the Greek «μάθημα» which means "learning".
The English word "science" comes from the Latin "scientiam" which means "knowledge".
61. End of page
Here is a summary diagram of Matthew 7. For more information, see Matthew 7:3-23 A splitting feat of how the swine flew on pearls at a wide gait.
John 18:23 Jesus answered him, If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil: but if well, why smitest thou me? [kjv]
απεκριθη αυτω ιησους ει κακως ελαλησα μαρτυρησον περι του κακου ει δε καλως τι με δερεις [gnt]
