translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: MAT

label: NET study note

text: The point of the statement do not judge so that you will not be judged is that the standards we apply to others God applies to us. The passive verbs in this verse look to God’s action.


text: The term translated speck refers to a small piece of wood, chaff, or straw; see L&N 3.66.


text: The term beam of wood refers to a very big piece of wood, the main beam of a building, in contrast to the speck in the other’s eye (L&N 7.78).


text: The three present imperatives in this verse ( Ask…seek…knock ) are probably intended to call for a repeated or continual approach before God.


text: The actions of asking, seeking, and knocking are repeated here from v. 7 with the encouragement that God does respond.


text: The two questions of vv. 9-10 expect the answer, “No parent would do this!”


text: The provision of the good gifts is probably a reference to the wisdom and guidance supplied in response to repeated requests. The teaching as a whole stresses not that we get everything we want, but that God gives the good that we need.


text: Jesus’ teaching as reflected in the phrase treat others as you would want them to treat you , known generally as the Golden Rule, is not completely unique in the ancient world, but here it is stated in its most emphatic, selfless form.


text: Sheep ’ s clothing…voracious wolves. Jesus uses a metaphor here to point out that these false prophets appear to be one thing, but in reality they are something quite different and dangerous.


text: The statement illustrates the principle: That which cannot produce fruit does not produce fruit.


text: The double use of the vocative is normally used in situations of high emotion or emphasis. Even an emphatic confession without action means little.


text: Jesus’ teaching impressed the hearers with the directness of its claim; he taught with authority . A study of Jewish rabbinic interpretation shows that it was typical to cite a list of authorities to make one’s point. Apparently Jesus addressed the issues in terms of his own understanding.