The big picture
Matthew 7 opens in verse 1 with “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”, reaches its middle movement near verse 15 with “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are…”, and closes in verse 29 with “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Repeated or prominent terms include good, fruit, tree, house, Lord. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Matthew · King James Version · 29Matthew 7:1-8
1–8: Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Matthew 7:1–8 opens with “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” and reaches “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 7 develops its own movement around good, fruit, tree, house, Lord, with particular weight carried by beam, mote, brother’s.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Naming Judge keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Matthew 7:1-8
King James Version1Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4Or 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?
5Thou 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.
6Give 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.
7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 7:9-16
9–16: Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him…
Matthew 7:9–16 opens with “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” and reaches “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 7 develops its own movement around good, fruit, tree, house, Lord, with particular weight carried by gate, good, know.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 4 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.
Matthew 7:9-16
King James Version9Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11If 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?
12Therefore 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.
13Enter 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:
14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:17-24
17–24: Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree…
Matthew 7:17–24 opens with “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” and reaches “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 7 develops its own movement around good, fruit, tree, house, Lord, with particular weight carried by fruit, good, tree.
Context that brings the passage to life
This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.
“Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” Naming Even keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Matthew 7:17-24
King James Version17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21Not 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.
22Many 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?
23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Matthew 7:25-29
25–29: The rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat…
Matthew 7:25–29 opens with “And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and…” and reaches “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Matthew 7 develops its own movement around good, fruit, tree, house, Lord, with particular weight carried by house, beat, blew.
Context that brings the passage to life
“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was…” The line’s distinctive content terms include beat, blew, descended. Its relationship to verses 26 shows what work it does in this passage.
Matthew 7:25-29
King James Version25And 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.
26And 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:
27And 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.
28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
Matthew 7:1 begins with “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”
Where the chapter turns
Matthew 7:16 forms a natural hinge: “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”
The final note
Matthew 7:29 leaves the reader with “For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words good, fruit, tree, house, Lord, beam help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
What links this event with creation?
Waters overwhelm the inhabited world, reversing the separations that made life possible.
What details show continuity rather than total abandonment?
The named household and preserved kinds of living creatures survive within the ark.
KJV words made clear
- behold
- look, or pay close attention
- unto
- to
- thou
- you
- thy
- your
- wherefore
- for that reason
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.