What Jesus Did

[Jesus concluded his Sermon on the Mount:] "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. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with...

 

[Jesus continued:] "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. On 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.' But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'"

—Matthew 7:21-23 NLT

Key Thought​

While "you can fool all of the people...

 

[Jesus continued:] "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you...

 

[Jesus continued:] "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."

—Matthew 7:13-14 NLT

Key Thought​

Limits, restrictions, rules, and judgment — these are highly objection concepts in much of modern society. The world around us responds, "We don't like them; we don't want them. We are...

 

[Jesus continued:] "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."

—Matthew 7:12 NLT

Key Thought​

The Golden Rule! That's what it's called, but Jesus isn't as concerned that we know the "rule" as much as he is that we live the "golden life." In many ways, this concept of doing for others what we would want done for us summarizes Jesus' teaching to his disciples about how to live for others. It also...

 

[Jesus continued:] "You parents — if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So 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."

—Matthew 7:9-11 NLT

Key Thought​

If our attitude in prayer is one of persistence, God's attitude is one of grace. He longs and loves to bless us. After...

 

[Jesus continued:] "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. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened."

—Matthew 7:7-8 NLT

Key Thought​

Ask, seek, knock. These actions sound so harmless and so easy. But behind these words is the intent of Jesus: Be persistent! Keep asking! Continue seeking! Don't quit...

 

[Jesus continued:] "And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! 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."

—Matthew 7:3-5 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus reminds us that we often pass judgment on others to keep from...

 

[Jesus continued:] "Don't waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don't throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you."

—Matthew 7:6 NLT

Key Thought​

Wow! Jesus uses really vivid imagery here. At first, he seems to be breaking the very command that he just gave about not being judgmental. But instead, Jesus is reminding us that being nonjudgmental does not mean we are undiscerning, wasteful, and silly. We are to recognize that there are...

 

[Jesus continued:] "Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged."

—Matthew 7:1-2 NLT

Key Thought​

As Matthew continues his presentation of Jesus' great teaching, he wants us to hear the Lord's words on how to live in our world. The previous verses have focused on how to deal with our concerns for provision and our desires for more things. In the next few...