Matthew 7

Matthew 7:1

JƲdge not] Luke 2:37. Romans 2:1. Judge not rashly of mens persons and actions, as they who misconstrue doubtfull things; nor rigidly, without mercy, as they who exaggerate small faults in others, and passe by great ones in themselves. Such judges were the Pharisees.

Matthew 7:2

with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged] Oftentimes ye shall finde men as ready to judge amisse of you, as you are of them: or, God will judge as hardly of you (though not unjustly) as ye do of others. Such retaliations, see, Luke 6. 38. James 2:13. Jeremiah 30:16. Ezekiel 35:15. Obad. v. 15. Leviticus 24:19.

and with what measure, &c.] Mark 4:24. Luke 6:38. A proverbiall sentence. It is very equall that a man should buy by that bushel he sells. Ye would be loth to be hardly censured by others; then deal not so with them.

Matthew 7:3

And why beholdest thou] Luke 6. 41. He speaks in the singular number, to shew the need of particular application.

the mote that is in thy brothers eye] With what face canst thou tax thy brother for small faults, when thou leavest greater in thy self uncorrected? Some think it should be read, a splinter, rather then a mote, because that answers best to a beam. A man were to be blamed, who, having a great piece of wood gotten into any member, would let it alone, till he had pulled a splinter out of another mans body. Others think it to be an allusion to two diseases of the eye, one spreading over a small part, the other over the whole eye: the later had not onely need to be pulled out first in our selves, but also, if it be not, it will hinder us from seeing to pull a mote out of anothers eye, as v. 5. So our great sins, uncorrected, not onely hurt us, but also hinder us from correcting others.

Matthew 7:4

to thy brother] Thou must not judge rashly or harshly of him, because he is thy brother. See more on verse 3.

Matthew 7:5

Thou hypocrite] Rash censuring smells very strong of hypocrisie; when men would seem to be so good, that they would be correctours of others; and are so bad, that they allow worse faults in themselves.

then shalt thou see clearly] See on v. 3.

Matthew 7:6

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs] Apply not the promises of the Gospel to profane men: or, speak no more of them to such as persecute you for your message: or, reprove not such Proverbs 9:8. for they are mischievous, like dogs, and holy things are too good for them.

neither cast ye your pearls before swine] Those precious promises that belong to you, and such as you are, apply not to swinish men, that regard not holy things any more then swine do pearls, the use whereof they know not.

lest they trample them under their feet] As swine do pearls: so will they reject the promises of the Gospel, or precious reproofs, with scorn.

and turn again and rent you] As dogs do sometimes to those that feed them: so will some men persecute their teachers, especially if reproofs go along with promises.

Matthew 7:7

Ask, and ye shall have] Chap. 21. 22. Mark 11:24. Luke 11. 9. John 16. 14. James 1. 6. This shews our great need, who, like beggers, want all things, and must ask of others.

seek] Constantly, as they that have lost some good thing look every where for it, and cease not till they finde it, Luke 15:4; Luke 15:7.

knock] Pray earnestly, as he knocks hard that would come in.

Matthew 7:8

every one that asketh] In faith, and according to Gods will: for God will deny others, James 4:3. 1 John 5:14.

receiveth] Among men, they who look not after wealth, seldom obtain it; but they who enquire after it, and use the means diligently, grow rich: so, if ye pray not, ye shall go without the things ye need; but if ye pray aright, ye shall speed. Or, though men be unkinde, and deny such as ask of them heartily to supply their wants, yet God will not deny his servants.

Matthew 7:9

Or what man is there, &c.] Or, If there were a man among you, whom his son should ask bread, Would he give him a stone? as chap. 12. 11. and 24. 45. Luke 11. 5, 11. Is any of you so inhumane, that, if his son should ask him a necessary thing, would put him off with that which is needlesse?

Matthew 7:10

a serpent?] Would he give him hurtfull things, when he asks for profitable?

Matthew 7:11

If ye then, being evil] Why doubt you of Gods good will toward you, who is perfectly good, when you, that are so evil by nature, that ye either know not what is good for your children at all times; or so harsh, that sometimes ye will not hear them, yet ordinarily have so much affection, that ye will give good things to your children, what ever you do to others?

your Father which is in heaven] See on chap. 5. 45.

good things] The good gifts of his Spirit, Luke 11:13. James 1:5; James 1:17.

Matthew 7:12

Whatsoever ye would] Luke 6. 31. Do not unto others what ye list, nor what others do to you or others, or what others would have you do to them, or what custom, pleasure, profit or honour bids; or what the laws of man will allow you to do sometimes; but what your will, well informed, and not disordered by passion, would have them do to you.

this is the law and the prophets] This is required in the doctrine of the law and the prophets, and is the sum of what they teach, concerning the duties of man to man.

