March 23-24, 2019
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Matthew? Here’s today’s reading:
Matthew 7 (ESV)
“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you....Continue Reading
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Thinking about how individualized the message of scripture is for each one of us. Marvel at the notion of how enormous the universe is yet how personal God chooses to be with each one of us
Amen Jim!!!!
“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 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? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Using your own measuring stick and God’s measuring stick on yourself, sure eliminates many opportunities for one to be judgmental.
It’s no wonder that the crowds responded the way they did when Jesus finished this incredible, revolutionary, awe inspiring and deeply convicting message. They were amazed because Jesus spoke with authority and dare I add conviction because all He said He knew was absolutely true! Our familiarity with these words only magnifies their significance and the power they have had to last through the ages. Who is still not struck by the words of not judging and taking the two by four out of our own eye rather than getting all flustered with the speck of dust in another’s eye? And what does it say about our God that you have not because you ask not? I mean who else but the Son of God even has permission to cast God in that image? We do have to understand that this does not make God a vending machine, and He responds best in the context of an ever deepening relationship with Him. But to know as we do engage with Him that He is a God who wants to be asked. He is a God who rewards seeking and knocking. He desires a measure of human effort and intentionality in approaching Him that engages our free will and also reenforces our faith that when He does act we know it is Him because we asked and He responded. God doesn’t mind acting incognito, but in relationship with His people He wants there to be a more direct link between our request and His action.
And for those who embrace the truth that Jesus provides understand full well their ability to withstand the storms that life brings. The solid ground it establishes us on is invaluable, not only by virtue of the principles that give direction for thinking and behavior but also because of the God they connect us with who says be still and know that I have got this!
Matthew 7:1 (ESV)
“Judge not, that you be not judged.
One of the often misquoted verses I hear is this verse. Often it is used to excuse sinful behavior and when believers call attention to the sinful behavior then those committing the sin throw up ‘Judge not, that you be not judged’.
Christ did not teach that we are to have a laissez-faire attitude toward sin, especially sin within the body of believers. In just a few breaths later, he says to ‘beware of false prophets’ and to judge the fruit that we see in the lives of others.
So what does this verse mean?
The context is important to understanding that Christ continues his teaching about how internal integrity is important to our lives. He challenges us to check our own heart and deal with sin in our own lives before trying to dress down the sin in someone else’s life. The teaching about the log in our own eye, the golden rule in this passage both continue to reflect this internal consistency measure.
1″Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.