1Christ proceedeth in his sermon to condemn rash judgment; 6forbiddeth the prostitution of holy things; 7recommendeth prayer; 13exhorteth to enter in at the strait gate; 15to beware of false prophets, who may be known by their fruits; 21and not to be his disciples in profession only, but in practice; 24he compareth doers of the word to houses built on a rock, those that are hearers only to houses built on the sand. 28Christ endeth his sermon; the people are astonished at his doctrine.
1JUDGEa1not, that ye be not judged.
a Luke 6:37; Rom. 2:1; 1 Cor. 4:3, 5.
1 Namely, rashly or perversely, out of hatred, envy or groundless suspicion. Otherwise an upright judgment of things, whereof a man has a right knowledge, when it is done to a good end, in judgment as well as outside of it, is not only lawful but also commanded. See 2 Chron. 19:6; John 7:24; 1 Cor. 5:12.
2Forb with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete,c it shall be measured to you again.
b Mark 4:24; Luke 6:38.
c to measure*
3Andd why beholdest thou the 2mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
d Luke 6:41, 42.
2 That is, small or lesser faults, as by the beam great and gross faults are understood.
4Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the motee out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
e speck of dust
5Thouf hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the moteg out of thy brother's eye.
f Prov. 18:17.
g speck of dust
6¶Giveh not that which is 3holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
h Prov. 9:8; 23:9.
3Holy is properly that which is separated from the common use, and thereby is here understood the preaching of the Gospel, or admonitions, and consolations out of God’s Word, as also the administration of the Holy Sacraments, which by reason of their worth are here also called pearls, and which must not be given to stiff-necked and obstinate scorners, who are compared to dogs and swine, Prov. 9:8; 1 Cor. 10:21; Philip. 3:2.
7 ¶ 4Ask, andi it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
4 By asking, seeking and knocking, Christ exhorts us to persevere continually with earnestness in prayer. See also Rom. 12:12; 1 Thes. 5:17.
i Mat. 21:22; Mark 11:24; Luke 11:9; John 14:13; 16:24; James 1:5, 6; 1 John 3:22; 5:14.
8Forj every one that 5asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
j Prov. 8:17; Jer. 29:12.
5 Namely, in faith and according to God’s will, James 1:6; 1 John 5:14.
9Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11If ye then, beingk 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?
k Gen. 6:5; 8:21.
12Therefore alll things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is 6the law and the prophets.
l Luke 6:31.
6 That is, the sum of all that which the Law and the Prophets, interpreters of the same, teach concerning the second table of the Decalogue, concerning the love of our neighbor, Mat. 22:39.
13¶Enterm ye in at the straitn gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
m Luke 13:24.
n narrow*
14Becauseo strait is the gate, and 7narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
o Acts 14:22.
7 That is, not only in respect of the strict obedience which God requires of us, but also because it is full of trouble and adversities. See Acts 14:22.
15¶Bewarep of false prophets, which come to you in 8sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening 9wolves.
p Deut. 13:3; Jer. 23:16; Mat. 24:4; Rom. 16:17; Eph. 5:6; Col. 2:8; 1 John 4:1.
8 That is, in a fair outward show.
9 That is, deceivers and murderers of souls, John 10:1, 8; Acts 20:29.
16Ye shall know them by their 10fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
10 By these fruits are understood not so much the life, which may deceive for a time, as well the doctrine, which must be tried by God’s Word, 1 John 4:1.
17Evenq so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but 11a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
q Mat. 3:10; 12:33; Mark 11:13; Luke 3:8.
11 Gr. a rotted tree.
18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21¶Notr every one 12that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but 13he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
r Mat. 25:11; Luke 6:46; 13:25; Acts 19:13; Rom. 2:13; James 1:22.
12 That is, who boasts much and vainly of Christ and His doctrine.
13 That is, who believes rightly in Christ, John 6:40, and commit his life according to God’s commandments, 1 Thes. 4:3.
22Manys will say to me 14in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied 15in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many 16wonderful works?
s Jer. 14:14; 27:15; Luke 13:26.
14 Namely, at the last judgment, Mat. 24:36.
15 That is, by Thy command and strength, as Thy servants, and unto the extension of Thy honor.
16 That is, signs of wonders or miracles, 1 Cor. 12:10, because they occur by the power of God.
23Andt then will I 17profess unto them, I never 18knew you: departu from me, ye that work iniquity.
t Psalm 6:8; Mat. 25:12; Luke 13:25, 27.
17 Gr. confess.
18 Namely, as My own. See John 10:14; 2 Tim. 2:19.
u Mat. 25:41; Luke 13:25, 27.
24¶Therefore whosoeverv heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
v Jer. 17:8; Luke 6:47; Rom. 2:13; James 1:25.
25And the 19rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a 20rock.
19 By the rain, the floods and the winds are understood all kinds of persecutions, deceptions and temptations, whereby men could be brought to apostasy.
20 This rock signifies Christ, 1 Peter 2:6.
26Andw every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the 21sand:
w Ezek. 13:11; Rom. 2:13; James 1:23.
21 By sand is understood all what people may place as the foundation of their salvation, outside of Christ, Acts 4:12.
27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were 22astonished at his doctrine:
22 Or, dismayed, became frightened with amazement and disturbance of their mind.
29Forx he taught them as one having 23authority, and not as the scribes.
x Mark 1:22; 6:2; Luke 4:32.
23 That is, with a Divine authority, and with a peculiar mobility and boldness. See Luke 4:22; John 7:45, 46.