Matthew Chapter 7 Study Questions:

Matthew Chapter 7 Study Questions:

SERMON ON THE MOUNT: CONCERNING CRITICISM/PRAYER/DECEPTION/RESULTS OF BELIEF:


Criticism verses (1-6): Is Judging or criticism bad?
It could be sin, but it could be good. He gives yet another warning. It is very easy to judge and find faults in other people. Everyone is good at this. As Christians we must make sure we are not being hypocritical.

What sort of things could happen if you criticize a brother or sister for something they are doing which is sin according to God's law, and yet you are doing the same things?
-Unfruitfulness
-God's judgment

So what are specks?

How do we remove these specks in eyes?

-very carefully
-God's Word

What is verse 6 talking about?

-Who are the swine and the dogs?
-What makes a person unclean?
-What holy things could Jesus be referring to? (Is it possible Jesus is giving another warning within context about the reaction that one will get if they give the Law to an unbeliever?)
-What two things will be destroyed?

Prayer Encouragement (verses 7-11):

What does asking, seeking and knocking refer to?

Are these commands?

What are the reasons Jesus gives to pray?

Why is it so important to pray?

What happens when we don't pray?

- we disobey, these are commands in the Greek- imperatives
- James 4:2 - .... then you don't have
- When we don't pray it hinders and interferes our communication with God which disrupts our effectiveness with glorifying God, preaching the gospel, fellowshipping with other believers, and renders us apathetic to read the scriptures. Our reliance upon God and bring our needs to Him continually is critical in our walk with the Lord. As a regenerated believer, it will make you spiritually handicap and hopefully it will make you depressed. There is great joy in trusting and relying upon God even if you are in a difficult circumstance. It should also bring us joy to know that God the father loves to give good gifts to His children in a more sincere way than any father we have seen on Earth has exercised. Jesus goes so far as to call his followers evil in comparison to the holiness of the heavenly father. Earthly fathers often have limitations to what they can give and the time that they can share in giving to their children. God has no limitations when we bring our requests to Him to open doors for our properly motivated desires, to find things that should be found and to have things that we have asked for. Let us not forget how giving our God is! -- Romans 8:32 "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all thing?"

Golden rule (verse 12): further instruction about how we should live before humanity

How should we conduct ourselves before other people as Christians?


The two types of ways that people can take (verses 13 & 14):
We are now near the end of Jesus' sermon on the mount and He has been giving instructions, encouragements, and commands. If it were not obvious to the reader yet, we see the great difference between living as the hypocritical world and following Jesus. One way is easy, and one way is difficult. One way is popular and one is notorious to the world. One leads to life and one leads to death.

What do the two gates represent?

What do the two ways represent?


Warning of deceivers and deception (verses 15-23):

What things should we watch out for?

-That we don't get fooled by “holy” appearances
-The actions of men

Why does Jesus mention these things?

How has this warning played out in the early Church?

Is this meant to be a hidden parable or is this plane language?
John 15:5

Does doing good works and even calling upon the name of the Lord make one a follower of Jesus Christ? Do these things make one right with God?

-NO! Men can do these things but can still not be known by God. People can do great deeds for other people but still be practicers of lawlessness in God's sight. This information is for our edification and to warn others as well. This isn't necessarily marching orders to look for lawlessness in people.

When we move to new places or attend other meetings with believers, do we assume the best or look for wickedness? Can looking for wickedness hinder or goals of sharing the Gospel?

What attitude should we have when meeting new believers? Should we be intently looking for faults?

What should we do when we hear clear teaching against the knowledge of God written in the Bible?

Result of listening and doing the things Jesus has taught on the mount (verses 24-27):

Is it enough to hear these sayings of Jesus?

The power of His word (verses 28 & 29):
What was the Effect of Jesus' words and the way in which He presented them?


What is the effect of Jesus’ words today?
Isaiah 55:11
Hebrews 1:3, 4:12


What will be the effects of Jesus words in the future?