“Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?” (Matthew 7:1-2 KJV)
This is how Mathew 7 starts and it is important that we see the truth of this. Matthew 7 is mostly all about people who claim they are saved believers, but they are not. This runs through the entire chapter as we will see by context.
These first couple of verses are showing people who think they are some how better than others who have more sins, or worse sins, than they have. The truth is we all have sin and it only takes one sin to be disqualified as righteous. An unbelievers very best righteous acts and good deeds are as ‘are as filthy rags’ before our most Holy God almighty (Isaiah 64:6).
It is clear that this group of people Jesus is talking about are relying on their own good WORKS and deeds for Salvation which will not save them but may give them a false sense of hope for salvation and being righteous before God.
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 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? 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. 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.” (Matthew 7:3-6 KJV)
In verses 3 to 6, Jesus is passing judgment on followers of Christ who are also looking down on others because of their sins, while believers also have sins they are contending with. You know believers also have a huge amount of sins they have committed in life, just as an unbeliever. That goes for you and I as well. The difference is that the sins of the whole world were paid for by Christ (1 John 2:2). For believers today, we have all been forgiven all our sins BY BELIEF on Christ crucified (1 John 2:2, John 3:14-18) and His righteousness was placed to our account by imputation of God (2 Cor. 5:17-21). It is ONLY the finished work of Christ that saves believers from the penalty for sins which is eternal death (Romans 6:23).
We see many believers doing this to unbelievers today in a rampant fashion. They really believe that by bashing unbelievers because of THEIR sins, as if saved believers are so much better than they regarding sins, that God will somehow commend them for it. Well, here in Matthew 7, Jesus says the opposite of this! Jesus is telling them that it is very wrong. First, thinking that doing so will make an unbeliever change their ways is ridiculous. Only once the Holy Spirit INDWELLS a person is that even possible. And the truth is, judging others really hurts the witness of believers to the lost because doing so makes all believers look like hypocrites! And isn’t it so clear when Jesus is calling such believers hypocrites? Passing severe judgment and criticism on an unbeliever who is committing a sin and thinking that beating them over the head about their sin will bring them to Christ? It will not work and will hurt the witness of the truth of the Gospel instead!
There is a big difference between warning and condemning.
Warning someone that they need forgiveness and that Christ can help them overcome sin is one thing. Talking down to an unbeliever about their sins as if you have none, is condemning and not a good thing to do. Do not do that! God frowns on that! Instead, preach the Gospel regarding the very core nature of a person in their Spirit, up until they become born again by belief on Christ where they receive a NEW creation in their Spirit, which is the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:17-21). Christ is the judge not us believers!
In Romans 2:4 we see the true way to lead others to Christ,
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Romans 2:4 KJV)
It is the ‘goodness of God’ that leads people to Salvation and that is all about the love of God. As believers we need to be tender hearted to the lost in love.
“For God sent NOT his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. ” (John 3:17 KJV)
If God did not send Jesus to condemn the world, then why should believers be doing that?! Jesus again states this clearly saying,
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye LOVE ONE ANOTHER; AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:34-35 KJV)
Jesus now explains the REAL WAY of Salvation which is not about our outward self righteous works and deeds, nor judging each other but by belief on Christ alone.
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 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? 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.” (Matthew 7: 7-12 KJV)
This is a very powerful message of HOPE Jesus is giving in these verses! Let’s unpack this great hope!
First, we need to ask God for Salvation, knowing we are sinners and unable to save ourselves by our works and deeds. If you seek God with this correct truth and attitude, you will not be acknowledging and judging the sins of others but will instead have already acknowledged your own sin debt against our Holy God. And if you seek God in this way, you WILL find the truth! And when you do, and you knock on God’s door and ask Him for mercy to forgive you and save you, God will OPEN THAT DOOR my brothers and sisters! What a hope!
Jesus goes on and mentions how much more God will give these who seek Him in this manner good GIFTS. Interesting word, GIFT! In Ephesians 2:8-9, we see that Salvation is not about ourselves nor our works and good deeds but it is a GRACE GIFT from God. And as a GIFT , it can be received or rejected. A GIFT is not earned. We receive the gift by BELIEF on Christ as Jesus said Himself in John 3:14-18.
Jesus also mentions a ‘stone’ and a ‘fish’. A stone has no life. A fish is alive. But Jesus also mentions a ‘serpent’. What could Jesus be talking about here? Is there something more to the usage of these words stone, fish, serpent?
