Bible Reading Plan : Matthew 7

Matthew 7:1-6
S.  The Warning About Judging and Criticizing Others, 7:1-6
(Luke 6:37-42)
1  Do not judge, do not criticize (v.1)
2  The criticizer will be judged (v.2)
  a.  For the same criticism (v.2a)
  b.  With equal weight (v.2b)
3  The criticizer fails to examine himself (v.3)
  a.  He looks for faults (v.3a)
  b.  He looks for faults in others—not himself (v.3b)
4  The criticizer is deceived about himself (v.4)
  a.  He speaks, but unthoughtfully (v.4a)
  b.  He is not fit to judge (v.4b)
5  The criticizer is a hypocrite: He must extract his own sin first (v.5)
6  The criticizer is undeserving of the gospel (v.6)
  a.  He tramples the gospel underfoot (v.6a)
  b.  He turns against and tears people apart (v.6b)

Matthew 7:7-11
T.  The Key to Prayer: Persevering in Prayer, 7:7-11
1  What is persevering prayer? (v.7)
  a.  Ask—until you receive (v.7a)
  b.  Seek—until you find (v.7b)
  c.  Knock—until it is opened (v.7c)
2  Why persevere in prayer? (v.8-10)
  a.  Prayer is conditional: Must ask—seek—knock (v.8a)
  b.  Everyone is heard (v.8b)
  c.  God cares much more than an earthly father cares  (v.9-10)
3  How does a person persevere in prayer? (v.11)
  a.  He must come to God as his Father (v.11a)
  b.  He must come asking for good things (v.11b)

Matthew 7:12-14
U.  The Summit of Ethics: The Golden Rule and Two Choices in Life, 7:12-14
(Luke 6:31; Luke 13:23-24)
1  The golden rule of life (v.12)
  a.  Demands true justice (v.12a)
  b.  Includes real love (v.12b)
  c.  Teaches the whole law (v.12c)
2  The two choices in life (v.13-14)
  a.  Two gates: Wide versus narrow (v.13a)
  b.  Two ways: Easy versus hard (v.13b)
  c.  Two ends: Destruction versus life (v.13c)
  d.  Two travelers: The wise versus the unwise (v.14a)
  e.  Two decisions: No effort versus seeking to find (v.14b)

Matthew 7:15-20
V.  The Warning About False Prophets, 7:15-20
1  Their presence: Beware (v.15a)
2  Their chief trait (v.15b-c)
  a.  Outwardly: As sheep (v.15b)
  b.  Inwardly: Are wolves (v.15c)
3  Their revealing mark: The fruit they gather (v.16)
4  Their true nature: Is not good, but corrupt and evil (v.17)
5  Their hopeless fruit: Cannot bear good fruit, but only corrupt and evil fruit (v.18)
6  Their terrible future: Judgment (v.19)
7  Their fruit: Exposes them (v.20)

Matthew 7:21-23
W.  The Warning About False Pretenses: Who Shall Enter the Kingdom of Heaven, 7:21-23
(Luke 13:26-27)
1  The law of entrance (v.21)
  a.  A person must do more than profess (v.21a)
  b.  A person must do God's will (v.21b)
2  The plea of false profession: Works (v.22)
  a.  Plea 1: Prophesied and cast out evil spirits (v.22a)
  b.  Plea 2: Great works (v.22b)
  c.  Plea 3: Served in the Lord's name (v.22c)
3  The rejection of false profession (v.23)
  a.  Because Christ never knew (v.23a)
  b.  Because worked iniquity (v.23b)

Matthew 7:24-27
X.  The Wise and Foolish Builder, 7:24-27
(Luke 6:47-49)
1  A wise builder: Hears the instructions and obeys them (v.24-25)
  a.  He builds a house (v.24a)
  b.  He builds upon a rock (v.24b)
  c.  He faces a storm (v.25a)
  d.  He built wisely: The difference is the foundation (v.25b)
2  A foolish builder: Hears the instructions and does not obey them (v.26-27)
  a.  He builds a house (v.26a)
  b.  He builds upon the sand (v.26b)
  c.  He faces a storm (v.27a)
  d.  He built foolishly: Suffers great destruction—the difference is the foundation (v.27b)

Matthew 7:28-29
Y.  The Teaching of Jesus and Its Impact, 7:28-29
1  The impact: The people were amazed (v.28)
2  The reason: Jesus taught with authority (v.29)