Matthew 7

Matthew 7:1

IUdge not,] he meanes particular evill judgments which men judge of their neighbours, without any uprightnesse, charity, truth, or authority: thorow curiositie, pride, rashnesse, suspition, malice hypocrisie, &c. Be not,] by God, revenger of this usurpation of power which belongeth to him onely. And oftentimes also by men, by the same vice, seeing God often suffereth one mans sinne to be punished by the sin of another.

Matthew 7:3

Beholdest thou,] A Proverb used amongst the Iewes.

Matthew 7:6

Give not,] Take heed of rash judgments: But likewise use discretion, and holy spirituall judgment, in not presenting the holy and precious celestiall truth to men that are prophane and openly rebellious least you provoke them to blasphemie and contempt: or aggravate their rage against you. See 1 Peter 4:15.

Matthew 7:7

It shall bee given,] If you aske it of him, who should give it; as you should, and what is fitting to be given.

Matthew 7:9

What man,] to shew that we ought to aske of God only such things as are truely good; And if God refuse to grant us that which we desire: judge that it is not good for him that asketh it.

Matthew 7:11

Being evill,] Whose naturall affections are much corrupted thorow the ignorance and malice which sinne hath brought in, whereby often times you doe not know what is good for your children. And sometimes also thorow anger, hardnesse or some other vice you deny them that which they aske of you. But you never come to that unnaturall excesse, as to give them hurtfull or deadly things in stead of good ones.

Matthew 7:12

Therefore,] To the end that you may obtaine what you aske, doe unto others, as you desire should be done to you by God and men The Law] the true uprightnesse which is required by the Law expounded and confirmed by the Prophets. Which seemes to be said, to oppose it to the Pharisees vaine ceremonies and observations: and to shew how Christs doctrine was agreeable with the Law, being taken in a right sence.

Matthew 7:13

At the straite,] For to come to eternall happinesse, doe not follow the way of pleasures, and ease of the flesh, and follow not the great number, and multitude of men: but make choice of the hard and laborious profession of the Gospell with its Crosse: and joyne thy selfe to the small sanctified flocke of the Church, by faith and imitation of good men, who are alwayes the smallest number in the world.

Matthew 7:14

Of false,] In regard of their erroneous and false doctrine: or of their disloyall and fraudulent intention when they doe utter a truth.

Matthew 7:16

Their fruits,] By their doctrine, manner of teaching, spirituall efficacy in their hearers, their life, customes, and intentions, seeing that by some of these wayes hypocrisie will give it selfe the lie, and at the last shew it selfe.

Matthew 7:22

In that day,] Namely of the last judgement In thy Name,] as thy servants by thine authoritie and commission, by calling upon thy grace and power Wonderfull,]this Title is in the Gospell specially given to the greatest and most glorious miracles.

Matthew 7:23

Know you,] I did never accept of you, as my true servants.

Matthew 7:24

Therefore,] Seeing the onely externall profession of the Gospell, profiteth not to everlasting salvation, learne whereupon you may build your assured hope namly in the inward power of it receaved by a lively faith, and bringing forth fruits of regeneration and new obedience, which are the twofold end and effect thereof, from whence followes the certainnesse of eternall happinesse, notwithstanding and in the middest of all the temptations, combates, and difficulties.

Matthew 7:29

As one,] With a divine and Soveraigne Majestie, with a serious severenesse, and a spirituall power, penetrating the soule by perswasion & conversion; or in conviction As the Scribes,] the substance of whose doctrine, was more concerning frivolous and unprofitable questions: and their manner of teaching, more remisse, affected and framed for ostentation of themselves, and to please the auditors.