Matthew 7

S - Matthew 7
O - Still Jesus' sermon on the Mount. This chapter also covers a range of topics.
Judging Others
V1-2 couldn't hold more truth.
1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 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. 
I don't think I need to elaborate much more on that.


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?
Same here - I'm often quick to point out others' mistakes but remain totally oblivious to my own. It's like I have so much ego I see myself through rose-tinted glasses but everyone else in...i don't know, a grey lens.  We must first take the plank out of our own eye...then what is the speck of sawdust in our brother's eye compared to that? As sinners, we will probably have lots of planks and specks in our eyes so moral of the story is probably not to judge others. period.


I also love how Jesus says:
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.
Yes, hypocrite I am. And a lot of times I also judge people by their outward appearance....


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.
I'm not sure what this verse refers to * but possibly, to be wise with what God gives you, and not let others take advantage of you.


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. 
This is why we should continue in prayer, continue seeking out God's word whether it is through reading the bible, going to church, attending talks, and genuinely wanting to become part of God's family.*


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!
It seems this is quite a common theme in Matthew. Jesus often gives an example of something small, and then when compared to the what the Lord would do it becomes insignificant. (that was a pretty wishy-washy summary). It is encouraging, though to think of it like that, because our Lord is incomparable and he still prizes us on top of anything else in creation.


12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.


yup. period.


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.
I was just discussing this bit with Anita earlier this week. For many of us Christians we have entered through the small gate, but keeping on the narrow road is quite an issue - one that we struggle with daily. It leads to life though!!! Keep on the narrow road and we have life - a pretty good one where we'll be able to have a personal long-term relationship with God. Actually, more like a relationship for eternity.


(yikes this page in my bible is falling out)


15 "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 
sheeps clothing....in disguise as part of God's sheep. and this metaphor comes up later on in Matthew as I am reading ahead.


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. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 
It's encouraging what Jesus says in v18. For example, if we go to church led by a pastor who preaches biblically according to the doctrines, then the fruit we gain is good. At the end God is the judge of each "tree" and the ones that bear bad fruit will not live. To judge them according to the fruit could be looking at the church as a whole. Although there are other factors which influence this, but if the members don't have beliefs in the correct doctrinal teachings, I'd say you could consider that bad 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!'
This goes to show that if we don't do the will of our Father in heaven, we won't enter the kingdom of heaven, and nothing else we have done will right that. " Surprising that the examples of prophesying and performing miracles, even though in the name of Jesus will not make the cut. It's not just as simple as recognizing Jesus as your Lord, but looking to God and doing his will on earth.* Jesus even calls them evildoers.


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. 26But 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." 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.


Lastly, this can be summed up quite well by the sunday school song...
The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock



and also the song for adult congregation...
Christ the Solid Rock

I was actually looking for another song that goes "alllllllllllll other ground, is sinking sand" but I can't find it. This one is close enough

* I found it! http://youtu.be/fM-lFTJavMs