- STONE: A stone is DEAD. It has no life at all. So if we ask God for forgiveness and to show us how to obtain salvation, will God give us our deserved DEATH instead? God is love and He loves you more than any being existing, even while you are drenched in sin! This is the very reason Christ came and died on the cross shedding His blood to save us.
- FISH: The Fish is Jesus. It has LIFE and gives life to all who believe on and ask for salvation of Christ. Ever see a bumper sticker of a fish on a car? This actually became a symbol used by early day believers.
- SERPENT: This is an easy one right? It is talking about Satan and what he is falsely deceiving unbelievers with. He is all about works and good deeds and spreading lies so the truth will not be seen. The Pharisee leaders were under this false lie. Their teaching was all about Law following in self righteousness. Jesus described them with some very strong words indeed. “Ye SERPENT, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:3 KJV) Believe me, the people listening to Jesus in Matthew 7 knew exactly what HE meant by serpent and WHO Jesus was talking about!
Jesus says clearly that believers should do unto others as they want done to them. Today we know this as the ‘Golden Rule’ right? I mean, I was taught this in Elementary school without knowing anything about true Salvation by belief on Christ’s work on the cross. And Jesus mentions ‘the Law and the Prophets’ here and that is the entirety of the Old Testament. This Golden rule applied in Old Testament times and also here in New Covenant times as well.
Be truthful about who we really are as sinners (Isaiah 64:6) and act with respect to others from this truth. Jesus paid a high price for our salvation and forgiveness of our sins against God! In His great suffering and blood shed! What amazing love God has for us while we were His enemies even!
Just because we are saved by belief on Christ, does not mean we are somehow “better” than unbelievers who have sins! We still have the Flesh in our minds we contend and fight with every day (Romans 7). Do not judge them with condemnation. Instead show them the love Christ has bestowed on us as believers. Only this love of God will lead a person to repentance and salvation. Yes, the Ten Commandments have their part in helping a person come to salvation; to show them that they do in fact have sin. But it should go no further than that from a believer to an unbeliever. Show how much God loves them!
Jesus is telling us thus far that,
1. Unbelievers need to stop thing to judge others in condemnation. This was what the Pharisees religious leaders were doing.
2. Believers should not being condemning unbelievers of their specific sins as if we are any better because we are saved. That is being a hypocrite.
3. The real way to be saved is acknowledging our OWN sins and asking God and seeking the truth and it is not about works, but asking for the GIFT of Salvation and receiving God’s grace and unconditional love by belief on Christ ans His once for all sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10) paying ALL the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2).
4. Treat others as God treated us when we were still His enemies. While we were His enemies (Romans 5:10) He sent Jesus to die on that cross and save us! Apostle Paul to the Ephesians wrote, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED;)” (Ephesians 2:5 KJV)
The Truth About The Straight and Narrow Gate
Jesus continues in Matthew 7 saying,
“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 there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 KJV)
Many believe that the WIDE meaning is good WORKS of a person. And that NARROW must be GOOD WORKS because it is hard to maintain good works in the light that God is PERFECT in every way. But is that the truth of Matthew 7:13-14?
Context matters and so if we look at other passages of Jesus, do we see that meaning conveyed for how to become RIGHTEOUS before God? The answer is a resounding “NO”.
Jesus is clear that Salvation is by one thing and that is ‘changing our mind’ (the Bible definition of the word REPENT) and BELIEF ON Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God. Look at John 3 where Jesus told Nicodemus how a person becomes RIGHTEOUS. It is by being ‘BORN AGAIN’ – not by our works. Jesus goes on to tell us how to be born again in The Spirit in verse 14-17 and it is all about BELIEF ON CHRIST with NOTHING ELSE MENTIONED. And then Jesus makes this very clear statement,
“He that BELIEVETH ON HIM is not condemned: but he that BELIEVETH NOT is condemned ALREADY, because he hath NOT BELIEVED in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:18 KJV)
And when we look more into other words of Jesus we also see Him say,
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you REST. Take MY YOKE upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find REST unto your souls. For my YOKE IS EASY, and my burden IS LIGHT.” (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)
A Light Yoke? A Light Burden?
If we are to believe that it is our WORKS that save us and keep us saved, how does that fit Jesus’ words? The Jewish people in that day were under the religious leaders called the Pharisees and they gave the people a hard burden to keep themselves righteous by their deeds and good works and Law following. One of the punishments for failing, for example, was being stoned to death! Jesus states the opposite of this.
