Blog - The Beatitudes Part 6
Matthew 7:1-6 NIV
The narrative changes as we move into Matthew chapter 7. As Jesus continues to teach in His own authority, He starts this section with the theme of judgment. The obligation or need for judgment is for only a limited number of people. The context here makes it clear that this doesn’t apply to most of us. God is a judge as well as the few people who were assigned by God to judge people or nations. To the large gathering, He states:
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
In this statement, Jesus implies that God’s action will repay or correct our improper judgment of others.
3 “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? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Here, Jesus implies that we act like we can see each other perfectly, and we actually cannot. In effect, He’s saying that we have judged others to make them conform to our own standard of perfection. Apart from our own failure to conform to God’s standards, we must assess and distinguish between God’s standards and our own understanding of His standards.
Again, we see the word “hypocrite.” Jesus used this word in the gospels 13 times. 8 of the 13 were directed specifically to the scribes and pharisees. We see the meaning as “saying one thing and doing another” or “pretender.” One applicable meaning could be “actor.”
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Generally, this saying means that teaching should be given in accordance with the spiritual capacity of the learners. Jesus is advocating wisdom regarding to whom and how we deliver spiritual words.
Q: What did you learn from these passages as you read them today?
Q: What mindset changes happened as you study these truths?
Prayer: Lord, grant us the grace to discern when we are unknowingly assuming the right to judge when it is not our place to do so. Show us how to bring people and situations to You for relief, wisdom, and instruction. Keep us from sowing and reaping judgment according to your word. Help us to see people and situations the way You see them. Thank You for your word and thank You for your grace. Amen.
The narrative changes as we move into Matthew chapter 7. As Jesus continues to teach in His own authority, He starts this section with the theme of judgment. The obligation or need for judgment is for only a limited number of people. The context here makes it clear that this doesn’t apply to most of us. God is a judge as well as the few people who were assigned by God to judge people or nations. To the large gathering, He states:
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
In this statement, Jesus implies that God’s action will repay or correct our improper judgment of others.
3 “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? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Here, Jesus implies that we act like we can see each other perfectly, and we actually cannot. In effect, He’s saying that we have judged others to make them conform to our own standard of perfection. Apart from our own failure to conform to God’s standards, we must assess and distinguish between God’s standards and our own understanding of His standards.
Again, we see the word “hypocrite.” Jesus used this word in the gospels 13 times. 8 of the 13 were directed specifically to the scribes and pharisees. We see the meaning as “saying one thing and doing another” or “pretender.” One applicable meaning could be “actor.”
6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Generally, this saying means that teaching should be given in accordance with the spiritual capacity of the learners. Jesus is advocating wisdom regarding to whom and how we deliver spiritual words.
Q: What did you learn from these passages as you read them today?
Q: What mindset changes happened as you study these truths?
Prayer: Lord, grant us the grace to discern when we are unknowingly assuming the right to judge when it is not our place to do so. Show us how to bring people and situations to You for relief, wisdom, and instruction. Keep us from sowing and reaping judgment according to your word. Help us to see people and situations the way You see them. Thank You for your word and thank You for your grace. Amen.