Sunday School Lesson
July 28
Lesson 9 (KJV)
Spiritual Discernment
Devotional Reading: Galatians 5:16–26
Background Scripture: Matthew 7
Matthew 7:1–6, 15–23
- Judge not, that ye be not judged.
- For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
- And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
- Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
- Thou hypocrite, 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.
- Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
- 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.
- Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
- Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
- And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
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.
—Matthew 7:15, 16
Lesson Aims
After participating in this lesson, each learner will be able to:
- List principles Jesus gives for evaluating godly behavior.
- Explain how Jesus’ command not to judge applies and does not apply in various situations.
- Evaluate whether his or her attitude toward a specific person is one of condemnation, godly love, or acceptance of godless behavior.
HOW TO SAY IT
Corinthians
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Ko-rin-thee-unz (th as in thin).
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Deuteronomy
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Due-ter-ahn-uh-me.
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Ezra
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Ez-ruh.
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Galatians
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Guh-lay-shunz.
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Hosea
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Ho-zay-uh.
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Pharisees
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Fair-ih-seez.
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Introduction
- Legalism vs. Liberty
In 1997, Dean Merrill published his provocative book, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry Church. The book expresses what many millennials (those born between approximately 1982 and 2004) believed about the church of their parents. Merrill describes a church acting like a moral bully. From its moral high ground of self-righteousness, it bludgeoned the changes occurring in culture. Though sin was running rampant outside the church, the feeling was that sin was absent within. Woe, then, to the member who admitted to moral failure or weakness, for he or she would feel the full wrath of the church. For some, this is the great debate of the church: legalism or liberty? Do we draw lines restricting fellowship, or do we open the doors for all to come in without enforcing moral guidelines? (And the debate takes on a different tone when framed as being one of legalism or liberty or license?)
No one I know willingly admits to being a legalist, for this is always a negative label, always to be avoided. Legalism does exist, however. At its core it is an orientation that treats rules as more important than people. Legalists often occupy themselves with controlling the behavior of others. Legalism can be an attempt to rally a whole community against sinful behavior. Sadly, in its obsession to crush sin, it may crush sinners instead.
Wouldn’t the church be a happier place if we ran off all the legalists? Not so fast. In this lesson, Jesus tells His disciples not to judge, then advises them to judge. Where do we find the balance? Can we love the law and love people too?
- Lesson Context
An ordered society (like the nation of Israel in Old Testament times) needs judges to be third-party deciders over human disputes (see Exodus 18:13–27; Ezra 7:25). Deuteronomy 25:1 defines the role of a judge in Israel as one who makes decisions that “justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.” To do the opposite—condemn the righteous and justify the wicked—is an abomination to the Lord (Proverbs 17:15). As shown throughout the book of Judges, these leaders were meant to remain faithful to the Lord; only then would the people be led in His ways and enjoy His protection in Israel (see Judges 2:16–19).
The Lord himself is the final and infallible judge of all the earth (Psalms 82:8; 105:7). In several places, the Bible portrays God as judge over all humanity (Exodus 12:12; 1 Chronicles 16:14; Romans 14:10; etc.). God does not consult a legal code for His judgments, because He is the author of the law. Human judges depend on laws and function best when they are enforcing clear and fair laws in an impartial way. People, though, are fallible, and even judges can be corrupt or unrighteous (Luke 18:6).
Jesus did not embrace the role of judge in human affairs during His ministry (see Luke 12:14; in contrast see Acts 17:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Yet His teachings are filled with moral distinctions that identify unrighteous behavior. Jesus does not hesitate to expose hypocrites, identify their dishonesty, and thus pass a type of judgment. What we see is Jesus moving beyond mere application of laws in a courtroom setting to a discernment of human behavior based on motives and higher standards such as love for others.
- Poor Judgment
(Matthew 7:1–6)
- Warning to Would-Be Judges (vv. 1, 2)
- 1. Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Jesus previously taught His disciples to trust God rather than worry (Matthew 6:34). One way to do this is not to be consumed with judging others (compare Luke 6:37; Romans 14:13; 1 Corinthians 4:5). A benefit of honoring this instruction is that others will be less likely to judge you in return.
This verse, taken out of context, is often tossed in the face of Christians by nonbelievers. If Christians offer opinions about any sort of sinful, antisocial, or aberrant behavior, the cynical response is likely to be “I thought Jesus told you not to judge.” Does this mean that Christians have no moral authority to identify sinful behavior based on biblical standards? While the answer is complicated, Paul later suggests that judgment is reserved for those within the church because they have agreed to be held to the same standards of righteousness (1 Corinthians 5:12; compare James 4:11).
