Author Archives: Steve Hankins, Th.D.

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24, ESV) In life, we must ask ourselves some questions. Are we wise or foolish? On what have we founded our lives? Jesus stated that these two questions are vitallyContinue reading “Wise or foolish?”

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”(Matthew 7:21, ESV) When we study the Scriptures, we often see paradoxical things. These are principles or statements with apparent contradictions. Yet, they are truths presented that ifContinue reading “To Do the Will of the Father”

“So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 7:17–19, ESV) When we lived in New Hampshire, thereContinue reading “Healthy Trees Produce Healthy Fruit (Matthew 7 :17-19)”

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:15–16, ESV) We are all concerned with security now days. We lock our doors. We get anti-virus software for our computers. TheContinue reading “Covert Operatives”

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” (Matthew 7:13–14, ESV) Imagine that you areContinue reading “Warning Sign Holders Wanted”

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12, ESV) If you were a teen in the 60’s or 70’s, you would have heard a song written by John Lennon in 1971, “Imagine.” The song hit number three on theContinue reading “Imagining Won’t Fix Things”

“If you then, who are 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!” (Matthew 7:11, ESV) In the 1950’s there was a television show titled, Father Knows Best.” It featured a middle-class family and dealtContinue reading “Father Knows Best (Matthew 7:7-11)”

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” (Matthew 7:6, ESV) On a couple occasions I have had contact with people who came to me for spiritual advice under false pretenses. Once a fellow called me on theContinue reading “When to Cast Pearls”

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” (Matthew 7:5, ESV) Yesterday as we looked at Jesus’ teaching regarding judging, we concluded that this principle, “Judge not, that you be not judged,” deals with the issue ofContinue reading “To Judge or Not to Judge (Matt 7:1-5)”

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, ESV) In a cornfield, there once was an ear of corn. The ear of corn looked at itself and thought, gee what a modelContinue reading “Do Not Remove the Twaddlers (Matthew 7:1-2)”