Matthew 7:1._Judege not _These words of Christ do not contain an absolute prohibition _from judging, _but are intended to cure a disease, which appears to be natural to us all. We see how all flatter themselves, and every man passes a severe censure on others. This vice is attended by some strange e... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 7:3._And why seest thou the straw? _He expressly touches upon a fault, which is usually found in hypocrites. While they are too quick-sighted in discerning the faults of others, and employ not only severe, but intentionally exaggerated, language in describing them, they throw their own sins... [ Continue Reading ]
6._Give not that which is holy _It is unnecessary to repeat oftener, that Matthew gives us here detached sentences, which ought not to be viewed as a continued discourse. The present instruction is not at all connected with what came immediately before, but is entirely separate from it. Christ remin... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 7:7._Ask, and it shall be given you _It is an exhortation to prayer: and as in this exercise of religion, which ought to be our first concern, we are so careless and sluggish, Christ presses the same thing upon us under three forms of expression. There is no superfluity of language, when he... [ Continue Reading ]
8._For every one that asketh receiveth _Some think that this is a proverbial saying taken from common life: but I am more inclined to a different view. Christ presents the grace of his Father to those who pray. He tells us, that God is of himself prepared to listen to us, provided we pray to him, an... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Is there any man among you? _It is a comparison from the less to the greater. First, our Lord contrasts the malice of men with the boundless goodness of God. Self-love ( φιλαυτία) renders us malicious: for every man is too much devoted to himself, and neglects and disregards others. But this vice... [ Continue Reading ]
11._Your Father will give good things _This is expressly mentioned by Christ, that believers may not give way to foolish and improper desires in prayer. We know how great influence, in this respect, is exerted by the excesses and presumption of our flesh. There is nothing which we do not allow ourse... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 7:12._All things whatsoever you would wish _The word _therefore _( οὖν) is superfluous, as we often find such particles occurring, and without any addition to the sense, in detached sentences. (467) I have already said, that Matthew does not give here a single discourse, but a summary of doc... [ Continue Reading ]
13._Enter in by the strait gate _As nothing is more opposed to the flesh than the doctrine of Christ, no man will ever make great proficiency in it who has not learned to confine his senses and feelings, so as to keep them within those boundaries, which our heavenly Teacher prescribes for curbing ou... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 7:15._But beware of false prophets _These words were intended to teach, that the Church would be exposed to various impositions, and that consequently many would be in danger of falling from the faith, if they were not carefully on their guard. We know what a strong propensity men have to fa... [ Continue Reading ]
16._From their fruits you shall know them _Had not this mark of distinction been added, we might have called in question the authority of all teachers without exception. If there is a mortal danger to be dreaded in teachers, and if we see no way of avoiding it, we shall be under the necessity of hol... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 7:21._Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord. _Christ extends his discourse farther: for he speaks not only of _false prophets, _who rush upon the flock to tear and devour, but of hirelings, who insinuate themselves, under fair appearances, as pastors, though they have no feeling of piet... [ Continue Reading ]
22._Many will say to me _Christ again summons hypocrites to his judgment-seat, as we showed a little ago from Luke. So long as they hold a place in his Church, they both flatter themselves and deceive others. He therefore declares, that a day is coming, when he will cleanse his barn, and separate th... [ Continue Reading ]
23._And then will I confess to them _(482) By using the word ὁμολογήσω _, I will confess, _(483) Christ appears to allude to the vain boasting, by which hypocrites now vaunt themselves. _“ _They indeed have _confessed _me with the tongue, and imagine that they have fully discharged their duty. The _... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 7:24._Every one, therefore, who heareth _As it is often difficult to distinguish the true professors of the Gospel from the false, Christ shows, by a beautiful comparison, where the main difference lies. He represents two houses, one of which was built without a foundation, while the other w... [ Continue Reading ]
28._When Jesus had finished these sayings _By _these sayings _I understand not only the discourse which he delivered when he came down from the mountain, but the rest of the doctrine, which had already been made known to the people. The meaning therefore is, that, where he had given the people, on a... [ Continue Reading ]