Matthew part 10

Discernment for Life

Discerning the Situation | Matthew 7:1-5

Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 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.

Matthew 7:1-5

Verse 1 is possibly the most popular verse in the Bible, and yet it is also the most misunderstood. The main error is that people quote this verse with the attitude Jesus is teaching a universal approval of all lifestyles. This interpretation can’t possibly be correct given just a few verses down Jesus will speak of false teachers and knowing them by their fruit. Additionally, Jesus has just spent the last two chapters describing the type of life God desires with an overarching message being “don’t continue living like this world teaches.”

The argument is that Jesus taught unconditional love, and therefore we should love others for who they are by accepting what they do. While Jesus certainly taught, and demonstrated, unconditional love, He did not teach unconditional acceptance. Sin is still sin, and:

For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

Matthew 5:18

In fact, it is best to keep quoting the following verses, because what Jesus is discussing here is a rash, unjust judgement against someone. One commentary puts it this way:

· We break this command when we think the worst of others.

· We break this command when we only speak to others of their faults.

· We break this command when we judge an entire life only by its worst moments.

· We break this command when we judge the hidden motives of others.

· We break this command when we judge others without considering ourselves in their same circumstances.

· We break this command when we judge others without being mindful that we ourselves will be judged.

Perhaps the subject of your judgement is wrong. Perhaps they do need to repent from their wicked ways. But this verse reminds us to be careful in how we approach and treat them, because we also have our own faults. And if we are not careful, we will be just as guilty as they are by mistreating them with our words, actions, or treatment.

“Judge not” is not a call to fully accept someone’s sin, but a call to be aware of the whole situation and maintain the balance of justice and mercy.

Jesus reminds us to be mindful of our sin before approaching someone else’s. Otherwise, we will be just as guilty as the hypocrites He described in chapter 6.

Discerning when to Correct | Matthew 7:6

“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Matthew 7:6

While sometimes we should withhold speaking because we are not innocent in the situation, sometimes we should withhold because the recipient is unwilling to listen. The ‘dogs’ and ‘pigs’ mentioned here undoubtedly are the hypocritical Pharisees and scribes, but they also represent the unrepentant person who is hostile to the kingdom of God. Not only do they have no desire to repent, they also do not even want to discuss the matter.

Jesus says it is better to not waste your time with them because they will only tear apart what you are trying to teach them—like a dog or pig would destroy precious items. This does not mean we quit caring for them or quit praying for them, but it does mean that sometimes it is better to just let it go. Allow God to deal with them through some other means than you. For the Christian, that means we have to trust that God will take care of the problem, even if it is without us.

When someone is unwilling to listen to correction, we have to trust God will handle the situation in His time with or without our involvement.

It reminds of the situation Paul faced in 1 Corinthians 5. Paul addresses an unrepentant believer in the Corinthian Church which the church has failed to discipline. It is unclear exactly why the church has allowed this person to continue in their blatant sin, but Paul tells them to discipline the brother quickly. And, if he is unwilling to repent, they should turn him over to Satan—in other words, send him out of the church.

When we consider the “judge not” verse in context with “do not cast your pearls before swine” and 1 Corinthians 5:5, what emerges is how to discern when to speak, when to judge, and when to set aside judgement. It is about walking and talking in wisdom and trust that God will rectify the situation in due time.

So, how do we apply this? We certainly cannot just accept every sinful decision people make, but then we cannot become the self-righteous hypocrites who rashly and harshly condemn their fellow man.

The first step, as it should be, is to pray. Pray for discernment about the person, and possibly even more important discernment for whether we are at fault in the situation.

The second step, after hearing from the Lord, is to check yourself for sin. If you do have a plank in your eye, then pull it out. Confess your sin to God, and then to others. It may be the person you have been judging needs an apology too.

The third step is to check if the person you wish to address the sin to is willing to listen. Ask if they are willing to have a talk about the matter. Ask if they are willing to share their own thoughts and opinions. Then, listen to them. If they are willing to talk, listen carefully. You may just learn something new that puts the situation in a new perspective.

The last step is if they are unwilling to talk with you, or if the discussion does not bear any fruit. Let it go. Put the matter in God’s hands and move on. Do not harbor bitterness or hatred, that was covered back in chapter 5. Be willing to forgive them, and wait for the day they are ready to discuss the matter.

The last step may be the hardest, especially if patience is not something you are accustomed to showing, but it is also the step that exerts the most faith. Have faith God will take care of the situation in time.

Discerning how good the Father is | Matthew 7:7-11

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Matthew 7:7-11

This next section shifts topics a bit, but if you think about it, it makes sense. Jesus has just discussed having discernment for how to deal with a difficult situation. If we lack discernment, we should ask God to help us. But then that brings up a new question, “Do we trust God will give us what we need?”

The answer to that question is found in how we pray, and how often we pray. Earlier Jesus taught us how to pray, and in that example prayer, it included asking God for our daily bread. Praying this way helps us focus on our daily needs and allowing God to handle the future. Here, Jesus gives us permission to go a bit further than just bread. He says, quite clearly, “Ask, and it will be given, seek, and you will find, knock, and it will be opened.” The question we have to ask is, “Do we have the faith to ask knowing the answer will be God’s best answer?”

God is willing to give good gifts to us, but we have to be willing to ask.

Discerning the Way to Life | Matthew 7:12-14

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Matthew 7:12-14

Jesus completes this teaching on ethics by summing up the Law and Prophets. However you wish to be treated, that is how you should treat others—unless you like being mistreated. In that case, you should treat people better and get some help. It is a simple rule, which is why we teach it to children. And yet, it is a difficult rule because so often we want to be treated better than everyone else. Each of us believes that we are somehow more special than others. The fact is we should never judge someone’s sin harsher than our own just because it’s different.

The Golden Rule still applies to all of God’s people, not just children.

Last, Jesus makes a statement that is well worth highlighting. There are two Ways in life—one heads to destruction and one to life. The road to destruction is wide because so many people travel it. There are innumerable ways to destroy yourself in this life. The road to life is narrow because so few find it, and there is really only the one Way. His Name is Jesus Christ. John records another of Jesus’ sayings in which Jesus says,

I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

What Jesus has given us in Matthew 5-7 is not ‘another’ way to live. He has given the only way. All other lifestyles and ethics lead to destruction. The Goal of Christian Faith is not to find the best way out of many good ways to live. It is to follow the only way that gives eternal life.

When I was in elementary school, I remember many of my teachers had a poster on their wall that read, “What is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular.” That is still true today. If we are trying to determine the correct course of action, it just might be that following the crowd is the worst decision we could make. We must always be willing to listen to and follow the Lord’s leading, even when it is the least popular option.

In order to follow the way to life, we must be willing to leave the crowd.

As we close today, let’s take some time to consider what way we are walking. Have you found the way that leads to life, or are you still following the crowds to destruction?