Chapter 7 of Matthew ends Christ’s Sermon on the Mount and His first main body of teaching. Remember that the chapter divisions are (somewhat) arbitrary, and thus the beginning of this chapter is merely a continuation of the last. Christ is noting the contrast between intentions of the heart and our outward behaviors.
The chapter begins with what has become the mantra of wayward American Christianity: “You can’t judge me!” Jesus’ commands against judgment are often misunderstood as an overarching condemnation of one’s right to “judge.” Perhaps a better way to understand this section is the old cliche, “Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.” The advice is less concerned with “stone-throwing” exactly, but more about who throws them. One must necessarily be more concerned about the condition of his own house than his neighbor’s.
We must also remember that this command is aimed at believers. We should not be the type of folk who are always looking for some sin to sniff out. Our primary responsibility is policing our own motives, and after the series of commands Christ has just given, it should be clear that none of us have them under control. The value of believers correcting other believers is great, and it would be irresponsible to roundly condemn that practice. Jesus will, as a matter of fact, pick up that exact issue in chapter 18. For the time being, however, it is obvious that we need to mind our own business.
We cannot, however, simply accept whatever the world throw at us. Verse 6 commands us to be on guard against the rottenness of the world around us. We are to exercise restraint in our condemnation of brothers and sisters in Christ, while maintaining a discerning eye over all that surrounds us. This task is often tenuous.
Verse 12 serves as a sort of bookend for Jesus’ earlier explanation of the Law. He is not really restating His earlier treatment, but instead giving a short summary. Like any summary, it does not replace the meat of the message, but instead boils it down into a manageable size. As it turns out, of course, the “Golden Rule” is hardly manageable for any of us.
The final section of the Sermon describes our entry in Christ’s Kingdom and establishes another sharp contrast. The way to the Kingdom is one which only a few will be willing to take, and even some who sincerely believe they have taken will be turned away. Here we must walk a fine line between our confidence in Christ’s promises to secure our salvation and a certain sensitivity to whether or not we are true believers. The Sermon ends with a reminder to remember these words.