"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
Chapter Seven
The "Sermon On The Mount" continues with Jesus discussing the
righteousness of the kingdom with respect to man’s relation to man, with
a warning regarding judging (1-6), the importance of persistence (7-11),
and keeping "the golden rule" (12). It concludes with exhortations to
enter the kingdom: choose the narrow and difficult path (13-14), watch
out for false prophets (15-20), do the Father’s will (21-23), being
doers of the Word (24-29).
POINTS TO PONDER
* The nature of judging condemned by Jesus
* How Jesus’ "golden rule" differs from that found in other religions
* The importance of doing the Father’s will to being saved
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Righteousness with respect to man’s relation to man - Mt 7:1-12
- Exhortations to enter the kingdom - Mt 7:15-29
2) What sort of judging is Jesus warning against? (1-6)
- Not all judging, but hypocritical, censorious condemnation (cf. Jn
7:24)
3) How does Jesus illustrate the need for persistence? (7-11)
- By literally saying "keep on" asking, seeking, knocking
4) How does Jesus’ "golden rule" differ from that found in other
religions? (12)
- Most state it negatively (Don’t do to others what you don’t want
done to you)
5) Contrast the two "ways" described by Jesus (13-14)
- The way to life: narrow gate and difficult way, found by few
- The way to destruction: wide gate and broad way, traveled by many
6) How do false prophets operate? How can we identify them? (15-20)
- As wolves in sheep’s clothing; by their fruits
7) Who will not enter the kingdom of heaven? Who will? (21-23)
- Many who believed in the Lord, did many great things for Him, but
practiced lawlessness (i.e., did things without His authority)
- Those who do the will of His Father in heaven
8) What is the key difference between the wise and foolish listeners?
(24-27)
- The wise do what Jesus said, the foolish do not
9) Why were the people astonished at Jesus’ teaching? (28-29)
- Because He taught as one having authority