Sermon On the Mount | MATTHEW 7:1-6 | WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND

I.  Introduction:

            Note:  Today we will deal with some of Jesus' teachings on how to regulate our relationships with others (so certainly this would apply to

church).  At times Jesus' teaching seems to be so demanding, yet it is incredibly liberating and balanced.  We are going to look at an issue that has

caused much damage to many in the church.  Jesus' teaching, if followed, I believe, would liberate groups (like church settings) but it would primarily

liberate the individual.   The issue is judgmentalism.

            Q  Is there judgmentalism in churches you know of?  Raise your hands.

            Q  What sort of things are judged or what things seem to have given rise to such an attitude in your experience?

            Q  How many of you know individuals who no longer go to church because they are tired of being judged, or feel a judgmental spirit? 

Would anyone like to share an example?

            Q  Have you ever felt judged?  Would you like to share your experience?

            Q  Has such an experience hurt you spiritually?  Why?

            Q  How many of you know someone who was judged falsely?  Can you give an example?

            Q  How should people act in church?

            Q  What makes people become judgmental, in of all places a church, the "teaching place of grace"?

                        Note:  Our study will focus on what Jesus says on this issue, and show how to obtain His goal.

            

II.  Basic Imperative And The Basic Rule.  Matthew 7:1.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:1.

            Q How does Jesus approach the issue?

               An = Jesus says just do not do it.  

            Q Does Jesus give us a reason for not judging?

               An = Yes, and it is a personal one.  You will judged if you do it.  What goes around, comes around?

            Q  What does it mean to you, we will be judged, if we judge others?

            Note:  Whatever we do, it will come back on us.  It can come back on us in my understanding in two ways.

            1)  Those who are most negative and most condemning of others faults seem to get the most criticism behind closed doors.  It would make

us shutter if we knew what others said and thought behind our backs.  Ever noticed that those who give the most slack, receive the most.  If you look for

the good in others they somehow find it in you.

            Q  Have any of you experienced this?

            2)  If we judge others God will judge us.  Remember what the Lord's prayer says:  God will forgive us as we forgive others (Matthew 6:12),

and so here God says, God will judge us as we judge others.  In other words, God will exact revenge on us for what we have done.  He will bring

justice.

            Q  If this is true what will happen to a lot of judgmental people who now go to church?  Do you believe this?

            Note:  A lot of good, evangelical Bible believing christians say they believe the Word of God.  I am one of those.  If we say this than we

must realize that if we are judgmental and think it will not come back on us then we really do not believe the Word of God.

 

III.  Reason For Obeying.  Matthew 7:2.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:2

            Q  Jesus has already told us the reason for not judging, why does He repeat it here?

               An = Remember in Jesus thought, if something is repeated it is being emphasized.

            Q  How many times is it repeated?

               An = Actually, Jesus gives the "motive clause", the reason for not judging three times.  So it is not only very important to realize this,

but "very" important to realize this.

            Note:  There is something in Jesus' thought that we often take for granted, but it would be good to realize, and think of often.  When Jesus

gives us commands (whether negative or positive ones) He follows His commands or prohibitions with reasons.  Jesus respects our ability to think. 

He appeals to our reason.  His commands are "reasonable", and He wants us to know why He asks us to do things.

            Q  How would we apply this reason?  How do you judge in the way you want to be judged?  How is that done?

            Q  Have you ever experienced some one being gracious to you when you seemingly failed?        Q  Can you give an example when

someone gave you slack, or looked for the best?

            >>>> Have someone read Romans 14:10-12.

                        Q  Does Paul agree with Jesus?

                        Q  What is Paul's emphasis?

 

IV.  Do not Judge, But Correct Yourself.  Matthew 7:3-6.

   A.  Be Self Corrective First.  Matthew 7:3-5.

            Q  If we do not tell others what harms them, then could we be justly accused of not loving them?  What do you think?

            Q  Do you believe it is true, "we correct those whom we love"?  

               An = You who are school teachers.  If you care about your students, then you correct them not judge them.  If you are parents you do not

condemn your child but guide them into correct paths if they are doing things that could harms them.  If you are a good friend at school, you would not let

your friend wear something totally out of style and let them look like a jerk.  We correct those we love.  

