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March through Matthew in a Month
Matthew 7
During the season of Lent in March 2026 we are reading through the Gospel of Matthew. Just one chapter a day--28 chapters--with points to ponder, background information and personal application. Pray God strengthens our faith on this spiritual journey in His Holy Word.
We pray for God to bless us as we study His Word:
Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that, by patience and comfort of Your Holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(from Lutheran Service Book, p. 308)
Some Points to Ponder as we read Matthew 7:
1. When Jesus tells us not to judge others, this does not mean we should never confront another Christian with the Law about a sin.
The Lutheran Study Bible provides a helpful summary of Matt. 7:1-6, saying:
“One of the most difficult tasks for a Christian is to speak to a fellow believer about some personal fault. This is especially difficult within a family or a congregation. Jesus sets forth a basic rule that needs to be observed: first, practice self-examination. If you do not realize your own sins and faults, you cannot offer admonition to a fellow Christian.” (p.1592)
2. Jesus warns us in 7:5 to beware of being hypocrites by pointing out sin in others while ignoring or denying our own sins. HYPOCRITE is a Greek word describing an actor who wore a mask and pretended to be someone they were not.
REFLECT: What specific, personal sin(s) do I need to confess to God?
3. Jesus invites us to pray often and with boldness, because our loving Father in heaven invites us to pray and is always eager to hear our prayers and “give good things to those who ask him!” (7:7-11).
4. Jesus gives us what is known as The Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12. Following this rule does not contribute to our salvation. Instead, after we experience Christ’s forgiveness and love, His gift of salvation produces fruit in our lives and transforms how we strive to live and treat those around us.
5. Jesus warns us (7:15-20) to beware of and reject false teachers and false teachings (doctrines) which reject the Truth of His Word. What is an example of a false teaching being promoted in our society today?
6. Our faith, forgiveness and salvation are God’s gifts to us earned by Jesus. Jesus is our solid Rock and the enduring foundation for our life. Jesus is the only way to heaven. When we hear His words and do them, Jesus assures us that we are “like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (7:24).
7. When, where, and how often do I pray? How can I grow and improve my prayer life? Take a few minutes to write out a personal prayer list to help guide your prayers.
APPLICATION: It can be helpful to use the A.C.T.S. acronym as a practical paradigm or pattern for personal times of prayer:
Adoration -- I praise You, God, for...
Confession -- God, I confess my sins….forgive me for...
Thanksgiving -- Thank You, God, for...
Supplication -- God, please help me…
We now read Matthew 7…
Matthew 7 (ESV)
Jesus concludes His Sermon on the Mount
Judging Others
7:1 “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.
Ask, and It Will Be Given
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!
The Golden Rule
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.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Build Your House on the Rock
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
The Authority of Jesus
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
The end of Chapter 7 is the conclusion of the first of five discourses of Jesus recorded by Matthew.
+Prayer+ Dear God, hear my prayer, forgive my sins, strengthen my faith in you, fill me with the joy of Your salvation, help me share Your Good News, and keep me on the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Help me to trust in Your Holy Word as the only solid foundation for my life and faith. Thank You for saving me by grace through faith in Jesus, in Whose Name I pray. Amen.
Pastor Scott Schmieding
Senior Pastor
Immanuel Lutheran Church and School
115 S. Sixth Street
Saint Charles, MO 63301
636.946.2656
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