Matthew 7:1-14
“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For by the standard you judge you will be judged, and the measure you use will be the measure you receive.
Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Do not give what is holy to dogs or throw your pearls before pigs; otherwise they will trample them under their feet and turn around and tear you to pieces.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, although 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!
In everything, treat others as you would want them to treat you, for this fulfills the law and the prophets.
“Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it!
The Scriptures quoted are from the NET Bible® http://netbible.com copyright ©1996, 2019 used with permission from Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. All rights reserved.
COMMENT & QUESTIONS
There is a specific type of judgement that Jesus condemns here. In other places He asks His followers to judge with righteous judgement (John 7:24). So what kind of judgement is Jesus condemning here?
He is condemning hypocritical judgement. He is telling us not to place judgements on others when we are living impure lives ourselves.
Does Jesus say that the path to life is easy and simple? Are we sometimes surprised when our faith is difficult and burdensome even though Jesus warns us that it is difficult? Think about the difficulty Jesus faced in His life.
He tells us that it will be difficult. Sometimes we pretend to ourselves like life will be easy. But the example of Jesus shows us that we will face persecution and hurt. Even Paul faced enormous trial and hardship
PRAYERS
Pray that you can overcome any hypocritical judgement in your life. Give thanks that your Heavenly Father listens to your requests and answers lovingly Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ who are walking the difficult way today