Within the Kingdom message goes out section (Matthew 4:12–7:29), a further subdivision can be made:¹

• Early Galilean Ministry (Matthew 4:12–25)

• First discourse: The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–7:29)

  • Setting (Matthew 5:1–2)

  • Introduction (Matthew 5:3–16)

  • Relationship of law to new covenant (Matthew 5:17–48)

  • Inward righteousness (Matthew 6:1–18)

  • Social ethics (Matthew 6:19–7:12)

  • The two paths (Matthew 7:13–27)

  • Conclusion: Jesus’ authority (Matthew 7:28–29)

In the introduction to his sermon (Matthew 5:1–16), Jesus has highlighted the pattern of life to which kingdom citizens ought to aspire. Belonging to God through faith in the King (Jesus), we must not expect blessing to be seen in present material prosperity. We must recognise our dependence on God and need for his mercy. Moving on into the body of the sermon, Jesus makes it clear from the start that he has come to fulfil what was previously revealed. When he interprets and applies God’s law in ways that are different from what God’s people are used to, he is not ignoring what was revealed but explaining what kingdom living will look like now that the Messiah has come (Matthew 5:17–20). A focus on kingdom living is then also the theme of Matthew 5:21–48 as Jesus expands on and explains six Old Testament legal texts, confirming that they all testify to the need for God’s people to pursue holiness/perfection as their Father is holy/perfect (Matthew 5:48).

Having taught from God’s law, Jesus goes on to address three aspects of basic Jewish piety that were central to Second Temple Judaism (Matthew 6:1–18).² He explained how kingdom citizens ought to pursue righteous living for the sake of pleasing God and not winning the attention of people.³ He has also shown that this lifestyle is one in which possessions and money take a back seat (Matthew 6:19–24), and that we can trust the Father to look after us as we give ourselves in his service (Matthew 6:25–34).⁴ Now, in Matthew 7:1–12, Jesus turns his attention to the topic of judgement within the covenant community.

The connection between Matthew 7:1–12 and what Jesus has said previously is not so clear. Most likely, given the fact that Jesus has encouraged his disciples to seek God’s kingdom and please the Father, he anticipates a situation where some believers will look down on those who are struggling to live in accordance with the standards that Jesus has delineated.⁵

According to most commentators, Matthew 7:1–12 falls into four sections: teaching on judgement (Matthew 7:1–5); a proverb regarding discernment (Matthew 7:6); a general statement about prayer (Matthew 7:7–11); and a summary of the body of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:12). Exactly how these four sections relate together has been a matter of debate with almost every commentator having a different solution, ⁶ largely dependent on their understanding of Matthew 7:6.

Given the fact that all the other discourses of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel evidence careful construction and internal coherence, it makes sense to expect the same from Matthew 7:1–12. Matthew has not given us a number of discrete and disconnected units of teaching, rather, he has presented Jesus' teaching on appropriate judgement in one sustained argument. The essence of his argument would then be as follows: 

• "If you are bothered by some fault or failing of mine, would I not want you to…

• refrain from hasty, self-righteous judgment and criticism (Matthew 7:1);

• avoid giving advice with a holier-than-thou attitude (Matthew 7:2);

• see if you have some similar flaw before pointing mine out to me (Matthew 7:3–4);

• do all you can to overcome your own moral deficiency, thus setting me a good example (Matthew 7:5);

• make sure you correct me in gentleness rather than chasing me away (Matthew 7:6);

• pray for God to change you, me, and our relationship? (Matthew 7:7–11)

• Yes, I would. So that is how I should treat you Matthew 7:12).” ⁷