Matthew 7:1-6, 15-23: Counsel from the Sermon on the Mount

Counsel from the Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 7:1-6, 15-23.

Counsel about Prejudice

1), 2) 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.

Galatians 6:7, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

But Jesus taught us in (Matthew 5:7) “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Love covers a multitude of sins, and the loving heart looks rather to forgive than to judge.

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? 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?

Jesus exposed our tendency to see a small fault in someone else while ignoring the same fault in ourselves.

1 Corinthians 11:31, For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

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.

• The best place to criticize your neighbor is in front of your own mirror. Anonymous

• The critic who starts with himself will have no time to take on outside contracts. Anonymous

• Or as wise old Ben Franklin put it . . . Clean your fingers before you point at my spots.

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.

ILLUSTRATION: J. Vernon McGee tells the following story: I remember a Tennessee legislator friend of mine who was a heavy drinker. He was wonderfully converted and is a choice servant of God today. The other members of the legislature knew how he drank. Then they heard he “got religion,” as they called it. One day this fellow took his seat in the legislature, and his fellow-members looked him over. Finally, someone rose, addressed the chairman of the meeting and said, “I make a motion that we hear a sermon from Deacon So-and-So.” Everyone laughed. But my friend was equal to the occasion. He got to his feet and said, “I’m sorry, I do not have anything to say. My Lord told me not to cast my pearls before swine.” He sat down, and they never ridiculed him anymore.

Here is the major point of this passage.

While followers of Jesus must not be guilty of condemning anyone, we must learn to discriminate in our witness.

Counsel about Prophets

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?

1 Thessalonians 5:21, Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

1 John 4:1, Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Be a Berean

17), 18) 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.

2 Corinthians 11:14, 15, 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.

1 John 3:9, 10

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.

2 Peter 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.

The destiny of the false prophets “swift destruction”

The Counsel about Profession

21), 22), 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. 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.