Matthew 7
New Testament · English Majority Text Version with Greek parallel
Matthew chapter 7 is given here in full, verse by verse, in the English Majority Text Version (EMTV), with the Byzantine Majority Text set beneath each verse. The text follows the Byzantine textual tradition used in the Orthodox Church.
31 patristic excerpts are attached to this chapter, from 3 Fathers — Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Augustine, and Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid.
Matthew 7
1“Judge not, lest you be judged.Μὴ κρίνετε, ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε·
2For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with what measure you measure, it will be measured back to you.ἐν ᾧ γὰρ κρίματι κρίνετε, κριθήσεσθε· καὶ ἐν ᾧ μέτρῳ μετρεῖτε, μετρηθήσεται ὑμῖν.
3And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not notice the plank in your own eye?τί δὲ βλέπεις τὸ κάρφος τὸ ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου, τὴν δὲ ἐν τῷ σῷ ὀφθαλμῷ δοκὸν οὐ κατανοεῖς;
4Or how will you say to your brother, ‘Permit me to remove the speck from your eye’; and look, there is a plank in your own eye?ἢ πῶς ἐρεῖς τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου, Ἄφες ἐκβάλω τὸ κάρφος ἀπὸ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σου· καὶ ἰδού, ἡ δοκὸς ἐν τῷ ὀφθαλμῷ σου;
5Hypocrite! First remove the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye.ὑποκριτά, ἔκβαλε πρῶτον τὴν δοκὸν ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ σου, καὶ τότε διαβλέψεις ἐκβαλεῖν τὸ κάρφος ἐκ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ σου.
6“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.Μὴ δῶτε τὸ ἅγιον τοῖς κυσί· μηδὲ βάλητε τοὺς μαργαρίτας ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν χοίρων, μήποτε καταπατήσωσιν αὐτοὺς ἐν τοῖς ποσὶν αὐτῶν, καὶ στραφέντες ῥήξωσιν ὑμᾶς.
7“Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.Αἰτεῖτε, καὶ δοθήσεται ὑμῖν· ζητεῖτε, καὶ εὑρήσετε· κρούετε, καὶ ἀνοιγήσεται ὑμῖν.
8For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks, it shall be opened.πᾶς γὰρ ὁ αἰτῶν λαμβάνει, καὶ ὁ ζητῶν εὑρίσκει, καὶ τῷ κρούοντι ἀνοιγήσεται.
9Or what man is there among you who, if his son should ask for bread, will give him a stone?ἢ τίς ἐστιν ἐξ ὑμῶν ἄνθρωπος, ὃν ἐὰν αἰτήσῃ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἄρτον, μὴ λίθον ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ;
10And if he should ask for a fish, he will give him a serpent?καὶ ἐὰν ἰχθὺν αἰτήσῃ, μὴ ὄφιν ἐπιδώσει αὐτῷ;
11If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, by how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!εἰ οὖν ὑμεῖς, πονηροὶ ὄντες, οἴδατε δόματα ἀγαθὰ διδόναι τοῖς τέκνοις ὑμῶν, πόσῳ μᾶλλον ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς δώσει ἀγαθὰ τοῖς αἰτοῦσιν αὐτόν;
12Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, thus also you do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.Πάντα οὖν ὅσα ἂν θέλητε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, οὕτω καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς· οὗτος γάρ ἐστιν ὁ νόμος καὶ οἱ προφῆται.
13“Enter in through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way which leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in through it.Εἰσέλθετε διὰ τῆς στενῆς πύλης· ὅτι πλατεῖα ἡ πύλη, καὶ εὐρύχωρος ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ἀπώλειαν, καὶ πολλοί εἰσιν οἱ εἰσερχόμενοι δι᾽ αὐτῆς·
14O how narrow the gate, and confined is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it!τί στενὴ ἡ πύλη, καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ζωήν, καὶ ὀλίγοι εἰσὶν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν.
15“But beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.Προσέχετε δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν ψευδοπροφητῶν, οἵτινες ἔρχονται πρὸς ὑμᾶς ἐν ἐνδύμασι προβάτων, ἔσωθεν δέ εἰσι λύκοι ἅρπαγες.
16You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grape clusters from thorns, or figs from thistles?ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν αὐτῶν ἐπιγνώσεσθε αὐτούς· μήτι συλλέγουσιν ἀπὸ ἀκανθῶν σταφυλήν, ἢ ἀπὸ τριβόλων σῦκα;
17Thus every good tree produces good fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit.οὕτω πᾶν δένδρον ἀγαθὸν καρποὺς καλοὺς ποιεῖ· τὸ δὲ σαπρὸν δένδρον καρποὺς πονηροὺς ποιεῖ.