Given this is Jesus words as well, we need to look closer at Matthew 7:13-14 for proper context, because Jesus NEVER contradicts Himself and in fact, Apostle Paul does not either. Apostle Paul states clearly that this cannot be about works when he wrote,
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that NOT OF YOURSELVES: it is the GIFT of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 KJV)
Just before Jesus’ statement in verses 13 and 14, Jesus was clear that belief on HIM and seeking HIM is the way to be saved and not by works and good deeds. So what is the straight and narrow gate? It is JESUS CHRIST, not our self righteous efforts! Did not Jesus say this,
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6 KJV)
You know, ALL the world’s non-Christian religions teach ‘works for salvation’. And all the false religions calling themselves Christians by their works and deeds are just as unsaved. That is what Jesus is warning them about in Matthew 7. That is what Apostle Paul warns about in Galatians 3 calling those believing in grace plus works ‘foolish’ and warning in Galatians 5:4 that “Christ is of NONE EFFECT TO YOU” believing this way.
Is Jesus Teaching Loss Of A Believer’s Salvation?
Okay, now we turn to the real meat of this chapter and it is where many believers are reading and ignoring the previous context. I have seen the words of Jesus in Matthew 7 to teach that,
- That Matthew 7 shows that a believer can lose Salvation.
- That a person with good fruit is saved and a person with bad fruit is not saved.
Both of these teachings are WRONG by the very context found within Matthew 7. If you have been taught these, please stop telling others this as truth and I am showing you why in this article. It is the very reason for this article.
These two wrong teachings about Matthew 7 are running very rampant in Christian communities. Many pulpits are also stating these very wrong teachings about Matthew 7. We must watch the CONTEXT very closely! Otherwise, as a believer you will be condemning others in harsh judgement, when Jesus has clearly taught against doing such!
Let’s look closely at this passage of Scripture with proper context to see the true meaning of Jesus.
“15 Beware of FALSE PROPHETS, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them BY THEIR FRUITS. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every GOOD TREE bringeth forth good fruit; but a CIRRUOT 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.
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?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:15-23 KJV)
This is a very power packed passage of truth to decipher and so let’s do just that.
The real context starts at verse 15. Jesus is talking about FALSE PROPHETS. This is the context of this passage. They come to you as sheep, as ‘Christians’. They come with various verses of Scripture, all taken out of context by the way, to tell you it is your WORKS that matters. They teach about Jesus but it is false teaching.
It is these false prophets who are the verse 23 “YE THAT WORK INIQUITY”. Jesus speaks about the false prophets, and what are they doing wrong? What is their iniquity?
They are thinking and telling others that it is WHAT THEY DO that qualifies them for salvation in Jesus. They are combining grace with works for righteousness and mixing Law following with Grace through Christ. We need to take this very seriously! Jesus gives us a stern warning here.
In Matthew 7:22 Jesus makes it clear,
“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?”
Do you See it? They are saying have not WE, and in thine name WE, WE done many WORKS. WE WE WE! They rely on their own ability to please God and by doing such think they are saved.
To them Jesus gives stern warning in verse 23 that on Judgement day for them (The Great White Throne Judgement of the unsaved),
“And then will I profess unto THEM, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23 KJV)
Notice this one verse does not say they were believers who lost salvation. Not at all. It says that Jesus NEVER knew them. This is definitely about those who think they are saved by their works. They are being judged and condemned to eternal separation from God at the future Great White Throne judgement of unbelievers and in defending themselves, they show nothing but self righteous pride! They will not even mention that Jesus paid for their sins. Instead, they will try and stand as righteous because of their works. That my friends is the devil’s BIGGEST LIE. Satan’s biggest deception to the whole world is deceiving people into believing this.
What About Fruit Inspecting?
“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matthew 7:16-20 KJV)
These verses have confused many when not seen in the proper context of Matthew 7. Some believers today are mistaking these “fruits” with the “fruit bearing” of John 15 which is about being a disciple bearing good fruit. However,that is NOT the context here in Matthew 7. It simply cannot be so because Jesus had just previously said that the FALSE PROPHETS come in “sheep’s clothing”. They look like they have good works and people would assume that because such a person has good works that they must be a born again believer. That is actually a completely FALSE STATEMENT! Our works have NOTHING to do with how we are justified in salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). These false prophets are teaching externals, even while using Jesus’ name in doing so. They have missed the Gospel message entirely which is not about good works for righteousness but only faith and belief on Christ alone.
