Bible Reading Plan

Matthew 7

Chapter 7

Do Not Judge

¹  "Do not judge, so that you won't be judged.^{(a) 2} For with the judgment you use,^[a] you will be judged, and with the measure you use,^[b] it will be measured to you.^{(b) 3} Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but don't notice the log in your own eye?^{(c) 4} Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and look, there's a log in your eye? ⁵ Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. ⁶ Don't give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs,^(d) or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.

Keep Asking, Searching, Knocking

⁷ "Keep asking, ^[c](e) and it will be given to you.^(f) Keep searching,^[d] and you will find. Keep knocking,^[e] and the door^[f] will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds,^(g) and to the one who knocks, the door^[g] will be opened. ⁹ What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil,^(h) know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! ¹² Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets. ^[h](i)

Entering the Kingdom

¹³ "Enter through the narrow gate.^(j) For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction,^(k) and there are many who go through it. ¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

¹⁵ "Beware of false prophets^(l) who come to you in sheep's^(m) clothing⁽ⁿ⁾ but inwardly are ravaging wolves.^{(o) 16} You'll recognize them by their fruit.^(p) Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?^{(q) 17} In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.^{(r) 20} So you'll recognize them by their fruit. ^(s)

²¹ "Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven,^(t) but only the one who does the will^(u) of My Father in heaven.^{(v) 22} On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons^(w) in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?'^{(x) 23} Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers! ' ^[i](y)[j]

The Two Foundations

²⁴ "Therefore,^(z) everyone who hears these words^(aa) of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!"

²⁸ When Jesus had finished this sermon,^[k](ab) the crowds were astonished at His teaching,^{(ac) 29} because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.