What Do You Think?
What guardrails can we erect to ensure we do not misuse Scripture when trying to make a point or propose an application?
Digging Deeper Are the guardrails the same for everyone, or are such guardrails an individual thing? Why?
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- For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
Jesus moves to define His biggest concern: hypocritical judging (see comments on Matthew 7:5). He warns that when we judge others with our high moral standards, we should beware and be ready: the same high standards and the same judgments will be applied to us in return (compare Ezekiel 35:11; Mark 4:24; Romans 2:1). The television evangelist who rails against sexual sins from the pulpit and is found to have adulterous liaisons will be shown no mercy by his critics. The church leader who insists on tithing and giving back to God in a sacrificial way will be pilloried if found to be skimming money from his ministry for his own enrichment.
Jesus illustrates this with an economic practice. It concerns a standard for buying and selling produce such as wheat or barley. Fairness demands that the same measure (such as a calibrated basket) be used for both buying and selling (see Luke 6:38). If someone uses a smaller basket to sell wheat and a bigger basket to buy wheat, that dishonesty will be uncovered and the merchant’s credibility will suffer. The first and most basic step for demanding high moral standards is to hold yourself to them.
A Gracious Response
My grandfather was raised in a church that condemned other Christians for using musical instruments in worship. On our cross-country visits, my father and grandfather always argued over the music issue and other differences in practice among Christians.
Later, I became a close friend of a leader in my grandparents’ fellowship. In his early years, he had participated in narrowly defining “the faithful” as those who practiced as he did. But as the leader grew in understanding God’s grace, his heart opened to others whose desired to follow Jesus, even though they disagreed on the particulars.
Some brothers in Christ condemned him with the same spirit in which he had once judged others. On one occasion, I heard this man respond softly, “Christianity began … with a baby.” Focusing on Jesus led him to let some disagreements go. In what ways does following God incarnate call us to more than judgmental legalism?
—C. R. B.
- Advice to Obvious Hypocrites (vv. 3–5)
3, 4. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
As He often does in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus uses hyperbole (exaggeration for emphasis) to make His point (see Matthew 5:29, 30, 38–42; etc.). A man can never have a beam in his eye while offering to remove a mote (a tiny particle) from another’s eye. The absurd picture is of a man with a two-by-four piece of lumber protruding from his face offering to remove a piece of sawdust from another’s eye.
First, the beam would get in the way and make the speck removal impossible; he would be more likely to injure the second person than to help. Second, and more to the point, it is ludicrous for the first person to even think about offering this service when he has such grave personal matters to attend to himself. He has no credibility.
- Thou hypocrite, 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.
Jesus’ declaring the man with a plank in his eye to be a hypocrite is instructive. The word hypocritehas a background in Greek drama and refers to an actor, one who plays a role. By implication, this person hides his true identity. What the public sees in the theater does not reveal the actor’s true personal life.
With Jesus’ example, any pretense at hiding is demolished. The hypocrite attempting to extract a tiny mote from his friend’s eye is not concealing a few little specks in his own eyes that no one detects; rather, he has a beam protruding that is easily observed by anyone! Jesus unmasks the judgmental moralists of His day, declaring that all too often their own moral failures are showing.
Jesus advises the obvious: take the beam out of your eye. Then, with unimpaired vision and better mobility to do close work, you can help get the tiny mote out of the other’s eye (see Galatians 6:1).
What Do You Think?
Under what circumstances will direct confrontation of hypocrisy (example: Matthew 23:13–15) be better than an indirect approach (example: Matthew 21:45)?
Digging Deeper What other choices might there be, if any? Why?
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- Plea to Undiscerning Teachers (v. 6)
- Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Jesus circles back to His disciples, the ones He advises not to judge lest they be judged themselves. He does not want them to be hypocrites like the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16), yet Jesus also knows the potential for misuse of His exhortation not to judge. Neglecting to judge wisely allows evil to be called good and good to be called evil (Isaiah 5:20). In the hands of unrepentant sinners, the directive to avoid judging becomes a license to sin (compare Jude 4). Reserving judgment is often appropriate and comes with benefits, but Jesus clearly acknowledges that judgment cannot and should not always be avoided.
