1.
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
not. Greek. me. App-105 . Jewish proverb.
2.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
with what, &c. Figure of speech Paroemia . App-6 .
again. All the critical texts omit. App-94 .
3.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
beholdest. See App-133 . This is in contrast with "considerest". Jewish proverb.
mote. Anglo-Saxon, mot = a particle of dust, something dry: i.e. any dry particle, as wood (splinter), chaff, or dust.
brother's. See note on Matthew 5:22 .
considerest. Greek. katanoeo. Stronger than "beholdest" above. See App-133 .
beam. Greek. dokos. Septuagint for Hebrew. korah in 2Ki 6:2 , 2 Kings 6:5 .
4.
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?
out of = from. Greek. ap'o. App-104 .
5.
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.
6.
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.
dogs. Note the Introversion here. g | dogs. h | swine. h | swine. g | dogs (and the dogs).
they: i.e. the swine. trample. All the critical texts read "shall trample upon".
under = with. Greek. en.
and = and [the dogs].
turn again and = having turned.
7.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Ask. Greek. aileo. App-134 .
it shall be opened. This is never done in the East to this day. The one who knocks is always first questioned. L Tr. WH m. read "it is opened"
8.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9.
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
if. See App-118 .
10.
Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
if he ask. All read "if he shall ask".
a fish = a fish also.
11.
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?
evil = grudging, or harmful. See App-128 . Scripture thus challenges man, that is why man challenges it.
heaven = the heavens. See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
good things. Compare Psalms 34:8-10 ; Psalms 84:11 .Luke 11:13 .James 1:17 .
12.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Therefore. Summing up all that has been said in verses: Matthew 7:1-11 .
would = be willing. See App-102 .
the law. See note on Matthew 5:17 .
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:
Enter ye in, &c. Repeated on a later occasion. Luke 13:2 .
at = through, or by means of Greek. dia.
strait = narrow.
wide. Greek. platus. Occurs only here.
broad = extensive. Greek. euruchoros. Occurs only here. the way. For "the two ways", see Deuteronomy 30:15 , 1 Kings 18:21 . 2Pe 2:2 , 2 Peter 2:15 .
leadeth = leads away.
to = unto. Greek. ei s.
go = enter in.
thereat = through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Matthew 7:1 .
14.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Because strait. L Tr. R margin Syriac. Vulgate &c., and some fifty codices read "How strait".
narrow = straitened.
unto. Greek. ei s. Same as "to", Matthew 7:14 .
life: i.e. the life [eternal]. See note on Leviticus 18:5 . App-170 .
15.
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Beware = Take heed, as in Matthew 6:1 .
of = from, or away from. Greek. apo : i.e. Beware [and keep] away from.
16.
Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Ye shall know. Note the Figure of speech Epanadiplosis ( App-6 ). See Matthew 7:20 .
know = fully know and recognize. See App-132 .
by = from. Gr apo.
Do men, &c. Figure of speech Erotesis , for emphasis.
17.
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19.
Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
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.
Lord, Lord. Note the Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.
the kingdom of heaven. See App-114 .
heaven = heavens. All the texts read "the heavens". See notes on Matthew 6:9 , Matthew 6:10 .
will. Greek. thelema. See App-102 .
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?
have = did. Note the Figure of speech Erotesis.
prophesied = acted as spokesmen. See App-49 .
in Thy name = by or through Thy name. Note the Figure of speech Anadiplosis.
devils = demons.
wonderful works. Greek. dunamis (see App-172 .); in Septuagint in this sense only in Job 37:16 .
23.
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
knew = got to know. Greek. ginosko. See App-132 .
from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 .
iniquity = lawlessness. See App-128 .
24.
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:
whosoever = every one (as in Matthew 7:26 ). Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6 .
sayings = words. Greek plural of logos. See note on Mark 9:32 .
wise = prudent.
a = the.
rock = rocky ground.
25.
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.
And. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), emphasizing each particular.
the rain descended = down came the rain. Greek. broche. Occurs only here. On the roof.
floods. At the foundation.
winds. At the sides.
beat = broke upon, dashed against (with great violence), as in Luke 6:48 , in contrast with "beat" in Matthew 7:27 , which is a much weaker word.
was = had been.
26.
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:
27.
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.
beat upon = on the roof; stumbled against, merely impinged, or lightly struck, in contrast with Matthew 7:25 .
fell = did fall.
28.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
ended. This marks the end of the first period and subject of the Lord's ministry. See the Structure, p. 1315, and App-119 .
people = multitudes.
doctrines = teaching.
29.
For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
taught = was continually teaching.
having authority: i.e. possessing Divine authority. Greek. exousia. App-172 . In the current Hebrew literature of that time it denoted the Hebrew mippi hagg burah = from the mouth of God. See notes on Matthew 26:64 .Mark 14:62 , and Hebrews 1:3 .
and not. Note the Figure of speech Pleonasm ( App-6 ). Jewish teachers always referred to tradition, or to what some other teacher had said; and do so to this day.