Matthew 7:1 ¶ Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 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? 5 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. 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.
Judgment and discernment are essential to being alive. You cannot survive without making judgments about things and people. However, the point of this passage is to be careful in your judgment as you will be judged by the same standard you use. This is not a threat of eternal damnation nor is it locking God into your mistakes if you use a false standard. It is a principle that we have used proverbially in American English that if you point your finger at someone you typically have three other fingers on your hand pointing back at you.
Often as not, we bear at least the beginnings of a sin in our hearts that we condemn. In fact, some of the most vicious detractors of other people are people who are guilty of the sin they are incensed about, even if only in thought or inclination. I thought the following part of a prophecy against Jerusalem was interesting speaking of Samaria and Sodom as her sisters.
Ezekiel 16:52 Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.
Also pay close attention to the following from Luke;
Luke 6:37 ¶ Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
The principle here is reinforced, that we should consider our own sins before we focus on the sins of others. This is very clear.
Verse 6 seems, at first, awkward in this context unless we look at the fact that Christ is talking to His people, in the context the Jews and in a greater context to Christians. This leads from the statement about judging yourself by the same standard you judge others and about dealing with your own sin before you point out the sins of others. Dogs and swine are unclean animals and some of God’s people here are likened to them. When you judge others, even if you have fulfilled the requirement of dealing with your sin first there is a certain kind of God’s people who will turn on you and attack with all the fury of an unsaved person.
In 2Peter 2, the great chapter on false teaches and prophets, dogs and swine, sows, are used also.
It is true that many modern commentators refer to the swine and dogs of verse 6 as the unsaved and unclean. However, it seems to me that they are detaching that verse from the passage, which I call taking a verse out of context. We must at least try to examine a verse in the passage the Holy Spirit places it in order to understand the point that is being made. We are not moving from your brother and your brother’s eye suddenly to a standalone verse on the vicious heathen, I don’t think. But we may be in a context that warns us to judge ourselves first and to be discerning about who we reprove and try to correct as they may turn again and attack us.
Matthew 7:7 ¶ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
The context here is about wisdom and spiritual things, not a new chainsaw. Finding something and having something opened seems to suggest that directly from the context. Proverbs is filled with verses about the importance of seeking and gaining wisdom. We have but to humbly ask God as Solomon did in 1Kings, chapter 3.
This passage is sandwiched in between the one on righteous judgment and one on following a narrow path. It is imperative that we Christians seek wisdom from God through prayer and Bible reading. We cannot depend on or trust in our own narcissism, ego, and mental issues. God will give us wisdom to face the unique situation we are in, even though the situation is something we might share with many other Christians.
In any event, this is a great promise
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
God will also help us understand doctrine, dispensations, and end-time prophecy as we need to know it by our humble supplications and our faithful reading, studying, cross-referencing, and prayer. What we need to know will be given to us. There are things, though, that belong only to God.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
And prophecy is not given to swell our heads but for a specific purpose for us.
John 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
John 14:29 And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
John 16:4 But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them. And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you.
Matthew 7:12 ¶ Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
We use the word strait today as a narrow body of water or a straitjacket which confines a person so they cannot harm themselves or others. The contrast in the passage between strait and narrow versus broad and wide should define it for us.
Verse 12 gives us the famous Golden Rule as a summation of the Law and the Prophets. The modern businessperson might use something they created called the Platinum Rule saying that you should do unto others as they want you to but that is pure rubbish and an artefact of Cultural Marxism. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you is Godly and reasonable and doesn’t call for you to accept or encourage another’s sin like the Platinum Rule does.
Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
The popular version of this is “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
This is a fundamental expression of the emphasis of the Old Testament Law’s admonition to love one’s neighbor as oneself as we will see much later in Matthew.
Matthew 22:34 ¶ But when
the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were
gathered together. 35 Then one of them,
which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the
law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all
thy mind. 38 This is the first and great
commandment. 39 And the second is like
unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Here also is a fact that few will choose the free offer of salvation that only the God of the Bible can give.
In different contexts the sentiment that many are called but few chosen will be used twice in Matthew later on. And here we see God’s perfect will even though His permissive will allows that not all will be saved.
1Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
The way to God is exclusionary only inasmuch as an individual adult must receive Christ as their Saviour believing in His Resurrection and trusting in His righteousness and not their own for salvation. It is a narrow path and the vast majority of those who saw the light of day and grew to an age whereby they could understand to receive Christ as their Saviour will willingly descend into Hell.
Matthew 7:15 ¶ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Prophets foretell things to come and teach as most commentators agree. Prophets teach about what God is going to do and what God has said. So, they are also teachers.
We have another warning against false prophets and teachers in Peter’s letters.
2Peter 2:1 ¶ But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 ¶ And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 ¶ And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 ¶ But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet. 17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Matthew Henry links false prophets and teachers with false apostles warned about in Revelation.
Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
Paul warns about these false workers.
2Corinthians 11:13 For such
are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel;
for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
What are the fruits of what a prophet prophesies or a teacher teaches? Does their teaching draw you closer to the Bible and to God or does it cause you to doubt and have anxiety over God’s words and over His will and your salvation?
Does it deny God’s authority even or Christ’s incarnation?
Jude 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
1John 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. 23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
This warning is continued in the next passage.
Matthew 7:21 ¶ 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. 22 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
This is a continuation of the last passage in this sermon. The fate of false prophets and those who deliberately counteract his teachings is given in metaphor.
Notice these interesting cross-references to verse 23 in regard to working iniquity calling these false teachers wicked.
Psalm 141:4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
Isaiah 31:2 Yet he also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back his words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.
Isaiah 32:6 For the vile person will speak villany, and his heart will work iniquity, to practise hypocrisy, and to utter error against the LORD, to make empty the soul of the hungry, and he will cause the drink of the thirsty to fail.
Here is underscored that an outward profession of religious faith, no matter how impressive, will not lead us into Heaven without a saving relationship with Christ. American churches are filled with people who do wonderful works in assisting the poor and downtrodden, who make great sermons about helping one’s fellow man, but fall short of salvation by denying the Saviour who purchased them with His own blood. They have built their house on sand.
The Christian who bases his works for God on His trusting in Christ’s righteousness and not His own has a far surer rock to stand on than the person who bases his works for God on his own principles and goodness.
This ends, perhaps, the greatest sermon ever made. Hearing
Christ’s words and obeying them, keeping them in one’s heart is the key to the
Christian’s happiness. We underestimate how God’s standard of righteousness can
make us happy.
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