Matthew 7 — Choosing the Narrow Path and Building on the Rock
Wednesday Night Bible Study Recap
This week we started Matthew 7 in our Wednesday night Bible study. Jesus is finishing the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). These are not disconnected thoughts. They all tie together.
At the end of the chapter, Jesus says if we hear these sayings and do them, we build our house on the rock. That means everything from chapters 5, 6, and 7 is foundation.
As we’ve been doing, we asked three questions:
How can I believe God more?
How can I grow in faith?
How can I walk more like Jesus?
Judge Not… and Judge Clearly
Matthew 7:1–2 (KJV)
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”
When we read this, it sounds like Jesus is saying never judge at all. But as we talked about in the study, He immediately explains what He means.
Matthew 7:5 (KJV)
“Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.”
Notice that He still expects you to help your brother. But first — deal with your own beam.
In the study, we said it this way:
Get the junk out of your own life so you can see clearly to judge clearly.
This isn’t about avoiding discernment. It’s about removing hypocrisy.
Belief
The way I judge will be measured back to me.
Faith
Judgment is rendered and returned. The measure I use will come back around.
Walk
Deal with my own heart first. Then I can help others without hypocrisy.
Walking like Jesus means judging with humility, not pride.
Pearls, Wisdom, and Discernment
Matthew 7:6 (KJV)
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine…”
In the study, we talked about how this connects to discernment. What you carry from God is holy. It is not common. It is not cheap.
But not everyone values what is holy.
There is wisdom in how and when you share truth.
Belief
What I carry from God is holy and worthy.
Faith
What is holy and costly is worth discernment.
Walk
Be careful how you share and what you share.
Listen. Pay attention. Walk wisely.
Jesus did not throw truth carelessly. He shared with purpose.
Ask = Given, Seek = Find, Knock = Opened
Matthew 7:7–8 (KJV)
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you…”
During the study, we broke this down simply:
Ask equals given
Seek equals find
Knock equals opened
And then we noticed something powerful in the wording.
Jesus says:
“ye” and “you” (plural)
then “he,” “him,” “everyone” (individual)
There’s a connection between the group and the person. God invites everyone — but He invites the individual to respond personally.
It doesn’t need to be complicated. We can believe very simply:
When we ask, we receive.
When we seek, we find.
Belief
Ask equals given. Seek equals find. Knock equals opened.
Faith
Both we and individuals can ask, seek, and knock.
Faith takes action. It moves toward God.
Walk
Jesus asked the Father.
Jesus sought people.
Jesus knocked on hearts.
Walking like Jesus means actively pursuing the Father and pursuing people.
Your Father Which Is in Heaven
Matthew 7:11 (KJV)
“…how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
In the study, we paused on the phrase:
“Your Father.”
Jesus is speaking to them — but He is also revealing something about who God is.
If earthly parents, though imperfect, give good gifts, how much more will our Father give good things?
Belief
Our Father is a better gift giver than earthly parents.
Faith
We can believe when we ask, He gives.
Walk
Speak the truth about who the Father is.
Live like you trust Him.
When we see Him as Father, our faith grows.
Do Unto Others
Matthew 7:12 (KJV)
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them…”
This is often called the Golden Rule. But notice the word “therefore.” It connects back to everything Jesus just said about the Father, prayer, and goodness.
If we believe God is good and giving, then we should reflect that to others.
Belief
Whatever I would want done to me, I must do to others.
Faith
To love and do well fulfills the law and the prophets.
Walk
Treat others the way Jesus would.
Jesus must have treated others the way He would want to be treated — with mercy and truth.
The Straight Gate and the Broad Way
Matthew 7:13–14 (KJV)
“Enter ye in at the strait gate…
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life…”
In the study, we compared the two paths clearly:
Wide gate → broad way → destruction → many
Strait gate → narrow way → life → few
There is a contrast. Many choose the broad path. Few find the narrow one.
This could feel like a lone path at times. Not as many people are walking it. It’s not that you’re going to be lonely, but that you could be walking with fewer people.
Belief
The straight, narrow gate leads to life.
Faith
Choosing the narrow path leads to life — even if it feels lonely.
Walk
Choose the narrow, straight path.
Enter the straight gate intentionally.
Walking like Jesus means choosing life over popularity.
Beware of False Prophets
Matthew 7:15 (KJV)
“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing…”
They look good on the outside. But inwardly, they are ravening wolves.
What do wolves do?
They devour.
Jesus gives the test:
Matthew 7:16 (KJV)
“Ye shall know them by their fruits.”
Later He says:
Matthew 7:23 (KJV)
“I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Even impressive works are not enough if there is iniquity.
Belief
Fruit reveals what is real.
Faith
Faith removes iniquity and produces good fruit.
Walk
Examine fruit.
Do the will of the Father.
It’s important to remember.
Jesus only did the will of the Father.
He is our model.
Built on the Rock
Matthew 7:24–25 (KJV)
“Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them… built his house upon a rock.”
At the end of the study, we emphasized this:
If we hear these sayings — from chapters 5, 6, and 7 — and do them, we are building our house on the rock. The key term here is his sayings. We’ve got to know, listen, and do his sayings.
Storms will come.
Floods will rise.
Winds will beat against the house.
But if the foundation is right, it will stand.
Belief
When we hear and do His sayings, we build on the rock.
Faith
A house built on the rock will weather the storm.
Walk
Don’t just hear. Do.
Even when things beat against you, you’ll stand.
Final Thought
At the very end, the people were astonished:
Matthew 7:29 (KJV)
“For he taught them as one having authority…”
Jesus’ words carry authority.
Matthew 7 leaves us with a choice.
Will we hear and do His sayings to:
Judge humbly?
Share wisely?
Ask boldly?
Trust the Father?
Choose the narrow path?
Examine fruit?
Build on the rock?
If we hear and do His sayings, we will stand — even when storms hit.
That’s how we grow in belief.
That’s how our faith deepens.
That’s how we walk more like Jesus.