Matthew 7:24 and the “Words of Mine”: Which Words Jesus Means

The post begins with everyday examples of bad advice that children and teenagers hear, such as “If it doesn’t hurt anyone, do it.” The author describes telling his own kids to check with their father before accepting such advice, and wants them to see that a trusted parent’s words are worth more than what they read online. This sets up the central question: what does Jesus mean by “these words of mine” in Matthew 7:24?

The author explains that the answer depends on one’s covenant. He considers how a Jewish listener to the Sermon on the Mount might read the phrase as referring to the laws Jesus has just laid out, including the teaching on lust in Matthew 5:27–28, where Jesus contrasts “you have heard it said” with “but I say to you.” Such a listener would find these demands impossible to keep, and so would be driven to recognize their need for grace. The author also warns against people who insist they must do everything Jesus said to enter the kingdom, pointing to Matthew 5:20 and noting that no one measures up to the standards of the scribes and Pharisees.

In the author’s reading, the phrase refers to the words Jesus has just spoken in verses 21 through 23, not the whole sermon or the Law of Moses. Those verses describe people who call Jesus “Lord” but do not do the will of his Father in heaven. When Jesus says to do “these words of mine,” he means to do the Father’s will, and verse 24 follows directly from that context. The author concludes that Jesus is warning that those who ignore the Father’s will will be turned away, and that believers live under grace rather than the Law of Moses.

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