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Insights and Outlines from Matthew 7: 1-6
Here are some memorable quotes from M.L. Jones Commentary on Matthew 7:1-6
“There is nothing that so utterly condemns us as the Sermon on the Mount; there is nothing so utterly impossible, so terrifying, and so full of doctrine. Indeed, I do not hesitate to say that, were it not that I knew of the doctrine of justification by faith only, I would never look at the Sermon on the Mount….”
Speaking of the misunderstanding of vs 1 in the church today he says, “ it is almost true to say that such a thing as discipline in the Christian church is non-existent today. When did you hear of a person being excommunicated? When did you last hear of a person being kept back from communion? God back in history and you will see that a Christian church is a place where the Word in preached, the Sacraments are administered, and discipline is exercised.”
Observations and Sermon Brief
For preaching purposes I am trying to approach this passage in a positive way. Jesus tells us to remove the sin from our lives and then we can have clear vision to help others. Therefore, I have outlined this passage to reflect Jesus goal of having clear spiritual vision to help others.
How can we see clearly to help one another? How do we perform the spiritual surgery of removing the speck from our brother’s eye that is causing him so much pain?
- 1. We must have sterile hands to help others
- “Judge not” – implies a condemning spirit. Those who harbor a condemning spirit can help no one. If I were to offer my prediction as to what is the greatest hindrance to the church today it is this. On one extreme we have the passively indulgent that take this to mean that nothing can be said to the sinner. On the other hand we have those who dole out condemnation in order to build themselves up.
- What does a Judgmental spirit look like?
* Self righteous spirit – feeling of superiority
*Self promotion- tearing others down willfully to make yourself look good
* Hypercritical- destructive criticism to destroy another
* Malignant satisfaction in the fall of another
* Habitually jumping into another person’s business
* Prejudice – opinions formed on preconceived notion
* Ignorant assumptions- It takes too much to understand the facts
* Hypocritical- Aggressively pointing out the sin of others while you maintain the beam in your own eye which in this passage is a condemning spirit.
If you want to be a ministry to others make sure you do not have this spirit No one wants a doctor that is more interested in destroying your body than healing it
- No one wants a doctor that uses a someone’s body to advance their career.
- No one wants a doctor who will operate based upon assumptions
- No one wants a doctor that shows no compassion and care
- The same is true for the Christian. If you want a healthy church that ministers to and loves one another then we must rid ourselves of the judgmental spirit that destroys our trust and compassion for one another. The consequences of judging others is that we will find ourselves suffering the same fate at the hands of others. In addition, we will face the judgment seat of Christ where we will see that we took part in the wholesale butchering of a person’s potential in the kingdom instead of building them up.
2. We must have a steady hands
“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye
- The beam(sin of condemning spirit) is removed now we can see clearly to remove the speck. The eye is a very sensitive area that requires the utmost care. We would not want someone looking at our eye that took a large knife with shaking hands and said, “I told you to wear safety glasses stupid! Now hold still while I jab your eye out!” Jesus is reminding us that we are to be compassionate and desire the best for one another.
Here are a few of the “one another” passages in the NT that will point us to how gentle and steady we are to be with one another.
Col 3:13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Jas 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
1Pe 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;
1Pe 4:8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”
1Pe 4:9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
1Pe 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
A gentle and steady hand does not mean tolerant and indulgent. It means you see the problem(speck) clearly and you approach helping the person with the utmost care and concern for their spiritual well being.
3. We must have stern hands. Vs 6
“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
- This may seem to be out of place in this discussion but it is not at all. The simple truth here that Jesus is communicating is that some people just do not want help. Dogs and pigs do not recognize or appreciate sacred things. Jesus is showing us that sometimes people do not recognize or appreciate the jewel of God’s Words. They would rather continue in their sin and if you persist in trying to help them you will be trampled.
- I have responded on many medical calls where the person after settling down a little decides not to go to the hospital. Sometimes it is obvious they need to. However, we cannot force them to take medical treatment. The same is true with a spiritually sick person. If you try to force the truth down their throat then it will be to your own peril.
I hope this helps you to apply Matthew 7:1-6.