What Is The Fruit In Matthew 7 by Context?
So the ‘fruit’ in Matthew 7 is not a person’s WORKS. It is the WORDS these false prophets are teaching! As soon as a teacher is preaching good works for salvation or good works required to remain saved, they are the false teachers being spoken of here by Jesus. They are relying on their works for righteousness or accepting God’s grace but thinking they then need to work to remain saved. These two are actually UNBELIEF. Either a person is BELIEVING and trusting in Christ and HIS FINISHED work paying for all sins of the world (1 John 2:2) or they are in UNBELIEF and UNSAVED. Take notice that I am not saying good works after salvation are wrong. NO! Good works after salvation are ‘UNTO GOOD WORKS’ but they only come from our NEW SPIRIT and the indwelling Holy Spirit moving outward in our lives in love towards others (Ephesians 2:10). But the works NEVER SAVE ANYONE! Only belief on Christ saves (John 3:14-18, John 6:37-40, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 2:8-9, Eph. 1:13-14 etc).
Jesus talks about two groups of people as TREES; the saved by faith verse the unsaved by works. What a great analogy! In John 15, Jesus teaches this too and states that HE is the vine and WE, as saved believers, are BRANCHES! Where does a branch life come from? The sap, which comes from the ROOT of a tree. Jesus is the VINE of a believer. He is our Root.
An unbeliever has at their core being, as the root, a Spirit of Adam, a sin nature at their very core. They sin because they have a sin nature at their core. They know they have sinned against God. That is the truth. But they think that they can gain God’s favor by their outward living in good works. They fail to realize that this is not the wages for our sins! In God’s economy the wages for sin is not works. The wages of sin is DEATH, eternal death and separation from God (Romans 6:23). Failing to realize this truth, they remain lost in their debt of sins. To them it is all about works and good deeds. And so, how do they live outwardly, in love or condemnation and judging of others?
A person who instead realizes they are a sinner and that they CANNOT work off their sins with good deeds, turns to God and seeks Him for MERCY, just as Jesus states earlier in Matthew 7 as the right way to be saved. Their tree root has been changed and made RIGHTEOUS in the Spirit. Being saved by God’s grace they know God’s love and how He gave His own begotten Son to save us by His death on the cross. The greatest act of love in all of history.
Having received this GRACE, their Spirit inside was REBORN (John 3) and RECREATED (2 Cor. 5:17-21) and have become COMPLETE IN CHRIST (Colossians 2). With this new Spirit, we now work from our new inward Spirit (our tree root), outward into our lives with good works by God’s love through us. It is God’s grace that we have received as believers that encourages us to live outwardly in love to others. Apostle Paul says that we should walk ‘in the Spirit to avoid the lusts of the flesh’ and not by the Law, in the book of Galatians. Saved believers are right now RIGHTEOUS at our core being and this works outward into good works in our lives.
That is what Jesus means in context when He says,
“A GOOD TREE cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a CORRUPT TREE bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” Matthew 7:18-20 KJV)
Remember, this whole passage is about false prophets speaking (starting at verse 15). Yet, these are the same works based false salvation teachers today that use Matthew 7, verse 22 and 23 to claim that works are required for salvation and that believers can lose salvation. They are very wrong! If they would only read the previous verses in context. The fruit here in Matthew 7 is the WORDS of the FALSE PROPHETS teaching false ‘works for salvation’. This false teaching is not only here in our time in history, it is RAMPANT in these End Times!
What Is The Will Of The Father From Matthew 7?
What is the ‘will of the Father’ Jesus is talking about in Matthew 7:21 then? Is this statement by Jesus about our works and good deeds or Law following? Not at all. Jesus is not saying one thing and then another in the same passage of teaching! Look at Jesus’ words to see the truth.
Jesus tells us this in John 6,
“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that YE BELIEVE ON HIM whom he hath sent.” (John 6:29 KJV)”
39 And this is the FATHERS’s WILL which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this IS THE WILL OF HIM THAT SENT ME, that every one which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH ON HIM, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” ( John 6:39-40 KJV)
Today we see many false gospels in so called, ‘christian religions’. False gospels such as, ‘works for salvation’, ‘grace plus works’, ‘social gospel’, ‘prosperity gospel’, ‘Lordship Salvation’, and ‘Word of faith, name it to claim it’; all of which are not the Biblical Gospel of our Salvation.
We need to heed Jesus’ warnings in Matthew 7.
