As we continue the Sermon on the Mount and the Spirit of the law, Jesus explains wrong judgment, right judgment and God’s judgment in Matthew 7.
Wrong Judgment
Should Christians severely judge others or unfairly find fault?
Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. For with whatever judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with whatever measure you measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you tell your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam out of your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5 WEB)
Right Judgment
Does Jesus mean that we should be naïve, never judging righteously, discerning who will attack us like a dog or trample our message underfoot like a pig?
Don’t give holy things to dogs, and don’t throw your pearls in front of pigs. They will stomp on the pearls, then turn around and attack you. (Matthew 7:6 CEB)
Will God respond to those who seek Him?
Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask. (Matthew 7:7-11 CEV)
What is the Golden Rule, which summarizes the entire Old Testament?
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)
Is the way to eternal life narrow and difficult?
Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14 HCSB)
Does Jesus mean that we should be naïve, never judging or discerning who is a false prophet?
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7:15-20 KJV)
God’s Judgment
Will God tell some that He never knew them? Does it have anything to do with not practicing lawlessness, acting wickedly or living in iniquity?
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 will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23 NASB)
What is lawlessness? Do we just believe alone? Do we put into practice Old Testament law or the words of Jesus?
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 NIV)
Had the audience grown from just the disciples to crowds? Did Jesus teach in a wishy washy, people-pleasing manner or with authority?
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law. (Matthew 7:28-29 NLT)
Do we avoid all judgment or only a critical spirit? Is it wise to share holy things with those who will attack and trample them underfoot? Do we discern false teachers by their fruit? Is true Christianity by faith alone or by hearing the words of Jesus and doing them? You decide!