18A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.οὐ δύναται δένδρον ἀγαθὸν καρποὺς πονηροὺς ποιεῖν, οὐδὲ δένδρον σαπρὸν καρποὺς καλοὺς ποιεῖν.
19Every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.πᾶν δένδρον μὴ ποιοῦν καρπὸν καλὸν ἐκκόπτεται καὶ εἰς πῦρ βάλλεται.
20Consequently, by their fruits you shall know them.ἄρα γε ἀπὸ τῶν καρπῶν αὐτῶν ἐπιγνώσεσθε αὐτούς.
21“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.Οὐ πᾶς ὁ λέγων μοι, Κύριε, Κύριε, εἰσελεύσεται εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν· ἀλλ᾽ ὁ ποιῶν τὸ θέλημα τοῦ πατρός μου τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς.
22Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name we cast out demons, and in Your name we did many mighty works?’πολλοὶ ἐροῦσί μοι ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ἡμέρᾳ, Κύριε, Κύριε, οὐ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι προεφητεύσαμεν, καὶ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι δαιμόνια ἐξεβάλομεν, καὶ τῷ σῷ ὀνόματι δυνάμεις πολλὰς ἐποιήσαμεν;
23And then I will confess to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you who work iniquity!’καὶ τότε ὁμολογήσω αὐτοῖς ὅτι Οὐδέποτε ἔγνων ὑμᾶς· ἀποχωρεῖτε ἀπ᾽ ἐμοῦ οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν.
24“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock:Πᾶς οὖν ὅστις ἀκούει μου τοὺς λόγους τούτους καὶ ποιεῖ αὐτούς, ὁμοιώσω αὐτὸν ἀνδρὶ φρονίμῳ, ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν·
25and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; and it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.καὶ κατέβη ἡ βροχὴ καὶ ἦλθον οἱ ποταμοὶ καὶ ἔπνευσαν οἱ ἄνεμοι, καὶ προσέπεσον τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ οὐκ ἔπεσε· τεθεμελίωτο γὰρ ἐπὶ τὴν πέτραν.
26“And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand:καὶ πᾶς ὁ ἀκούων μου τοὺς λόγους τούτους καὶ μὴ ποιῶν αὐτούς, ὁμοιωθήσεται ἀνδρὶ μωρῷ, ὅστις ᾠκοδόμησε τὴν οἰκίαν αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τὴν ἄμμον·
27and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And its fall was great.”καὶ κατέβη ἡ βροχὴ καὶ ἦλθον οἱ ποταμοὶ καὶ ἔπνευσαν οἱ ἄνεμοι, καὶ προσέκοψαν τῇ οἰκίᾳ ἐκείνῃ, καὶ ἔπεσε· καὶ ἦν ἡ πτῶσις αὐτῆς μεγάλη.
28And so it was, when Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,Καὶ ἐγένετο ὅτε συνετέλεσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τοὺς λόγους τούτους, ἐξεπλήσσοντο οἱ ὄχλοι ἐπὶ τῇ διδαχῇ αὐτοῦ·
29for He taught them as one having authority, and not like the scribes.ἦν γὰρ διδάσκων αὐτοὺς ὡς ἐξουσίαν ἔχων, καὶ οὐχ ὡς οἱ γραμματεῖς.
The Fathers on Matthew 7
Saint John Chrysostom, Saint Augustine, and Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid comment on this chapter. Each excerpt below is drawn from the full text held in the Fathers Library; follow the link on any entry to read the whole work.
On Matthew 7:1Saint John ChrysostomWhat then? Ought we not to blame them that sin? Because Paul also saith this selfsame thing: or rather, there too it is Christ, speaking by Paul, and saying,972“Why dost thou judge thy brother? And thou, why dost thou set at nought thy brother?” and, “Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant?”973 And again, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come.”974
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 7:1–5Saint AugustineAnd inasmuch as the Lord is admonishing us in this passage with respect to rash and unjust judgment,—for He wishes that whatever we do, we should do it with a heart that is single and directed toward God alone; and inasmuch...
Read Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount →
On Matthew 7:1Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid1. Judge not, that ye be not judged. He forbids condemning others, but not reproving others. A reproof is for another’s benefit, but condemnation expresses only derision and scorn. You may also understand that the Lord is speaking of one who, despite his own great sins,...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:21Saint John Chrysostom“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.”