Jesus uses two vivid metaphors for those against whom He is warning, likely false prophets (see following section). First, He calls them dogs. These feral animals will turn and devour one of their own if it falls with a mortal injury. Second, they are called swine, the archetypical unclean animal for Jews, often associated with the worst characteristics of the Gentiles. Jesus’ imagery is striking: don’t throw beautiful and valuable pearls into the mud of the pigpen. Pigs will stomp the pearls into the dirt because they have no concept of their worth.
Many characteristics of Jesus’ disciples can be exploited mercilessly by unprincipled opponents of the church. Disciples must find the correct balance and the correct time and place to judge others’ motives and character. Jesus tells His disciples they must be as “wise as serpents, and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). Failure to discern is disastrous in the presence of such dogs and pigs.
- Telltale Fruits
(Matthew 7:15–23)
- Fruits of False Prophets (vv. 15–20)
- Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Jesus issues a warning about false prophets, those who would lead His disciples astray by denying Jesus and His teachings (see Matthew 24:11, 24; Luke 6:26). The image of a wolf wearing a sheepskin to blend in with genuine sheep invites ridicule just as does a person with a plank in his eye performing eye surgery (see Ezekiel 22:27; Acts 20:29). No wolf should get away with this, especially with the shepherd watching over the flock (see John 10:5, 11, 14–16). Still, infiltration of the community of God’s people by false disciples is all too common. It must be guarded against (see Jeremiah 23:16; Galatians 2:4; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1).
Disguises, Helpful and Otherwise
My brother Dave and his wife lived for many years on the shore of a lake in Minnesota. The area between them and their neighbors was covered with oval rocks, brownish-gray in color. Once while I was visiting, Dave and I walked across the rocks to talk to his neighbor. That’s when a killdeer, a shorebird, suddenly jumped up from the rocks, ran a few feet, stopped, then ran a few more feet. Dave warned me, “Don’t step on her nest.” I looked down but didn’t see any sign of a nest. Then my brother pointed out the eggs, disguised by their color and shape to blend in with the rocks.
Jesus spoke of false teachers who disguise themselves to hide their true nature. They are hypocrites who only teach what benefits them. How can we distinguish between the “eggs” in our paths and the “rocks” they imitate?
—C. R. B.
What Do You Think?
How will you know when a context of spiritual wolves calls for a redemptive response, a response of maintaining the church’s purity, or no response at all?
Digging Deeper How do the following passages inform your answer: Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Corinthians 2:5–11; 1 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 2:14–3:9; Titus 3:10; Jude 22, 23.
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- Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
How do we detect these false prophets, these fake disciples? These are not inconsistent disciples who struggle to live exemplary lives (a category into which most of us fit). Rather, these are non-disciples who infiltrate the church with allegiance only to themselves, not loyalty to Jesus in any way. We cannot know their hearts like God does, but we can look at their lives. What is the “fruit” of their conduct (compare Luke 6:44; James 3:12)? If they are not fruits born of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22, 23), we must suspect false prophets in our midst.
Jesus appeals to the agricultural knowledge of His hearers. No one looks for clusters of grapes among thorns. Grapes grow on grapevines. Likewise, no farmer seeks figs among thistles, a variety of weed. Figs grow on fig trees. Good works come from a heart devoted to serving God and loving other people.
17, 18. 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.
Jesus knows that recognizing false prophets is not always as simple as discerning between a fig tree and a thistle plant. A good tree with good fruit might look nearly identical to a corrupt tree with evil fruit. This is like the difference between a crab apple that produces tiny, ill-tasting apples and an apple tree that yields healthy apples of good size and taste. Although the trees may look similar, they are easily distinguished by the fruit they produce.
Some false disciples are masters at hiding their inner identity. They know the community, and they blend in well. The personal lives of those who have influence in the church should be scrutinized. Do they work primarily to enrich themselves? Do they seek to make disciples of Christ into their own disciples? Are their teachings in conflict with Jesus’ teachings? These and other questions must be asked when evaluating the fruit of teachers and leaders (Matthew 12:33; Luke 6:43).
What Do You Think?
How will you display good spiritual fruit in such a way that neither Matthew 5:16 nor Matthew 6:1–4 is violated?
Digging Deeper Under what contexts would an anonymous display of good spiritual fruit be called for? Why?
