Matthew 7:7-29
Q.1. How should we search for God? What does God promise to do for His children? How did Jesus drive home His point? How should we treat others? – (Mt.7:7-12)
What the people heard from Jesus was – Keep on asking and it will be given to you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking will be opened (Mt.7:7-8). The promise of success is for the persistent (c.f. Lk.18:1-8). Jesus drove home the point by comparing our human fathers with our heavenly Father, concluding – how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who keep on asking Him (Mt.7:11). God may refuse our wants but will always give us what will benefit us most in the long term. Jesus called His hearers to not be self-centred. He directed that – whatever you desire that others would do for you, even so do the same to them for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Mt.7:12).
Q.2. What did Jesus mean by the broad and narrow gate? Where do the broad and narrow road lead? Where are most people headed? Why? – (Mt.7:13-14)
The broad gate and way – leads to destruction and there are many who enter through it (Mt.7:13). By contrast – the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few that find it (Mt.7:14). A wide gate offers little resistance, and lots of companionship for the traveller. For that reason, many go via this route. Only a few enter the narrow gate, to the way that leads to life. Therefore, Jesus reminded His disciples – If the world hates you, know that it hated Me before it hated you (c.f. Jn.15:18).
Q.3. Why are false prophets hard to recognise? What are they really like? How can they be identified? Where are false prophets destined to go? – (Mt.7:15-23)
Rembrandt painted Judas in black. However, Jesus told us that false prophets disguise themselves in sheep’s clothing, saying that –inwardly they are ravenous wolves (Mt.7:15). How can they be identified? Jesus suggested that – You will know them by their fruits (Mt.7:16 & 20). Eating from a good fruit tree is safe, but this is not so for fruit from a bad tree. Jesus warned – Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Mt.7:19). Jesus then explained about the difference between what people claim, and how they live – Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter (Mt.7:21). He warned that He will cast out even preachers, exorcists, healers, and workers of miracles, and will declare on the day of reckoning – … I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (Mt.7:23 c.f. Mt.7:22).
Q.4. What is the message of the parable of the two foundations? Is it enough to know the truth? How will we be judged by God? Why were the crowds drawn to Jesus? – (Mt.7:21, 24-29)
On the surface, the house built on the rock and the one built on the sand appear identical. It is not until they are faced with the severe storms of life that the foundations are exposed. Jesus used the parable to make this point – Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock … Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand (Mt.7:24 & 26). We will not be judged by how much we have heard, or how much knowledge we have. It is all about building and acting on the truth. The crowds were amazed at the simple, understandable, yet profound teaching of Jesus – for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes (Mt.7:29).