New Testament 2
Lecture 14
Sermon on the Mount 3
Matthew 7
Chapter 7
•	continues what Chapter 6 had begun.  Jesus gives three prohibitions for the daily walk of His disciples.  Matthew 6:19-34 had taught the disciples about their relationship with wealth and not in 7:1-5 He will share with them about their relationship to the____________________________?  .  In Matthew 7:6 he will discuss the question of the disciples and unbelievers.
7:1-5: Disciples and the Believers
•	The second relationship of the disciples is their affiliation with other____________________________?  .  The prohibition is simple: stop judging (me with the present imperative). The disciples of the King are to be critical of self, but not of brethren.  The group is to be noted for their bond of unity, which is indicated by a lack of criticism. This is fitting, since the kingdom is characterized by peace (Isa 9:7)
7:6: Disciples and Unbelievers
•	The disciples are to use discretion in their relationship with____________________________?  .  The term “dogs” (kuon) is used in a metaphorical sense of reproach in this passage. It no doubt refers to those who did not believe in the coming of the Kingdom in the person and work of Jesus.  “Mire” (borboros) is used in 2 Peter 2:22 to describe the unbeliever, as “swine” (choiros) is employed here.  
 Jesus’ Gave Words of Warning and Admonition
•	He gives the first intimation of His ultimate ____________________________?  by the Jewish nation and its leaders as well as the Gentile nations.  The disciples were to preach the nearness of the Kingdom of God, but the deeper truths of the Kingdom are to be preserved only for receptive hearts (MT 11:25-26; 13:10-17; 17:9).
The Body of the Message
•	ends with these practical instructions.  The King has shown His disciples the principle of the righteous____________________________?  .  Unlike the dead hypocritical righteousness which characterized the scribes and Pharisees, it is an inner life which is the result of one’s relationship to God. This is the righteousness which is to be the mark of His disciples. Entrance into the Kingdom impossible without it.
7:7-7-12: The Disciples and Their Relationship to God
•	It is easy to visualize the growing audience as Jesus ministers to His disciples.  Having completed the ____________________________?  of His disciples, He then turns to teach the group and multitudes.  He speaks about the perspective of righteousness with respect to God.  Make no mistake about it, the rest of the sermon is also addressed to His disciples.  
Jesus’ Teachings
•	He instructs the disciples and the multitude on ____________________________?  (MT 7:7-11). The three verbs -- “to ask, to seek and to knock” (aiteite, zeteite, and krouete)--are all in the present tense. The “good things” (agatha, 7:11) of the kingdom were near at hand. 
By consistent and persevering prayer 
•	from ____________________________?  hearts the good things of the kingdom would be theirs. The future tenses give assurance that what they desired from their heavenly Father would come to be.
The Lord’s Use of “Father”
•	in this Gospel is interesting. He says “My Father” (MT 7:21, 10:32, 10:33; 11:27 et al) and “your Father” (MT 5:16, 45, 48, 6:1, 14, 15, 26, et al), but NEVER does the Lord associate Himself with other in praying or saying “Our Father”. The significance of this is that the Lord is careful to maintain the ____________________________?  of His person.
7:12
•	The well known “Golden Rule” follows in verse 12 as the formal conclusion to the discourse. Their concept was prevalent in seed form in the OT (Lev 19:18; Exod 23:4; Deut 15:7-8; Prov 24:17; 25:21).  By giving heed to this command, the righteousness of the ____________________________?  and the ____________________________?  would be fulfilled. This is a fitting conclusion in that the fulfilling of the law and the prophets looks back to MT 5:17. 
The Warnings of the King (7:13-27)
1. Jesus’s Regarding the Narrow Gate (7:13-14)
•	After the King has asked the multitudes and the disciples to entreat God in____________________________?  , He bids them to enter into the way which leads to life.  It should be remembered that the OT concept of eternal life was an endless life on earth. Even resurrected saints hoped for an earthly eternal life (Gen 13:15; 49:29; 50:24-25; Deut 30:15, 19-20, Job 19:25). When the King spoke of a way to ____________________________?  ____________________________?  , the audience would listen closely.
Jesus’ Method:
•	First he extends an invitation to enter the narrow gate. Then He shows His listeners that the gate one has entered is indicated by his present course of life.  The two occurrences of the conjuction “for” (gar) in verses 13 and 14 indicate that the ____________________________?  and the ____________________________?  are closely associated. Just as a tree is known by its fruit, so the gate is known by the way.
The Two Ways
•	would be compared to the two forms of righteousness which Jesus has been contrasting throughout this sermon.  Repentance is the narrow gate through which Christ invited His listeners to enter the Kingdom.  The narrow way represents the restrictions laid upon one who would walk in the way of true righteousness. The broad way is the walk of the flesh, characterized by Pharisaic hypocrisy and outward righteousness.