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- Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
The wise farmer has no desire to care for an unproductive fruit tree. Instead it will be hewn down and used for firewood (Luke 13:7–9). Being thrown into the fire is a consistent symbol for God’s judgment in this Gospel (Matthew 3:10, 12; 13:40, 42; 18:8, 9; etc.). That is the ultimate fate of the hypocritical false prophets. God knows their hearts and will not be fooled. Their judgment is sure. The bad tree will be replaced by another that will produce good fruit.
- Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Jesus ends this section by predicting that false disciples will be revealed. They will be known. They cannot hide their false, unloving, and selfish hearts forever. Such a prediction is sad when is comes true. We take no joy in witnessing the exposure and fall of false-hearted church members. But when unveiling comes, Christians must not hesitate to remove such people from positions of authority and influence.
What Do You Think?
Under what circumstances would it be a good idea for Christians to hold one another accountable for the good fruit they are not producing, but should be, for the kingdom?
Digging Deeper How could such a program be implemented without it becoming controlling in a cult-like sense?
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- Wonders of False Workers (vv. 21–23)
- Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
The fruit Jesus desires is to see disciples doing the will of Jesus’ Father which is in heaven. This tests the sincerity or dishonesty of one’s discipleship to Christ. No one can be a follower of Jesus if he or she constantly resists yielding to the will of God. The affirmation Lord, Lord does not take the place of actions (Hosea 8:2, 3; Matthew 25:11, 12; John 13:13, 14; contrast 1 Corinthians 12:3).
Earlier in His sermon, Jesus said that a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees is required to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20). Who will be allowed to enter the kingdom? This is promised to “the poor in spirit” (5:3) and to those who suffer persecution for their loyalty to Jesus (5:10). True members of the kingdom recognize their spiritual dependency on the Lord. They endure suffering for following Jesus and align their hearts and their actions to the will of God (Romans 2:13; James 1:22; 1 John 3:18). These are proper and rightful kingdom members (Matthew 12:50).
22, 23. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Jesus finishes with a dramatic flourish. Imagine people who have dynamically spoken for the Lord in public (prophesied; see 1 Corinthians 13:2), performed exorcisms (cast out devils; see Luke 10:20; Acts 19:13), and performed miracles (wonderful works). This three-part list contains some of the most dramatic displays of Christian work we can imagine. But God is well aware that these people work iniquity. Jesus’ verdict is that He never knew them as His disciples because they never knew Him (see Psalm 6:8; Matthew 25:12; Luke 13:25–27). There is no faith relationship. Even fantastic works can cover a selfish and unrepentant heart for only so long.
Conclusion
- Confessions of a Reformed Legalist
Churches of my era led many to believe that Christians were morally superior people because we kept the rules. Obedience was compelled by fear of ostracism. Those whose lives did not match traditional standards of the church were shamed, shunned, or expelled.
This was the mind-set I and many others of my generation grew up with. The result was a tendency to lump together the outright hypocrites (who should have known better) with the spiritually immature who stumbled back into sin.
I abandoned my sense of moral superiority as I grew older. I still acknowledged the fact that there were people in my church who hypocritically hid their private sins. Some of these folks were the quickest to censor and condemn anyone they believed to be breaking the rules. Their legalistic orientation caused them to be more concerned with controlling the behavior of others rather than repenting of their own secret sins. But I distinguish them from fellow believers who stumble back into sin but then return to the Lord with repentance and humbled hearts.
Rather than jump to judgement, I am determined look to the fruit of repentance. Do I see the fruit of the Spirit in spite of their past failings? Paul says there is no law against this fruit (Galatians 5:22, 23). Make no mistake: I still care about godly behavior. I care deeply about injustice. I seek to live to please my Lord. But I also know I will never live without any sin on this earth. I also realize that others are in the same condition.
I regret having lived as a legalist, and I now attempt to live in such a way that my own fruit is founded on “a broken and a contrite heart” (Psalm 51:17) in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8). Such a heart is yielded fully to God. Most assuredly, Philippians 3:13, 14 applies!
- Prayer
Holy God, although we love Your laws, help us not to fall into the trap of thinking that we are saved by those laws. Forgive us when we have treated rules as more important than people. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
- Thought to Remember
Actions reveal the content of the heart.
KID’S CORNER
How to Judge Others
July 28, 2019
Matthew 7:1-6 & 15-23
Matthew 7:1-6, 15-23
(Matthew 7:1) “Do not judge so that you will not be judged.