Matthew 7:13

Enter ye in] Luke 13. 24.

at the strait gate] The passage to heaven is full of difficulties, and is therefore compared to a strait gate, and to a narrow way, v. 14. thorow both which travellers cannot easily passe.

wide is the gate] It is easie to go to hell, that way agrees with our corrupt nature.

many there be which go in thereat] Example of life must not be taken from a multitude, unlesse we mean to go to hell with them for company.

Matthew 7:14

Because] Or, How.

strait is the gate] We must passe thorow this narrow and rough passage, and suffer, and endure, and be thronged, and so enter into life eternall.

Matthew 7:16

by their fruits] Of false doctrine, and self-seeking, and, oftentimes, by wickednesse of life, v. 23. 2 Tim. 6. 3, 9. 2 Peter 2:1. which breaks out at length, although kept in at first.

Do men gather grapes of thorns] Luke 6:43. Are grapes gathered of thorns? No. Every tree bringeth forth his own proper fruit, James 3:12.

Matthew 7:17

every good tree bringeth forth good fruit] As severall kindes of trees have severall fruits; so, trees of the same kinde shew forth their goodnesse or badnesse by their fruit.

Matthew 7:18

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit] Not generally and constantly, though by accident sometimes it may bring some one, or few: so a good man, though sometimes he may fall into a sin, cannot live in it, 1 John 3:9. nor a bad man live well, though sometimes he may perform some action outwardly good.

Matthew 7:19

Every tree] Chap. 3. 10.

that bringeth not forth good fruit] We cut down unfruitfull trees, though they do not any open or apparent harm: so men shall perish that live not godlily, though they be not prophane, Luke 13:7.

Matthew 7:20

by their fruits] See on v. 16.

Matthew 7:21

Not every one] The bare profession of the true religion is not sufficient to save any man.

Lord, Lord] Romans 2:13. James 1:22.

doth the will of my Father] That walks conscionably, according to the rule of Gods word.

Matthew 7:22

Many will say to me] We had the more need both to take heed of false prophets, and to look to our own condition, because many will be deceived in themselves.

in that day] At the day of judgement, which ye know must come in the end of the world.

have not we prophesied] Ver. 15. We never thought we should have been rejected, but expected to have been first admitted, because of the great service we have done thee. Here we see, that even the best gifts that are, are nothing worth, without godlinesse.

in thy Name] By thine authority: or, to manifest thy power.

wonderfull works!] Properly, powers. Now these excellent works above nature are called, powers, because they make us to perceive Gods mighty power.

Matthew 7:23

will I professe] Or, confesse. Make it known to them, and to the world.

I never knew you] Luke 13:27. Though you thought well of your selves, and others thought well of you also; yet I never approved of you, nor owned you for mine, Psalms 1:6. Romans 7:15. 1 Corinthians 8:3. Galatians 4:9. 2 Timothy 2:19.

depart from me] Psal. 6. 8

ye that work iniquitie] That live in sin, notwithstanding the excellent gifts I bestowed on you.

Matthew 7:24

Therefore] The conclusion of our Saviours sermon upon the mount, wherein, by a similitude, he shews the firm estate of those that practise the things he taught them in this sermon, and the failing condition of such as onely heard them; lest any should think they must be saved, because they had heard such an excellent sermon, and that from Christs own mouth.

whosoever heareth these sayings of mine] Luke 6:47.

unto a wise man] The first thing a wise builder goeth about, is to seek a good foundation to build his house on.

Matthew 7:25

the rain descended] Troubles and persecutions, like tempests, try the estate of a Christian. Others understand it of the terrible day of judgement.

for it was founded on a rock] He that doth Gods will, will stand fast, as being truely built upon Christ.

Matthew 7:26

to a foolish man] To an unwise builder, that lays no good foundation, though he may build curiously in the sight of men.

Matthew 7:27

and it fell] He that onely hears will fall short of salvation; for he is not founded on Christ the Rock, James 1. 22.

Matthew 7:28

The people were astonished] Mark 1:22. Luke 4. 32.

Matthew 7:29

as one having authority] Not coldly, as the scribes; but boldly, as having authority from God, Titus 2:15. Or, not as the scribes, vouching for authors of their sayings, and what they taught, some Samea, and some Hillel, and the like; but delivering what he spake as divine oracles, 1 Corinthians 2:4. 1 Pet. 4. 11. Or, not as subject, but as a king in his own kingdom: and therefore he saith, Ye have heard, But I say, chap. 5. 21, 22, 27, 28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 38, 39, 43, 44.