[:en]SCRIPTURE: MATTHEW 7
Bible Verses:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
(Matthew 7:1-2)
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:3)
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)
“ So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
(Matthew 7:19)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:19-20)
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 7:21)
JUDGING OTHERS (vs. 1-6)
It is not wrong to exercise discernment in evaluating people. However, we need prayer and love in performing “eye surgery” on our brethren. Before we condemn others, we should start with ourselves. The hypocrites want to take the speck from someone’s eye when they themselves have the plank in their our eyes.
The command of judgment does not prohibit church discipline. Christ himself tells us to face disobedient Christians honestly and humbly, examine evidence and deal with sin decisively.
“Do not give dogs what is sacred” means that we must be careful not to cheapen what is holy. We must not preach the Gospel carelessly. Do not throw your pearls to the pigs. Pearls are precious promises of the Word. We must not preach the deeper truth of the Bible without studying it. Otherwise we will cheapen them. For “A dog will return to its vomit and a pig (sow) that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud” (2 Peter 2:22)
ASK, SEEK, KNOCK (vs. 7-12)
We pray for strength, seek His wisdom and knock at God’s door for the supply of grace needed. For our Father in heaven will give good gifts to those who ask Him. (v. 11). The Law & Prophets sum up this golden rule – “Do to others what you would have them do to you” (v. 12)
THERE ARE 3 TESTS OF TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS:
A. The Narrow and Wide Gates (vs. 13-14) – Narrow gate signifies self-denial while wide gate signifies self-sufficiency. The narrow gate leads to life but the wide gate leads to destruction.
B. A Tree and Its Fruits (vs. 15-23) – There are many false prophets who are wolves come in sheep’s clothing. They call Christ their Lord and do religious activities. But their fruits reveal the exact opposite. They are counterfeits and deceived people into thinking that they are saved.
THE SPIRITUAL FRUITS THAT HE LORD WANTS:
* Fruits of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23)
* Fruits of the lips, testimony and praise to God (Heb. 13, 15)
* Holy living (Rom. 6:22)
* Good works and good testimony (Mat. 5:16)
* Winning lost souls to Christ (Rom. 1:16)
C. The Wise and Foolish Builders (vs. 24-29) – The two builders present two men in their life. Both are building a house, using the same material and same plans. The only difference is one house is built on a rock while the other one is built on sand. When storm comes, the one not on the rock crumbles and falls. True Children of God is founded on the rock – Christ Jesus. (1 Cor. 3:11). He obeys God by being doer of His word, not hearer. So, when time of trials ones, he is able to stand firm in His faith without wavering.
REFLECTION:
- Do you judge others fairly?
- When you are in need, do you ask, seek and knock at God’s door?
- Which gate are you going to enter? Wide or narrow?
- What kind of fruits are you producing?
- Is your foundation of faith in Christ founded on the rock?
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