Jesus did not mean that we should not discern right from wrong or never conclude that a person has done something good or bad, legal or illegal. Rather, Christians need to avoid making harsh, hasty condemning accusations against others. We may not know the hearts of those we judge. They may have made an honest mistake with good intentions; they may be open to honest, truthful correction and happily receive suggestions from others. We may not know the mitigating factors that influenced their actions; such as, self-defense or actions to save a starving child. We must not personally judge someone in the sense of condemning them to punishment or to hell; if tempted to do so, we can pray for their salvation. Judges and juries are responsible for making decisions about someone’s actions being legal or illegal (according to a government’s objective, written laws or statutes) and what possible punishments or sanctions are legal according to the law that was broken. We should never judge and condemn anyone on the basis of our personal opinions or those of our party or some other group; rather, the Bible, the revealed will of God, is the only infallible, objective standard by which we as Christians can prayerfully and lovingly call individuals, groups, churches, and nations to account and call them to repent. As Christians, we can stand before religious and political leaders and tell them when their advocacy of something is contrary to the revealed law of God in the Bible. Jesus Christ is Lord over all, so based on the Bible we can speak out when a nation’s leaders or a church’s leaders are doing wrong or pursuing policies contrary to the Law of God, but there may be consequences for us even as Jesus and Paul suffered the consequences for declaring the will of God.
(Matthew 7:2) “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.
Jesus did not mean that God will judge and condemn people based solely on the personal standards they have used when judging others while they themselves have violated the same standards (at least from the heart). People sometimes condemn others for doing things God wants done. Jesus, Peter, Paul and other disciples were condemned by religious leaders for doing what God wanted said and done. People do tend to condemn others for the very wrong things that they themselves are doing or are tempted and prone to do. From this verse, we learn that others will tend to judge and condemn us based on how we have judged and condemned others. If we are harsh, hasty, and unsympathetic in making judgments of others, others will judge and condemn us because we are harsh, hasty, and unsympathetic; furthermore, whenever we break a law, they will tend to judge us harshly, hastily, and unsympathetically—just as we have judged others.
(Matthew 7:3) “Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
The “speck” may be smaller than a piece of chaff, which can get in someone’s eye while threshing wheat. Christians are not to always be looking for what is lacking or wrong in the lives of others and then condemning them or trying to correct them. Based on their own perceptions of right and wrong or what is “proper” or “improper,” some people are judgmental, condemning, or unsympathetic toward others. A good person may be 99% right when doing something, but the “wrong” 1% part may open the door for someone else to point out to them the 1% where they were wrong instead of thanking God for the 99% that they got right. This problem becomes even worse when a person is always gossiping about the specks in the eyes of others. Some people always seem to be looking for and focusing on what is lacking or wrong in the lives of other people. They want everyone to be perfect, just as they are “perfect.” Though loving, supportive correction might be helpful to someone who needs or wants to be at 100%, no human can be 100% perfect 100% of the time. Many people are prone to focus on what is lacking or wrong in the lives of others while never doing anything about examining their own lives and correcting what is wrong within themselves. It may very well be that those who focus on the 1% wrong in others are 99% wrong within themselves.
(Matthew 7:4) “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye?
No doubt some may think they are being helpful when they notice the sins of others, point them out, and try to help the person overcome their sins. However, it may very well be that we have plenty of sins in our own lives that we are refusing to deal with or do not even notice. Perhaps we need to spend more time reading the Bible and praying for the Lord Jesus to show us where we are falling short and need to change, and then praying for His help as we seek to change. Some would certainly have more time to pray for the divine help and courage to change if they spent less time trying to change the lives of those around them.
(Matthew 7:5) “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.
A hypocrite condemns others for doing the wrong that they themselves are doing (if not outwardly, then within their hearts). Unhappily, perhaps many of us have heard of someone who crusaded against a specific evil who was later arrested and convicted of a crime involving that same evil. There is something to say for the old notion that when we point a finger at someone else for doing something wrong that we have three fingers pointing back at ourselves. Perhaps some hypocrites they condemn others because within themselves they know how very wrong their behavior is and they want to change, but they do not seek the help of the Lord Jesus to free them from slavery to that sin; instead, they point out the sin in others that they so easily recognize in someone else. On the other hand, those being condemned by someone else may readily see that the condemning person is knowingly or unknowingly committing the same sin, then use that as an excuse for not making some needed changes. If we are prone to condemn others for something, at that very point we may need to spend some time in prayerful self-examination to see if we are guilty of practicing the same sin too and need Jesus forgiveness and help to change.
