Matthew 7:1

CHAPTER VII.

Our Lord warns men against rash judgment and uncharitable

censures, 1-5.

Shows that holy things must not be profaned, 6;

gives encouragement to fervent persevering prayer, 7-11.

Shows how men should deal with each other, 12.

Exhorts the people to enter in at the strait gate, 13, 14;

to beware of false teachers, who are to be known by their

fruits, 15-20.

Shows that no man shall be saved by his mere profession of

Christianity, however specious, 22, 23.

The parable of the wise man who built his house upon a rock,

24, 25.

Of the foolish man who built his house, without a foundation,

on the sand, 26, 27.

Christ concludes his sermon, and the people are astonished at

his doctrine, 28, 29.

NOTES ON CHAP. VII.

Verse Matthew 7:1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.] These exhortations are pointed against rash, harsh, and uncharitable judgments, the thinking evil, where no evil seems, and speaking of it accordingly. The Jews were highly criminal here, and yet had very excellent maxims against it, as may be seen in Schoettgen. This is one of the most important exhortations in the whole of this excellent sermon. By a secret and criminal disposition of nature, man endeavours to elevate himself above others, and, to do it more effectually, depresses them. His jealous and envious heart wishes that there may be no good quality found but in himself, that he alone may be esteemed. Such is the state of every unconverted man; and it is from this criminal disposition, that evil surmises, rash judgments, precipitate decisions, and all other unjust procedures against our neighbour, flow.