Matthew 7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:13

Enter ye in at the strait gate - Our Savior seems to allude here to the distinction between the public and private ways mentioned by the Jewish lawyers. The public roads were allowed to be sixteen cubits broad, the private ways only four. The words in the original are very emphatic: Enter in (to the kingdom of heaven) through This strait gate, δια της στενης πυλης , i.e. of doing to every one as you would he should do unto you; for this alone seems to be the strait gate which our Lord... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:14

Because strait is the gate - Instead of οτι because, I should prefer τι how, which reading is supported by a great majority of the best MSS., versions, and fathers. How strait is that gate! This mode of expression more forcibly points out the difficulty of the way to the kingdom. How strange is it that men should be unwilling to give up their worldly interests to secure their everlasting salvation! And yet no interest need be abandoned, but that which is produced by injustice and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets - By false prophets we are to understand teachers of erroneous doctrines, who come professing a commission from God, but whose aim is not to bring the heavenly treasure to the people, but rather to rob them of their earthly good. Teachers who preach for hire, having no motive to enter into the ministry but to get a living, as it is ominously called by some, however they may bear the garb and appearance of the innocent useful sheep, the true pastors commissioned by... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:16

Ye shall know them by their fruits - Fruits, in the Scripture and Jewish phraseology, are taken for works of any kind. "A man's works," says one, "are the tongue of his heart, and tell honestly whether he is inwardly corrupt or pure." By these works you may distinguish ( επιγνωσεσθε ) these ravenous wolves from true pastors. The judgment formed of a man by his general conduct is a safe one: if the judgment be not favorable to the person, that is his fault, as you have your opinion of him... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:17

So every good tree - As the thorn can only produce thorns, not grapes; and the thistle, not figs, but prickles; so an unregenerate heart will produce fruits of degeneracy. As we perfectly know that a good tree will not produce bad fruit, and the bad tree will not, cannot produce good fruit, so we know that the profession of godliness, while the life is ungodly, is imposture, hypocrisy, and deceit. A man cannot be a saint and a sinner at the same time. Let us remember, that as the good tree... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:18

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit - Love to God and man is the root of the good tree; and from this principle all its fruit is found. To teach, as some have done, that a state of salvation may be consistent with the greatest crimes, (such as murder and adultery in David), or that the righteous necessarily sin in all their best works, is really to make the good tree bring forth bad fruit, and to give the lie to the Author of eternal truth. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:19

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit - What a terrible sentence is this against Christless pastors, and Christless hearers! Every tree that produceth not good fruit, εκκοπτεται , is to be now cut down; the act of excision is now taking place: the curse of the Lord is even now on the head and the heart of every false teacher, and impenitent hearer. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:20

Wherefore by their fruits, etc. - This truth is often repeated, because our eternal interests depend so much upon it. Not to have good fruit is to have evil: there can be no innocent sterility in the invisible tree of the heart. He that brings forth no fruit, and he that brings forth bad fruit, are both only fit for the fire. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:21

Not every one - Ου πας , a Hebraism, say some, for no person. It is a Graecism and a Latinism too: ου παντων θεων , not All of the gods, i.e. not Any of the gods, Hom. Odyss. Z. 240. So Terence Sine omni periclo , without All danger, i.e. without Any danger. And Juvenal: Sine omni labe , without All imperfection, i.e. without Any. See more in Mr. Wakefield. The sense of this verse seems to be this: No person, by merely acknowledging my authority, believing in the Divinity of my... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:22

Many will say to me in that day - Εκεινη τη ημερα , in that very day, viz. the day of judgment - have we not prophesied, taught, publicly preached, in thy name; acknowledging thee to be the only Savior, and proclaiming thee as such to others; cast out demons, impure spirits, who had taken possession of the bodies of men; done many miracles, being assisted by supernatural agency to invert even the course of nature, and thus prove the truth of the doctrine we preached? read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:13

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:14

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:15

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:18

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:21

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:22

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