UTN uW Translation Notes:

Matthew 7 General Notes

Structure and Formatting

2. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (5:1-7:28) * Making judgments (7:1–6) * Asking and receiving (7:7–12) * Narrow and wide gates (7:13–14) * Obeying God is what matters (7:15–27) * Fruits metaphor (7:15–20) * Judgment day (7:21–23) * House metaphor (7:24–27) * The people are amazed (7:28–29)Jesus spoke about many different subjects in this sermon, so you may wish to help the reader by putting an empty line into the text whenever Jesus changed the subject.

Special Concepts in this Chapter

Judging

In 7:1–6, Jesus warns his disciples about judging others. More specifically, he warns them against mentioning or dealing with someone else’s fault or sin when they themselves have an even more significant fault or sin. Jesus does want his disciples to make choices and decisions about other people, as 7:6 makes clear. That verse requires people to be careful what they do with holy and valuable things. However, the general message is to avoid making judgments about others, especially when one has one’s own faults and sins.

Words and deeds

In 7:15–27, Jesus teaches about the importance of doing what is right, not just saying the right things. He says that his disciples can recognize false prophets by what they do, that he himself will honor and acknowledge his disciples based on what they do, and that only those who do what is right will survive difficult experiences.

Important Figures of Speech in this Chapter

The speck of wood and the log

In 7:3–5, Jesus refers to small faults and sins as if they were specks of wood in people’s eyes. He refers to larger faults and sins as if they were logs in people’s eyes. Jesus speaks in this way to contrast how significant these sins and faults are. He also speaks in this way to indicate that larger sins and faults make people spiritually unobservant, just as a log in someone’s eye makes that person unable to see. If possible preserve the metaphor or express the idea in simile form. (See: figs-metaphor)

Dogs and pigs

In 7:6, Jesus speaks of how his disciples should behave as if they were interacting with holy things, pearls, dogs, and pigs. He could be speaking of the gospel as the holy and pearls. In this case, the dogs and pigs represent people who reject the gospel. Or, Jesus could be speaking of his disciples’ possessions and skills as the holy and pearls. In this case, the dogs and pigs represent worthless tasks and goals. Or, Jesus could be speaking of fellow disciples as the holy and pearls. In this case, the dogs and pigs represent unbelievers. Since Jesus speaks these words as a saying or proverb, you should avoid choosing one option. Instead, you should express the idea in a way that allows for all these and other interpretations. If if it would be helpful to your readers, you could use a form that you would normally use for a proverb or saying. See the notes on this verse for translation options. (See: figs-metaphor)

Gates and roads

In 7:13–14, Jesus speaks of how people live as if they were traveling on a road or passing through a gate. He says that the gate and road that lead to eternal life are narrow and difficult, and only a few people travel that way. On the other hand, the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide and easy, and many people travel that way. He means that it is very easy to live in ways that will end in destruction, and it is hard to live in ways that will end in eternal life. If possible preserve the metaphor or express the idea in simile form. (See: figs-metaphor)

Trees and fruits

In 7:16–20, Jesus speaks of people as if they were plants. Just as you can tell what kind of plant it is by what fruit the plant produces, so you can tell whether people are really Jesus’ disciples based on what they do. If possible preserve the metaphor or express the idea in simile form. (See: figs-metaphor)

Building houses

In 7:24–27, Jesus compares obedient people to wise people who build their homes on a solid foundation. When bad things happen, they will be safe and secure, just like those homes will be safe and secure through storms and floods. In contrast, Jesus compares disobedient people to foolish people who build their homes on an insecure foundation. When bad things happen, they will be destroyed, just like those homes will collapse when storms and floods come. If possible preserve the metaphor or express the idea in simile form. (See: figs-metaphor)

Other Possible Translation Difficulties in this Chapter

Singular and plural forms of “you”

In this chapter, Jesus is talking to a large crowd of his followers. Throughout the chapter, Jesus switches between using “you” in the singular and “you” in the plural while he is talking to the same people. When he uses the singular, he is speaking about specific situations that each person in the crowd might experience. When he uses the plural, he is speaking generally to the crowd as a whole. You should assume that Jesus is using plural forms of “you” unless a note specifies that the forms are singular. (See: figs-yousingular)