(Matthew 7:6) “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.
Without condemning, correcting, or criticizing someone, Jesus indicated that Christians do need to examine and discern the thoughts and actions of others as best as possible to know whether or not sharing the gospel faith (what is holy) with them will result in their rejection of Jesus Christ and persecution or not. In Matthew 10:16, Jesus warned, “See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” When considering when, where, and with whom we should share the gospel of Jesus Christ, we need to pray for the Holy Spirit to show us when someone may be ready to receive the good news of Jesus Christ instead of violently rejecting Jesus and persecuting us (or endangering other Christians by our testimony). Christians will be persecuted, but Jesus did not command Christians to invite persecution upon themselves or others, especially when there are still many people who need to hear the gospel and who would rejoice when they learn about Jesus from our testimony.
(Matthew 7:15) “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
To avoid throwing their pearls of Christian faith and wisdom to those they have discerned are dogs and swine, Christians must examine and differentiate those who hate Christianity and disparage the Bible from those who appear to be open to hearing the good news of Jesus Christ and who might accept their testimony. Similarly, Christians must pray and study the Bible to examine and differentiate those who appear to love Jesus and the Bible, but who are false prophets who would destroy their faith in Jesus and the Bible if given the opportunity, from those who truly love the truth and want to teach them the truth of Jesus and the Bible. Preachers and teachers who secretly hate (do not love) Jesus and the Bible are just as dangerous (if not more so) to believers than those who openly hate Jesus and the Bible. False prophets can slowly and quietly lead believers away from God and the truth; whereas, atheists, unbelievers, and persecutors can almost force believers to draw closer to Jesus as their only hope of salvation. In either case, regular, prayerful Bible study with the help of the Holy Spirit and trustworthy teachers remain essential for Christians to avoid walking into traps or being misled by false teachers.
(Matthew 7:16) “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
Sometimes believers can distinguish false preachers and teachers from those who truly seek to teach the truth of the Bible and Jesus by looking at their fruits, though some false prophets are very subtle and persuasive. False prophets and teachers can draw large crowds and make people feel good; so, these phenomena should not be considered reliable guides for evaluation or fruit testing. Christians must use the Bible, rightly interpreted (for many false teachers and prophets misuse and misinterpret the Bible), as the standard by which to test whether someone is preaching or teaching the truth. Historically, the Church has upheld certain key doctrines or teachings as essential to believe and remain Christian in thought, word, and deed; those doctrines based on the clear teachings of the Bible can be used as a measure for testing. Another test can be seeking to discern what motivates a teacher or preacher. Sometimes we can see that a preacher or teacher is motivated by greed, selfishness, and self-seeking; rather than by supreme love for God, Jesus, and the Bible as well as love for others, and these sins will have a detrimental impact on their teaching. Finally, to discern true from false teachers, though this can be more subjective and a sometimes fallible guide, we can ask ourselves some of these questions, “Does this teacher or preacher increase my faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and in the Bible as the infallible Word of God written or does this person sow seeds of doubt in the trustworthiness of Jesus as Lord and Savior and the Bible as the trustworthy Word of God written? Is this teacher or preacher trying to convince me that some other book or teaching is the word of God or a new revelation from God or Jesus? Does this teacher contradict the Bible or the clear teachings of Jesus? Does this teacher emphasize what the Bible does not emphasize?” Spiritual thorns and thistles can be doubts or temptations for us to sin in thought, word, or deed that are sown by false prophets and teachers.
(Matthew 7:17) “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree will over time bear good fruit in season. A good tree will grow spiritually and increasingly bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-22 — “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Among other things, a good tree will produce Christians or help at least some Christians become stronger in their faith in Jesus Christ, believers who increasingly trust the Bible, who show greater love for God, who want and seek the will of God to do the will of God, who seek to love and serve others with Jesus being their example, and who increasingly bear the fruit of the Spirit themselves as Jesus delivers them from slavery to sin. A bad tree will produce works of the flesh (see Galatians 5:19-21). However, some bad trees can appear outwardly good and seem to serve as examples of good behavior, but they do not produce works that flow from love for and faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (many of the scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day can serve as examples of a bad tree).
