Kingdom Living - Matthew 7:1-14
Pastor Chris Casoni
Part of Kingdom Living
March 31, 2025

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. —Matthew 7:1-14


Introduction: Life is full of choices-some easy, some difficult. Chapter 7 deals with some of the most critical choices we will ever make: how we conduct our relationship with others. These verses, part of His Sermon on the Mount, challenge us to move beyond superficial religion into a life of true discipleship. The world offers a broad, easy road that leads to destruction, but Jesus calls us to the narrow path that leads to life. As we explore this passage, we will see that Jesus isn’t just giving us moral advice - He is inviting us into a way of living that reflects His kingdom. Will we choose discernment over condemnation, persistence in prayer, and the narrow road of faithful obedience?

Big Idea: Jesus calls us to exercise

, depend on God in , and walk the narrow path of .


Three Evaluation Questions for the Kingdom Citizen

1. Am I discerning or condemning? (7:1-6)

  • a. The Greek word for “judge” (κρίνω, krinō) has a broad meaning, including both critical discernment and harsh condemnation. Jesus is not prohibiting all judgment but warning against self-righteous, hypocritical condemnation. (v.1)
  • b. The phrase “for with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged” echoes Jewish wisdom literature (e.g., Proverbs 26:27), highlighting a principle of reciprocity in God’s justice. (v.2)
  • c. The imagery of a speck (κάρφος, karphos) and a log (δοκός, dokos) was likely a humorous hyperbole used by Jesus to expose hypocrisy. The Pharisees were often guilty of condemning others while ignoring their own sin (Matthew 23:23-24). (v.2)

Am I more focused on

while neglecting ?

  • d. Discernment vs. Condemnation. Jesus later says, “Do not give dogs what is holy” (v.6), which requires judgment. The balance is being gracious but not naïve.

Jesus condemns the

, not the exercise of moral and theological .

2. Am I dependent in prayer? (7:7-11)

  • a. The Greek verbs ask (αἰτέω, aiteō), seek (ζητέω, zēteō), knock (κρούω, krouō) are present imperatives, indicating continuous action. Jesus is calling for persistent prayer.
  • b. In the OT repetition was a common rhetorical device to emphasize urgency. This mirrors Luke 18:1-8, where Jesus teaches persistence in prayer.
  • c. Jesus invites us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking. (v.7-10)
  • d. Prayer is a great response when dealing with people. Give others to the Lord because you can’t change them. God can.
  • e. The comparison of a father giving good gifts is another argument from lesser to greater (6:25): If earthly fathers care for their children, how much more will God? (v.9-11)

The power of our prayers lies in the

, not in the one who them.

  • f. Trust God’s goodness. Even when God doesn’t answer the way we expect, He gives what is best (Romans 8:28).

Approach God

.

  • g. Hebrews 4:16 reminds us to come confidently to the throne of grace.

3. Am I walking the narrow path toward life? (7:12-14)

  • a. The Golden Rule sums up the Law and Prophets. The Greek verb ποιεῖτε (poieite) is in the imperative, meaning this is a COMMAND, not a suggestion. (v.12; 22:36-40)

The Golden rule is powerful because The Holy God of the universe treats you with

, , , and .

  • b. Live out the Golden Rule. Jesus calls us not just to avoid evil but to actively do good to others.
  • c. The narrow gate and wide gate imagery was common in Jewish teaching, representing two ways of life (Psalm 1). The wide path represents cultural conformity, while the narrow way demands true discipleship. (v.13-14)
  • d. Choose the hard but holy way. Following Jesus often means going against cultural norms. Jesus is a great example of this. (John 14:6)

Am I walking in

or choosing the ?

  • e. Count the cost. Luke 14:27 reminds us that true discipleship requires sacrifice. Are we willing to give up comfort to follow Christ?
  • f. Living the Kingdom Life: Matthew 7:1-14 challenges us in three ways
    1. Practice humble discernment—correcting others starts with self-examination.
    2. Pray with persistence—trusting God as a loving Father.
    3. Walk the narrow path—choosing true discipleship over cultural comfort.


Small Group Questions

  1. What did God teach you through this passage and message? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

  2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?

  3. What are some ways we might be guilty of pointing out others’ faults while ignoring our own?

  4. Have you ever struggled with trusting God’s goodness in prayer? How did you work through that?

  5. Jesus says the narrow road leads to life. In what ways have you experienced the joy and fulfillment of following Jesus, even when it was difficult?

  6. How do we balance grace and truth when calling others to walk the narrow path?