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Luke 22:33-34 33 But he replied, "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death." 34 Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." What Peter thought was his greatest strength was really his greatest weakness. Paul said: 1 Corinthians 10:12 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! Its true - where we think we are strong we need to be careful because that's where we will be tempted. It's also true that where we find fault in others can be exactly where we ourselves are at fault. That's the subject we will tackle today. Over the last several weeks as we've studied the Sermon on the Mount, we've heard a lot about what a citizen of heaven should be like. And as God's Spirit moves in our lives we are transformed into that type of person, bit by bit. A problem comes along with that transformation, though - and that is how we look on those around us who may not appear to have come as far as we have. That's what Jesus puts His finger on today as we complete the Sermon. Its eye-opening for us who think we are so spiritual and mature - and get the tendency to look down on others who just aren't as enlightened as we are - as in tune with God, as glowing with God's glory as we are. Jesus says - before you think you are so wonderful, better do some self inspection - or in-speck-tion. Matt 7:1 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. This probably the most often mis-quoted Scripture in the Bible. People use it to mean "there are no moral absolutes." That's not what it means. The Greek word krino means "to distinguish" or to "evaluate" or "analyze". It is not a command against courtroom judgments - nor is it a command against critical thinking. In fact, Jesus, and His apostles encourage is to use discernment to: o Expose false teachers o Admonish others in order to help them o Discipline Christians who are openly violating God's commands What Jesus is speaking against, as He has throughout the Sermon on the Mount - is a critical attitude. Our position in Christ doesn't give us license to condemn others as if we were in God's place - otherwise: 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. Think about it this way - it's the one negative application of the Golden Rule - (which we find later in this chapter) "Don't treat others like you don't want to be treated." And here's an example of how to apply it: 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. Jesus is saying that it is awfully easy for us to see the weaknesses of others - and at the same time miss the same weaknesses in ourselves. And many times it is when we see faults in others - we see it because it reminds us of ourselves - and in fact we may have the worse problem, the plank. The lessons to learn here are: 1. Be self aware 2. Be gracious and helpful, not condemning and hurtful 3. It is with maturity that we gain the ability and discernment to help others overcome sin. Gal 6:1 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual (non-carnal) should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Now - this idea of being gracious only goes so far - listen to this: 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 then turn and tear you to pieces. This is another oft-quoted section of Scripture - and often misunderstood. The common meaning is anytime someone doesn't appreciate you then you should withhold whatever favor you would have bestowed upon them. In reality, Jesus is telling us to have discernment about when the preaching of His kingdom and the gospel is inappropriate. Dogs refers to wild scavenger dogs. Sacred refers to the food eaten by the priests and their families. Pigs, of course, were an unclean animal. There are certain people who simply will not listen to the gospel, and in fact will react with anger - tearing your words to pieces and trampling them underfoot. In cases like this we don't seek self assessment as to what sin in the other might be found in us - but we refrain from sharing. There are places where preaching the gospel is not appropriate - if it is met with anger and retaliation, then it is all right to hold off. Matthew makes an abrupt shift here - moving from Jesus' pattern for how to live, to the place where we get the ability to live like Him. 7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. The answer - of course - is prayer. God is the source of all we need to accomplish His will. A couple of things about these two verses: o Ask, seek, and find are all in the present tense: "keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking". So too with us, we need to press in to God for our needs o So, you might ask - why can't God just answer us the first time? I don't really know - but I have a feeling that the more we seek Him, the more we become attuned to His will, and the more our desires become His desires. o This does not give us a blank check - we can ask for anything, but it is always up to His will to answer. And Jesus told us some conditions for our asking: - Show mercy (chapter 5) - Pray as to not get attention to yourself (chapter 6) - The request should always be "Thy will be done" -The Lords prayer But lest we think that our God is stingy in answering prayer - listen to verse 9. 9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! The idea here is of comparison - we are evil compared to a holy God. We can trust that our parents will always show love to us - so too will our Father in heaven. We don't act that way a lot, though. We think that God will only give us something if it means we'll move to Somalia and preach the gospel, or live on bread and water in a monastery for the rest of our lives. God isn't that way - but so much of what we ask for we actually want in order to please ourselves and not God. Parents give "good" gifts - not everything their children ask for. So too God gives us what we need - but He is generous IF we ask and keep asking. It's all neatly tied up on one simple sentence - probably the most famous words Jesus ever uttered: 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. This, of course is the "golden rule". If we would really live by this - what a happy place this earth would be. People say it all the time - but do not live by it. Its one of the easiest things to say and one of the hardest to live by. It's also easier to follow the negative golden rule that we saw earlier. "Don't do bad things." - that's what people do to justify themselves. But the opposite is harder yet - doing good things proactively. Lest anyone think they can just adopt the "golden rule" and get to heaven - Jesus goes on: 13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. This is the first of four contrasts - two types of gates leading to two roads, two types of trees with two types of fruit, two types of people with two very different relationships and destinations, and two types of builders with two different types of construction methods. They all represent finding life through Jesus or choosing death and final judgment by rejecting Jesus. 1. You choose a path and a gate - the easy path of least resistance or the hard path and the narrow gate of faith in Jesus Christ. He is the way - He even called Himself "the gate". But He also said "No man comes to the Father but by Me." Satan has created all kinds of fake ways to God - but they lead to destruction, not life. What path are you on? 15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 2. The false and true - you are either a believer, or a make believer. The believers produce good fruit - by their conduct and their lives. The make believers are in it for themselves - peddling false truth in order to satisfy desire. We need to watch out for them - be aware, be listening, be skeptical - and watching the fruit. 21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' 3. Christianity isn't a magic show. You don't come to Christ in order to get or to show off. The key is do you know Him? It doesn't work if you just hang out around church and act like a Christian. You may fool us but you can't fool God. Give your heart fully and totally to Him. 24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." 4. And so those who have chosen to "put their weight down" on the Lord - rely on Him, lean up against Him, they will create their values and fashion their lives around what He's saying. That's the only way to withstand the storms and floods of this life. You can't just blow off the Lord - you've got to either receive Him wholeheartedly or reject Him. Character is revealed by fruit - faith is revealed by storms. What is the character your life reveals, what is the faith brought forth by the storms in your life? Only Jesus has the stability we need to make it. 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. The word "amazed" is a very strong word meaning astonished. Just how much does Jesus astonish you? Are you moved when He speaks, or are you so used to it that the words just bounce off and you go about your merry way? We need to let Him bowl us over, to shock us, make us mad - make us think. Lessons o We're often not as far along as we think o We need to rely on God more than we do o We need to stay focused in prayer and not give up just because you haven't got an answer right away o We must choose a relationship with Him or we will have nothing at all I want to finish by reminding us of this verse: 1 Corinthians 10:12 12 So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! Don't let pride stand in the way of honesty before the Lord! |
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