Matthew 7: The Wise and Foolish Builders

Jesus finishes the Sermon on the Mount. He warns against judging others while ignoring our own faults, invites us to ask, seek and knock, gives the Golden Rule, teaches about the narrow gate and good fruit, and ends with the wise man who built his house on the rock and the foolish man who built on sand.

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Read Matthew 7

World English Bible · 29 verses

¹ “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
² For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
³ Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁴ Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁵ You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁶ “Don’t give that which is holy to the dogs, neither throw your pearls before the pigs, lest perhaps they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁷ “Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁸ For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
⁹ Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹² Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹³ “Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁶ By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles?This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁷ Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁸ A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
¹⁹ Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²² Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²³ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁴ “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁵ The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁶ Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁷ The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell—and its fall was great.”This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.
²⁹ for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.This verse is not in this translation's source text (many modern translations omit it). See your Bible's footnote.

Scripture: World English Bible, public domain, eBible.org

Worksheets

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Open Preschool on its own page

Matthew 7 · Preschool

Build on the Rock

Name Date

Color the picture. Point to the house on the rock, the rain and the wise builder.

Can you find these in the picture? Circle each one!

Bible Verse

“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Matthew 7:24 (WEB)

Prayer

Thank You, God, for making me!

Take It Home

Read the verse aloud. Ask: Where did the wise man build his house? (On the rock!) Say: Listening to Jesus and obeying Him is like building on the rock.

Open Grade 4 on its own page

Matthew 7 · Grade 4

Two Ways, Two Foundations

Name Date

Read and Think

Jesus warns, "Don't judge, so that you won't be judged." He does not mean we can never call sin wrong, but that we must not be harsh hypocrites. Remove the beam from your own eye first; then you will see clearly to help your brother.

Jesus invites us to pray with confidence: ask, seek, knock. Our Father is better than any earthly parent and gives good things to those who ask. Then He sums up the Law and the Prophets in one rule: whatever you want people to do to you, do the same to them.

Jesus describes two gates, two kinds of trees, and two builders. The gate to life is narrow, and few find it. A good tree produces good fruit. Not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will enter the Kingdom, but those who do the Father's will. The wise man who hears and obeys builds on rock; the foolish man builds on sand, and great is its fall.

Show What You Know

What does Jesus say to do before helping someone with their fault?
Why can we ask God with confidence?
What rule sums up the Law and the Prophets?
What is the difference between the two builders?

Word Bank Fill-In

Use the word bank to fill in each blank.

rockgoodask

Jesus invites us to pray with confidence: , seek, knock.
Our Father is better than any earthly parent and gives things to those who ask.
The wise man who hears and obeys builds on ; the foolish man builds on sand, and great is its fall.

Think About It

What is a storm a person might face? How does obeying Jesus help them stand?
Think of one way you can practice the Golden Rule this week.

Memory Verse

“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Matthew 7:24 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Jesus warned about judging others. How can we help others without being harsh?
How does obeying Jesus keep you steady when life is tough?

Open Grade 5 on its own page

Matthew 7 · Grade 5

The Authority of Jesus

Name Date

Read and Think

The end of the Sermon on the Mount presses for a decision. Jesus contrasts the wide gate and broad road that lead to destruction with the narrow gate and road that lead to life. He warns against false prophets who look like sheep but are wolves inside; you will know them by their fruits.

Strikingly, Jesus says many will call Him "Lord" and even point to great works done in His name, yet He will say, "I never knew you." Saying the right words is not enough. Entering the Kingdom belongs to those who do the will of the Father, which flows from truly knowing Jesus.

The parable of the two builders ends the sermon. Both men hear, and both houses face the same storm. The difference is the foundation. Matthew adds that the crowds were astonished, because Jesus taught as one having authority, not like the scribes. He did not just explain the Law; He spoke as the Lord whose words decide our lives.

Show What You Know

What two roads does Jesus describe, and where do they lead?
How can false prophets be recognized?
Why will Jesus say I never knew you to some who call Him Lord?
In the parable, what was the same for both builders, and what was different?
Why were the crowds astonished?

Crossword

Across

Where the wise man built his house.
How the crowds felt about Jesus' teaching.
Where the foolish man built his house.

Down

People call it the ____ Rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.
People who hear Jesus' words and do them are like this man.
Ask, seek and ____.

Think About It

Why is it dangerous to think that saying the right words about Jesus is enough?
What does building your life on Jesus' words look like in a practical way for someone your age?

Memory Verse

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 7:21 (WEB)

Copy It

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for this Bible story. Help me to . Amen.

Take It Home

For families: talk about these together.

Jesus warned about judging others. How can we help others without being harsh?
What trials are you up against, and how does obeying Jesus help you stand firm?
What is one specific way you could live out this chapter this week?

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‹ All Matthew chapters · All books

Matthew 7: The Wise and Foolish Builders

Read Matthew 7

Worksheets

Build on the Rock

Prayer

Take It Home

The Wise Builder

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Mini Maze

Draw It

Prayer

Take It Home

Ask, Seek, Knock

Trace the Words

Match the Pictures

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Two Builders

Read the Story

Show What You Know

Word Search

Prayer

Take It Home

Hear and Do

Read the Story

Answer the Questions

Put the Story in Order

Prayer

Take It Home

Two Ways, Two Foundations

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Word Bank Fill-In

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

The Authority of Jesus

Read and Think

Show What You Know

Crossword

Think About It

Copy It

Prayer

Take It Home

More print options