Chapter 7 verses 1-5 Read the Bible verses
Don’t look at other people and say bad things about what they do. Don’t be telling people the wrong things about them.
If we talk about the wrong things other people do, people will talk about us and tell what we are doing wrong.
If you are kind in your words and careful about what you say to other people —other people will be kind in what they say about you.
We often “pick” at people for little things they do wrong and often we are doing something worse.
We need to clean up our own lives and do better before we talk about other people.
Chapter 7 verse 6 Read the Bible verse
We should tell people about Jesus and that he can forgive our sin and help us —–but we need not to tell unbelievers everything about our spiritual feelings or experiences. Unbelievers will not understand them and they may just make fun of us. If you told them all about your spiritual experiences it would be like giving pearls to swine (pigs). A pig has no respect for a beautiful pearl. He would just walk on it.
Sometimes if we see that a person is interested in learning about God we may share some of our spiritual experiences with them and they will listen with respect because they want to learn.
Chapter 7 verses 7-11 Read the Bible verses
Jesus is telling us to keep praying and asking God for what we need. Don’t give up. Keep asking.
You know how parents would give good things to their children. God feels the same love for us. He will give us good things.
Some people are afraid that God can’t be trusted to give them good things—-the right job, help them find the right house, help them find the right person to marry, or whatever the need is. Jesus said, “Would a parent give a child a stone when he asked for bread?” No! And God won’t give you a stone either. He will answer your prayer in the best way for you.
Chapter 7 verse 12 Read the Bible verse
This verse is called The Golden Rule.
Many people know this verse from memory. It is a good verse to know.
If everyone did as this verse says—-there would be no one having hurt feelings and anger.
If everyone treated everyone else the way they would like to be treated there would be very little trouble in the world.
We like to be treated with respect and kindness. We like people to speak to us gently. We like people to be generous and giving. We like people to be unselfish. We like people to be patient.
If we like people to be all those things to us —-then we need to do all those things to them.
Chapter 7 verses 13, 14 Read the Bible verses
Jesus said the way to heaven and eternal life is a narrow way.
You cannot say whatever you want, think whatever you want, do whatever you want, and believe whatever you want—-and still go to heaven.
To walk the way of Jesus you must obey what he says. Sometimes that is hard to do. Sometimes we have to make ourselves do the right thing.
It is a narrow way. Many people don’t like the narrow way. They like freedom to do and think what they want. They want to sin if they like. They don’t like the rules Jesus made.
They want a wide way that allows anything.
The narrow way leads to heaven. The wide way leads to hell.
We have to think about the end of the pathway.
Chapter 7 verses 15-23 Read the Bible verses
Be careful! Some church preachers and teachers may not be teaching true things. Some may say things that seem to be true, but when you listen more you see where they are wrong. What they say does not match (same as) what the Bible says.
Some teachers sound good in what they say, but as you listen you learn that some of the things they do or believe in are things that are part of witchcraft or the occult. Stay away from that kind of teaching.
Fortune tellers, psychic readers —people who can see your future or your past, people who read palms and cards and tea leaves are occult believers. People who read the stars and signs (horoscope) are occult believers. People who say they can call up dead spirits are occult believers.
The Bible tells us to stay away from teachings that have occult things in them.
Some teachers may teach the truth but they don’t live what they teach. They live in sin. When you find out how they live you are surprised. You wonder how they can teach the truth and ignore it and live in sin.
We want to follow people who are living right before the Lord as well as teaching right.
Jesus said that some of these teachers will think they will get to stay in heaven because they taught about God.. God says that when they get to heaven he will tell them “I never knew you.”
Chapter 7 verses 24-27 Read the Bible verses
Jesus said that anyone who obeys his teachings and follows God’s way will be strong and his life will stand like a house on a rock.
Anyone who does not obey and follow God’s teachings—his life will fall apart like a house on the sand.
People who live in sin end up with many problems. Some end up in jail. Some end up with a bad sickness like AIDS. Some are drug addicts.
People who lie, cheat, and steal, usually get caught. They lose their business, they lose their homes, and some go to prison. Their “house” falls apart.
People who follow Jesus will be successful and have their needs met.
God will lead them in making good choices. God will help them and give them peace. Their lives will be strong and they will stand firm.
Chapter 7 verses 28-29 Read the Bible verses
The people who heard Jesus were surprised. Jesus talked with such power—not like the Jewish leaders. This made them wonder who was this Jesus?