(Matthew 7:18) “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
A good tree that loves and honors God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, and that seeks to promote living according to the Bible as the Holy Spirit interprets and leads will help other good trees do the same. In this world, even the best Christians will make mistakes and sin sometimes, but when they do, they immediately repent and return to Jesus. A bad tree cannot do any of the above and has no desire to do any of the above.
(Matthew 7:19) “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Bad trees represent people who are enslaved to doing the works of the flesh, the world, and the devil instead of the works of the Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:13-26). Since bad trees are committed to producing bad fruit, all they are useful for is burning. This verse serves as a warning to repent and turn to Jesus for salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit to do good works of faith that are acceptable to God.
(Matthew 7:20) “So then, you will know them by their fruits.
Having seen from the Bible the difference between good trees and bad trees, we know that bad trees need to come to Jesus Christ in faith for salvation from slavery to sin and to receive His gift of eternal life. Bad trees can become good trees only by the grace of God and by receiving the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Good trees can prayerfully seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance on if, when, and how to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others.
(Matthew 7:21) “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
In the Bible, people sometimes used “Lord” as a term to honor someone or to show respect for someone in a greeting. In the Bible, “Lord” can also be used as a respectful substitute for the name of God in the Old Testament, which was used as an official title for Jesus in the New Testament because Jesus is the Son of God. Those wh0 honor Jesus in the first sense; perhaps as a great prophet or wonderful moral teacher, but not as the Bible truly reveals Jesus, will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Likewise, those who honor Jesus with “theological correctness,” but do not honor Jesus by their behavior, who do not do the will of God the Father or obey the commands of Jesus, will not enter the kingdom of God. In the Beatitudes, Jesus described some of the characteristics of those who would live forever in the kingdom of God.
(Matthew 7:22) “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?’
In His sermon, Jesus revealed that it is possible for a heretic, a false prophet, or a false teacher to prophesy or preach in His name (such people Jesus warns us to avoid). In the New Testament, people other than Jesus and His disciples could cast out demons. In Matthew 12:26-27, Jesus told the Pharisees and the crowd, “If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? If I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.” Exorcists in many different religions can cast out (or claim to cast out) demons. Therefore, we should not follow a leader (or a religion) just because it appears they (or the religion) has the power to cast out demons or work miracles. Some false preachers and teachers will use the name of Jesus as they cast out demons, perhaps thinking they are doing good; however, they are not doing the will of God by loving and serving Jesus as their Lord and Savior or by following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
(Matthew 7:23) “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’”
Even today, a lot of people “name drop” to impress others. Someone might meet a movie star at a movie preview and later claim to know them, while the movie star would probably say they do not know the person. Another way to know someone is for the two people to actually meet and develop a close personal relationship, where either one could be asked and reply, “Oh yes, I know so-and-so, and they are a personal friend of mine.” Jesus expects His true followers to become personal friends of His. In John 15:13-15, Jesus described knowing Him and having friendship with Him in these terms – “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” Evildoers use the name of Jesus and pretend to be His friend if they can achieve some personal selfish advantage by doing so. Jesus will send people such as this away from Him and say He never knew them.
How to Judge Others
July 28, 2019
Matthew 7:1-6 & 15-23
“Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get” (Matthew 7:1-2).
Jesus’ teaching does not mean that Christians should not discern right from wrong or that they should not teach others the law of love that Jesus revealed. Rather, when Christians see wrong being done, they should immediately ask the Holy Spirit to show them how best to respond. Later in His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commanded, “Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you” (Matthew 7:6). To heed this warning, Christians must pray and think to discern or judge whether a person’s behavior indicates that they are like a dog or a hog. Christians do not seek to condemn others; instead, based on their behavior, Christians pray to discern whether trying to help someone by teaching them the truth about Jesus would likely lead to their accepting the truth or their rejecting what is holy in horrible ways. If we judge or condemn someone based on our personal standards; then, we will be judged or condemned based on the standards we have set. The inconsistency of some between the way they want others to live and the way they themselves live would be laughable, if they did not have the power to distress many people by requiring them to follow their standards. On the great Day of Judgment, if someone claimed that they did not deserve condemnation, God would only need to show them how they had condemned others for practicing the very things that they themselves practiced.
Thinking Further
How to Judge Others
July 28, 2019
Matthew 7:1-6 & 15-23
Name ________________________________
- What is the difference between “the measure you give” in Matthew 7:2 and the law of love as expressed in the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ teaching?
