Matthew 7 This chapter continues the message that Jesus preached to the multitudes.

He began by telling them what God requires to enter His kingdom:  recognizing our spiritual poverty, mourning for our sins, humbling ourselves before Him... being transformed so that our hunger and thirst is for Him.. His righteousness, becoming merciful and pure,  becoming a peacemaker and enduring persecution.

He expounded upon what it means to truly keep the commandments of God - going beyond the letter of the law, but having a righteousness that is greater than that..

Then Jesus addressed the difference between false religious practices, done for the praise of man, and true prayer, worship, giving, and obedience to God.

In chapter 7, Jesus gives us some more directions/ commands on how to live as a citizen of God's Kingdom:

1.  Don't be a hypocrite.  Don't judge others with a stricter measure than you judge yourself.  Look to your own heart, then you can help others.

2. Be discerning.

3. Pray with faith.

4. Keep walking the narrow road.

5. Be aware of the fruit... good or bad.

6. Don't rely on your own accomplishments... rely only on knowing Jesus.

7. Act on His words so that you can keep standing.

More on this later...