            However, there is a right and a wrong way to do that.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:3-5.

            Note:  Imagine walking with a log in your eye.

            RQ Ever seen pictures of ancient Jews?  

                        They all had these amazing pieces of wood sticking out of their eyes.  It is horrible to see.  Everyone is always cut up and

bruised because they were always getting beat up with those logs every time someone turned their head.  It is terrible to look at those pictures.

            ????  Seriously, Jesus is using hyperbole here.  He is exaggerating to make a point.  Let me retranslate what I think He was saying in

modern metaphors.

            "Why do you look at the speck of sand in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the surfboard in your own.  How can you say to your

brother, `Let me take the speck of sand out of your eye, when all the time there is a surfboard in your own eye.'  You hypocrite, first take the surfboard

out of your own eye, then you can see clearly to remove the sand from your brother's eye.

            Q  What is our Lord asking us to do?  What is He saying here?  

            Q  How do you properly correct?

               An = We can really help someone if we help them get a piece of sand out of their eye.  Sand hurts.  Jesus we help others more

proficiently by "cleaning up your own act first".

            Q  Why is it that we readily listen to those who will first confess their own faults?

            Note:  Some might say Jesus is not telling us to "clean up our own act first", but really not to correct at all....  Lets see if Jesus means

this.

   B. Use Wisdom, Realize the Cost.  Matthew 7:6.

            Q  Is the best way to handle others sin is not to ever say anything at all?

            Q  Is the best way to handle life as a Christian to become a mush-brain.  To really follow Jesus must we become brain dead?

               An = I do not think so, Christians who discipline themselves to obey the teachings of Jesus do not become rubber brains but quite the

opposite.  They become wise, insightful people.  Let me show you Jesus' balance, lest you think they way of obedience is to not think.

>>>> Have someone read Matthew 7:6.

            Note:  Notice that Jesus is again using a metaphor.  Notice that this metaphor is in parallel form.  So lets look at what is parallel to

what?

            Q  What is parallel to pearls?

               An = What is sacred or what is holy.

            Q  What is parallel to dogs?

               An = pigs, and in Jesus' society pigs and dogs were considered the lowest form of mammals.  

            Note:  Also, in a metaphor, a physical object often represents a spiritual idea.

            Q  So what do the dogs or pigs represent?

                        Q  What does pearls represent in your opinion?

            Q  What is Jesus saying with this metaphor?

               An = Jesus is saying do not give what is valuable to "spiritually imperceptive persons".

            Q  How do we know someone is spiritually imperceptive?

               An = Their eyebrows of course.  All folks who are spiritually dull have green eyebrows.  Don't look at that person next to you!!!! 

Seriously, ....

            RQ  To determine who is spiritually perceptive and do not have to make a judgment?

            Q  Do you think Jesus is aware that He has do not judge, lest you be judged in 7:1 and then said judge lest you be attached in 7:6?

               An = He is totally aware and He seeks our balance.  At times we need to judge, but we do not need to be consumed, like many become,

with a "judgmental attitude".

            Note:  Since Jesus is aware that He is speaking 7:6 in the context of 7:1-5, there could be another insight here....

            Q  In this context, what is the valuable thing, the pearls, we are not to throw to pigs?

               An = In this context, it would be correction.  The taking of the speck of dust out of our fellow man's eye.

            Q  If someone corrects you, do they take the risk of being ripped?

            Q  When you correct someone, do you not take the risk of being ripped?  

            RQ How happy are we with our parents when they correct us?  Do we not rip them?

            RQ How angry do we get when we get critique at work, or at home?

 

                        Note:  At times we need to take risks.  But when we take those risks we need to remember that in the

same way we judge, we will be judged and that we need to clean up our own act first.

               Note:   Jesus says do not judge in 7:1 and that you have to judge in 7:6.  Jesus wants balance and freedom.  We have to make

judgments at times for our own safety, but He does not want us consumed with negative judgmental behavior.

            Note:  Jesus wants us healthy and that is because of His deep love for us.

>>>> Close with reading Romans 15:1-2.