- What did Jesus mean when talking about “the speck” and “the log” in someone’s eye?
- If you are not supposed to judge, how will you know when or if you can give something holy to someone without being mauled?
- Do we have “false prophets” today? If so, what standard would you use to judge whether someone was a false prophet or not?
- How can you judge whether a person is a good person or a bad person?
Questions for Discussion and Thinking Further
- What is the difference between “the measure you give” in Matthew 7:2 and the law of love as expressed in the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ teaching? The “measure you give” is the spirit or attitude you manifest and the criteria you use when you judge someone. Rather than judging and condemning others according to our standards and then receiving the judgment of others according to the way we have judged them, we can love others and show them mercy and forgiveness, just as God in Jesus Christ has forgiven all who will believe in Him. If we need to help someone who is living contrary to the law of God, we can pray that our words and actions will reveal the loving concern of God and us for them (not harsh judgmental condemnation) and help them make the changes God expects them to make according to the Bible’s teachings.
- What did Jesus mean when talking about “the speck” and “the log” in someone’s eye? Believers need to examine themselves and turn from their sins and obey Jesus rather than disregard doing what Jesus expects of them by focusing on the sins of others and trying to correct others. Believers should not be hypocrites.
- If you are not supposed to judge, how will you know when or if you can give something holy to someone without being mauled? Discernment is not harsh critical condemnation or unsympathetic judgment of someone. Discernment involves praying to know the right time and place, if possible, to share the gospel with someone. With some, the Lord will not lead us to share the gospel with them, and by seeing the type of person they are we can understand why we are not to share what is holy with them. They would only do whatever possible to attack and discredit the holy Word of God and the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins among other holy truths.
- Do we have “false prophets” today? If so, what standard would you use to judge whether someone was a false prophet or not? Yes. What the Bible clearly teaches compared to what they teach, and whether their motives are obviously selfish and self-centered or not.
- How can you judge whether a person is a good person or a bad person? We can look at the way they live and see the results of their actions. A bad person cannot produce good fruit, though for a time it may appear to be good. A good person will produce good fruit by the grace of God through faithful obedience to Jesus Christ. Believers will increasingly manifest the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus Christ can make a bad person good or a sinner into a saint.
Word Search
How to Judge Others
July 28, 2019
Matthew 7:1-6 & 15-23
Name _______________________________
S U S E J I S S X N X F L A D
R S E V L O W U T V Q O T K C
F J U I H J B Z O E G R B I A
Q X A G Y L K I L N H N F T X
S Z R M P D C X W Y E P H N J
M L W L O K R Q L G Q V O M S
B Y P T C M W O K C H L A R Q
I J G E R D H D B G R S X R P
Q E F R I U S L O H T E Q Y P
U K N U T F W N R G G C P E S
Z T P S E H I J A D S I A K Z
Y V F A P F N Q U W H R E B R
Z B H E W R E J G M L Q M N T
A F Y M Y V A F U S E S L A F
Z J U D G M E N T S P E C K E
Judge
Judgment
Measure
Speck
Neighbor
Log
Hypocrite
Holy
Dogs
Pearls
Swine
False
Prophets
Ravenous
Wolves
True and False Test
How to Judge Others
July 28, 2019
Matthew 7:1-6 & 15-23
Name _____________________________________
Circle the true or false answers. Correct the false statements by restating them.
- Hurry to be the first to judge others so they can’t judge you. True or False
- Take the log out of your own eye before you try to take a speck out of the eye of someone else. True or False
- Some who condemn others are hypocrites, because they do what they condemn others for doing. True or False
- Do not give what is holy to those you know will attack you and your faith in Jesus Christ. True or False
- False prophets will appear to be true prophets, but inside they are full of deceitfulness. True or False
- There simply is no way for a true Christian to tell the difference between a false prophet and a true prophet. True or False
- Teaching falsehoods about Jesus and the Bible really will not hurt anyone. True or False
- The best grapes and figs are gathered from thorns and thistles. True or False
- You and tell the difference between good people and bad people by what they practice and the results of their actions. True or False
- Only those who do the will of Jesus’ Father in heaven will enter the kingdom of heaven. True or False
True and False Test Answers
- False
- True
- True
- True
- True
- False
- False
- False
- True
10.True
Prayer
Holy God, although we love Your laws, help us not to fall into the trap of thinking that we are saved by those laws. Forgive us when we have treated rules as more important than people. We pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.