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 7:21–27Saint AugustineBut seeing that, however pure an eye one may have, i.e. with however single and sincere a heart one may live, he yet cannot look into the heart of another: whatever things could not have become apparent in deeds or words, are...
Read Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount →
On Matthew 7:21Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid21. Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Here Jesus shows that He is Lord by saying, "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord." Jesus in fact is saying that He is...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:28Saint John Chrysostom“And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine.”1067
Read Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew →
On Matthew 7:28–29Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid28-29. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His teaching: for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. It was not the rulers who were astonished: how could that be when they viewed Him with spite? Rather...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:2–5Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid2-5. For with what judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the speck that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:6Saint AugustineBut inasmuch as the word “guileless” may mislead some who are desirous of obeying God’s precepts, so that they may think it wrong, at times, to conceal the truth, just as it is wrong at times to speak a falsehood, and inasmuch...
Read Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount →
On Matthew 7:6Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you. The dogs are the unbelievers and the swine are believers who lead a filthy and shameful way of life. One ought not...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:7–11Saint AugustineSince, therefore, a command had been given that what is holy should not be given to dogs, and pearls should not be cast before swine, a hearer might object and say, conscious of his own ignorance and weakness, and hearing a...
Read Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount →
On Matthew 7:7Saint AugustineIn the lesson of the Holy Gospel the Lord hath exhorted us to prayer. “Ask,” saith He, “and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth, and he...
Read Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament →
On Matthew 7:7–8Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid7-8. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. In what has preceded the Lord has commanded us to do great and...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:9–10Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid9-10. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? Here He teaches us that we must not only ask in a fervent manner, but we must also ask for things that are profitable for us. For, He says,...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:11Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid11. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father Who is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him? He calls men evil by comparison with God, for our nature is good, being God’s creation. But we become evil by...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:12Saint AugustineMoreover, a certain strength and vigour in walking along the path of wisdom ties in good morals, which are made to extend as far as to purification and singleness of heart,—a subject on which He has now been speaking long, and...
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On Matthew 7:12Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid12. Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. In a few words He shows us the way to virtue. We humans know just by common sense what we ought to do. If you wish others to do good to you, do...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:13–14Saint AugustineBut because this belongs to few, He now begins to speak of searching for and possessing wisdom, which is a tree of life; and certainly, in searching for and possessing, i.e.
Read Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount →
On Matthew 7:13Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid13. Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. The narrow gate means both trials that are voluntarily undertaken, such as fasting and the like, and trials that are involuntarily...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:14Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid14. How narrow is the gate and how hard the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it! The word "how" expresses the Lord’s wonderment, as if He were saying, "Alas, how narrow it is!" But how is it that the Lord says on another occasion, "My yoke is light"...
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On Matthew 7:15–20Saint AugustineHere, therefore, those who promise a wisdom and a knowledge of the truth which they do not possess, are especially to be guarded against; as, for instance, heretics, who frequently commend themselves on account of their fewness.
Read Our Lord's Sermon on the Mount →
On Matthew 7:15–16Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid15-16. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. The heretics are cunning and deceitful, which is why He says, "Beware." They produce sweet words and feign a decent life, but...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:16–17Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid16-17. Do men gather grapes from thorns, or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. The hypocrites are called thorns and thistles: they are like thorns in that they prick unexpectedly; they are like...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:18Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit as long as it is diseased. But if it has changed its condition, it can bring forth good fruit. See that He did not say, "it will not...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:19–20Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid19-20. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. He addresses the Jews, speaking the same words as did John. (Mt. 3:10) Jesus likens man to a tree. For by the introduction of a graft, a...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:22–23Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid22-23. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in Thy name cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. At the beginning of...
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On Matthew 7:24Saint AugustineIf any one will piously and soberly consider the sermon which our Lord Jesus Christ spoke on the mount, as we read it in the Gospel according to Matthew, I think that he will find in it, so far as regards the highest morals, a...
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On Matthew 7:24–25Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid24-25. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:26–27Blessed Theophylact of Ohrid26-27. And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the rivers came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall...
Read The Explanation by Blessed Theophylact of the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew →
On Matthew 7:29Open Matthew 7 in the interactive reader Switch translations, hear the chapter read aloud, tap any verse for its patristic commentary, and study the Greek word by word.Saint AugustineMatthew’s narrative is continued thus: “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, He departed into Galilee.” Mark states the same fact, as also does Luke, only Luke says nothing in the present section as to John being cast into prison.
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