The precise sense of the maxim is best referred to common sense. But, as in many other cases under the divine administration, such harsh judgment gets self-punished even here. "What, Lord? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is … An excellent discussion of the relation between Matt. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. In the East, dogs are wilder and more gregarious, and, feeding on carrion and garbage, are coarser and fiercer than the same animals in the West. It is not, of course, what--in our wayward, capricious, gasping moods--we should wish that men would do to us, that we are to hold ourselves bound to do to them; but only what--in the exercise of an impartial judgment, and putting ourselves in their place--we consider it reasonable that they should do to us, that we are to do to them. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? No doubt it is the judgments so pronounced which are here spoken of; but what our Lord aims at is the spirit out of which they spring. "The righteousness of the kingdom," so amply described, both in principle and in detail, would be seen to involve self-sacrifice at every step. We must be persistent and faithful. MISCELLANEOUS SUPPLEMENTARY COUNSELS. Matthew 7:13-14 AMP The goal of the narrow gate is to live a life that glorifies God. Following the limitations for judgment that are taught throughout the scriptures, all we are to do in order to judge righteous judgment is to hear God's word, and judge using His standard. To the supposed injustice or harshness of this He never once adverts. That is why Jesus said, “Don’t judge.” Stop dwelling on the flaws in others, real or perceived. of (See 1 Corinthians 12:28 , Ephesians 4:11 ). Read Matthew 10:14; Acts 13:44-51; 18:5-6; and 28:17-28. Such persons will not only be slow to undertake the office of censor on their neighbors, but, when constrained in faithfulness to deal with them, will make it evident that they do it with reluctance and not satisfaction, with moderation and not exaggeration, with love and not harshness. Matthew 7:21 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Matthew 7:21, NIV: "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." Christ is not permitting us to avoid making hard decisions or taking difficult stands. We are studying Matthew 7:1-6 & 15-23 for Sunday, July 28. This morning I want to encourage you, if you will with me, to turn in your Bible to Matthew chapter 7. Judge not, that ye be not judged--To "judge" here does not exactly mean to pronounce condemnatory judgment, nor does it refer to simple judging at all, whether favorable or the reverse. but inwardly they are ravening wolves--bent on devouring the flock for their own ends ( 2 Corinthians 11:2 2 Corinthians 11:3 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ). which built his house upon a rock--the rock of true discipleship, or genuine subjection to Christ. Among these are "judge not, lest you be judged," "do not cast pearls before swine," and "do unto others as you would have them do unto you." (Matthew 7:6) In Jesus' day, what did dogs and pigs have in common? is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you--Though there seems evidently a climax here, expressive of more and more importunity, yet each of these terms used presents what we desire of God in a different light. Jesus has plainly revealed that those who abide in His ways will judge with righteous judgment. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. Yet our Lord claims and expects this of all His disciples, as when He washed their feet: "Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am" ( John 13:13 ). I never knew you--What they claimed intimacy with Christ, is just what He repudiates, and with a certain scornful dignity. In fact, I've even heard some go so far as to claim that "Jesus never judged people; He even taught that we are not to judge!" It does not mean that you should tolerate or turn a blind eye to other people’s sin – God is the judge, not you. Matthew 7:5. If we seek and follow the true will of God, which can only be found in His word, then when it comes time for us to help people discern between right and wrong, then we will not judge with our opinions or what we think is right, but just like the mind that Christ had, we will only seek to do the will of the Father. But it has one advantage--it "leadeth unto life." In our text, Jesus is forbidding the judging that is for the purpose of putting down others to exalt one's self. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Dogs and swine, besides being ceremonially unclean, were peculiarly repulsive to the Jews, and indeed to the ancients generally. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is … As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." Multitudes would never face this. The great Teacher says it, and says it as "One having authority." The context makes it clear that the thing here condemned is that disposition to look unfavorably on the character and actions of others, which leads invariably to the pronouncing of rash, unjust, and unlovely judgments upon them. Jesus expects you to be able to see clearly, so that you can "remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:5). This is what we read. Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?--like it, indeed, but only to sting him. Matthew 7:1-5 relates the guidance on The Mote and the Beam, which has a parallel in Luke 6:37-42. 5. (See a similar way of speaking of "that day" in 2 Timothy 1:12 , 4:8 ). It begins with his relationship to the brother. In this sense it is used here, as appears from what follows. He only is fit to be a reprover of others who jealously and severely judges himself. 14 but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.. 15 'Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves.. 16 You will be able to tell them by their fruits. By John Hagenbuch  From Expository Files 10.10; October, 2003. might the humble disciple inquire. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house--struck against that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it--terrible the ruin! This is some, not all, of the concluding section of the Sermon on the Mount. That the apostle alludes to these very words in 2 Timothy 2:19 there can hardly be any doubt--"Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. No wonder, then, that few find and few are found in it. How is this? and turn again and rend you--as dogs do. Matthew 7:1-5 Christ proceedeth in his sermon to condemn rash judgment, Matthew 7:6 forbiddeth the prostitution of holy things, Matthew 7:7-12 recommends prayer, Matthew 7:13-14 exhorteth to enter in at the strait gate, Matthew 7:15-20 to beware of false prophets, who may be known by their fruits, Ask, Seek, Knock. Proud member And every one that heareth these sayings of mine--in the attitude of discipleship. We are told to confront and restore a … I will liken him unto a wise man--a shrewd, prudent, provident man. Matthew 7:1-5 The Word of God Jesus said to the crowds, "Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. How do these relate to the commands in Matthew 7:7-8? The natural inclinations are not crossed, and fears of the issue, if not easily hushed, are in the long run effectually subdued. MATTHEW CHAPTER 7. will he give him a stone?--round and smooth like such a loaf or cake as was much in use, but only to mock him. It is a contagious disease that spreads among God’s people, and can turn a loving community of believers into a battleground. and in thy name done many wonderful works--or, miracles. Article Images Copyright © 2021 Getty Images unless otherwise indicated. In fact, I've even heard some go so far as to claim that "Jesus never judged people; He even taught that we are not to judge!" Matthew 7:1-5 In our society of so called "tolerance," we are often struck with an opposition of people who cry that we have no right to judge them. In John 7:24, Jesus said "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment" (emphasis mine: JH) Here we are clearly commanded to judge with righteous judgment. CONCLUSION AND EFFECT OF THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Matthew 7, beginning at verse 1. (Matthew 7:1-5 Bits and Beams) whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them--see James 1:22 , which seems a plain allusion to these words; also Luke 11:28 , Romans 2:13 , 1 John 3:7 . It would commit us to neutrality and that is the very opposite of the stance Christ wants us to take. (See on the almost identical, but even more vivid and awful, description of the scene in Luke 13:24-27 ). "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God. 21. The "hypocrisy" which, not without indignation, He charges it with, consists in the pretense of a zealous and compassionate charity, which cannot possibly be real in one who suffers worse faults to lie uncorrected in himself. of false prophets--that is, of teachers coming as authorized expounders of the mind of God and guides to heaven. 12. In what kinds of circumstances did believers turn away from a continued sharing of the gospel? Matthew 7:1-5 Don’t Be Judgmental! 22. (1-2) A summary statement on passing judgment upon others. How well called "the royal law!" and the winds blew--sweeping across. What would holy food and pearls have in common? "Judge not, that you be not judged. Religion is brought into contempt, and its professors insulted, when it is forced upon those who cannot value it and will not have it. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? "Our acquaintance was not broken off--there never was any." Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them--that is, But the point I now press is not so much the end of such, as the means of detecting them; and this, as already said, is their fruits. They claimed intimacy with Christ, and in the corresponding passage, Luke 13:26 , are represented as having gone out and in with Him on familiar terms. Hypocrite! Is there never a time and place for seeing and reprimanding a fault? Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord--the reduplication of the title "Lord" denoting zeal in according it to Christ (see Mark 14:45 ). Matthew 7:21, ESV: "“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." Thou hypocrite--"Hypocrite." What a heart, then, must the Father of all fathers have towards His pleading children! And the best commentary upon this fact is, that never till our Lord came down thus to teach did men effectually and widely exemplify it in their practice. 20. About This Devotional. Matthew 7:1-12 . 7. 7 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For that matter, when our Lord's true followers make righteous judgments, based on His word, in order to expose sin and help the lost to be saved, why would anyone ever think that Jesus would condemn them for that? These are selected as three examples of the highest services rendered to the Christian cause, and through the power of Christ's own name, invoked for that purpose; He Himself, too, responding to the call. Today we will study the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:1-5. 24. The opposite extreme to that of censoriousness is here condemned--want of discrimination of character. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 13 'Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to destruction is wide and spacious, and many take it;. 3. Matthew 7:1. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it … (See Acts 20:29 Acts 20:30 , 2 Peter 2:1 2 Peter 2:2 ). and it fell not; for it was founded upon a rock--See 1 John 2:17 . In the corresponding passage in Luke "good things," our Lord asks whether He will not much more give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him. Matthew 7:13-29 . It is emphatically unnamed. Verses 7:13 and 14 contain the analogy of the broad and narrow roads, … 13. It may seem counterproductive to fight through the narrow gate of persecution and hardship by resting in Jesus. Are we to be disowned?" Dangerous territory indeed! 4. In the vivid form in which they are here presented, perhaps they could not have been introduced with the same effect under any of the foregoing heads; but they spring out of the same great principles, and are but other forms and manifestations of the same evangelical "righteousness.". depart from me--(Compare Matthew 25:41 ). So there are judgments to be made, within ourselves, and of others. it shall be measured to you again--This proverbial maxim is used by our Lord in other connections--as in Mark 4:24 , and with a slightly different application in Luke 6:38 --as a great principle in the divine administration. For he taught them as one having authority--The word "one," which our translators have here inserted, only weakens the statement. 28. The connection here gives these words an awful significance. Yet our Lord says warily, not "the will of your Father," but "of My Father"; thus claiming a relationship to His Father with which His disciples might not intermeddle, and which He never lets down. When we point out the sin of others while we ourselves commit the same sin, we condemn ourselves (Romans 2:1). 9. Ye shall know them by their fruits--not their doctrines--as many of the elder interpreters and some later ones explain it--for that corresponds to the tree itself; but the practical effect of their teaching, which is the proper fruit of the tree. 18. first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye--Our Lord uses a most hyperbolical, but not unfamiliar figure, to express the monstrous inconsistency of this conduct. That is a haughty attitude God will not tolerate. At this early stage of His ministry, and before such an audience, He seems to avoid such sharp doctrinal teaching as was more accordant with His plan at the riper stage indicated in Luke, and in addressing His own disciples exclusively. Is it judging that makes a distinction between right and wrong? How can you expect to help a person with a few transgressions when you are overwhelmed with sin? But from the context of this passage, what judging is forbidden? ‘See’ differs from ‘behold’ (Matthew 7:3). might some humble disciple say, "I cannot persuade myself that I have any interest with God." ye that work iniquity--not "that wrought iniquity"; for they are represented as fresh from the scenes and acts of it as they stand before the Judge. Salem Media Group. It is the habit of finding fault in others when really there are more faults within yourself. Here follows a wholesome digression. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Such action is hypocrisy before God and before the conscience also.—First, before meddling with others. "But ah!" Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life--In other words, the whole course is as difficult as the first step; and (so it comes to pass that). Strangely enough, they will quote Matthew 7:1 in attempts to convince others that Jesus has condemned all judging. But what does it mean to judge with righteous judgment? 7:1-5), yet also to judge (Matt. 16. Here, the Greek word for "judge" is krino, meaning to condemn, avenge, sentence, or levy a punishment.Christ plainly says that if we condemn others, we will be condemned ourselves. And then will I profess unto them--or, openly proclaim--tearing off the mask. 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