 This Passage’s Emphasis
•	includes discipleship. This is seen in the emphasis on the way as well as the gate. “Gate is mentioned for the benefit of those who were not true followers, way is mentioned as a definition of the life of the disciples of Jesus.  This is why Matthew uses the word “gate” (pule) and Luke uses “____________________________?  ” (thura) (Lk 13:24). 
Luke is concerned primarily 
•	with salvation. Here Matthew and Jesus are concerned with the subjects of the kingdom. Matthew uses a word which implies a ____________________________?  is to be followed after entrance into life.
The Complacency of the Crowd
•	is seen by Matthew’s use of the word “____________________________?  ” (eurisko) in verse 14. Only a few were finding the way to the kingdom of life. They had only to seek to find (MT 7:7), but they would not bother.  Thus Matthew gives a subtle hint as to the lethargic spiritual condition of Israel while the kingdom was near at hand.
7:15-20: Regarding False Prophets
•	Following the invitation of the Lord to entreat God for the good things of the kingdom and to enter life by spiritual preparation.  He gives a good warning concerning false prophets. In attempting to find the narrow gate the listeners were to be on their guard against false teachers.  The Pharisees and scribes’ teachings were restrictive, but they failed to point the way to life.
A Teacher is Known
•	by his fruit, for his doctrine and/or his practice bears testimony to his character.  The King has indicated that the true righteousness involves the inner man; therefore He was agathos in referring to the “____________________________?  ” fruit and sapros in referring to the “____________________________?  ”. The final inference is given in verse 20, “You will know them by their fruits.” The plural fruits seems to show that both doctrine and works are in view. 
7:21-27: Regarding False Profession
•	The two verbs in the future tense in verses 21 and 22 indicate two aspects of the kingdom. The verb “will____________________________?  ” (eiseleusetai) shows that the kingdom of the heavens is not yet present. Entrance is still future. The verb “will____________________________?  ” (erousin) indicates that judgment shall precede the establishment of the kingdom. 
The Outstanding Feature of Verse 21
•	is found in its claims of the Lord. He shows that entrance into the kingdom is contingent upon one’s relationship to Him. “Not ____________________________?  who says to Me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven.” The words, “No everyone” (ou pas) infer that some who call Jesus “Lord” would not enter (MT 7:23).
Verse 22
•	further indicates that Jesus will be judge in the judgment preceding the kingdom.  “Many will say to me…” No one could miss the claim of this statement. The King presents Himself as Savior and Judge. This will all take place “in that day” which is almost a technical term for the Messianic age (Isa 2:11, 17; 4:2, 1020 et al).  Those who fail in the day of judgment are called ____________________________?  of____________________________?  . 
The word “lawlessness” (anomia) 
•	fits well into the context of the sermon. The Messiah has shown the inner significance of the law; those who refuse to live accordingly are therefore called “workers of lawlessness.”
7:24-27
•	In these verses the King warns against further false profession. The performing of the Lord’s instructions represent the bases of their professions. Some build on hypocrisy; other build on the genuine obedience of faith. In this parable, as in the illustration of the two ways, a life is looked at in its entirety.  Each house represents a life founded on a governing principle. 
Jesus Gives a Two-Fold Appeal
•	He appeals the the listeners to ____________________________?  their____________________________?  . Genuine disciples are to live a life characterized by righteousness. The other appeal is to the unrepentant, calling them to entrance into the narrow way leading to life.
7:28-29: The Response of the People
•	Matthew shows the response when Jesus had finished the sermon. It is introduced by the transitional formula “the result was that …) when Jesus had finished (kai egeneto ote etelesen o Iesous).  The response of the people is sheer amazement. This this state of “awe” continued for some time is indicated by the use of the imperfect tense (to amaze) (ezeplesonto). 
The Reason for Their Response
•	is given in verse 29. He taught as one having authority and as their scribes.  The use of the pronoun “their” is to contrast that they were antagonistic to the disciples and Jesus.  Usually the scribes go to great lengths to quote other Rabbi’s in order to give authority to their teaching.  Christ simply spoke with authority: as Law-giver and____________________________?  .
Conclusion:
•	The King has proclaimed the nearness of the kingdom and has authenticated that message with great signs.  With people flocking to Him He instructs His disciples concerning the character of those who shall inherit the kingdom.  The Kingdom, though nearby and earthly, is founded on righteousness. Thus the theme of His message is____________________________?  .
The Crowds
•	who had come up the mountain while Christ was instructing His disciples (Jn 6:1-5) are amazed at His doctrine and His manner of teaching, but they fail to respond with the obedience of repentance.