4/19/2015
A Philosophy to Live By
How To Treat People As Christ Treated Them
Matthew 7:1-12
Judgement Is God’s Dominion
Matthew 7:1-2 Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Isaiah 33:22 —the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us!
Hebrews 12:22-23 …you have come to Mount Zion; to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in joyful gathering, and to the church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all…
James 4:12 There is only one lawgiver and Judge, He Who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Focusing on Other’s Faults Magnifies Yours
Matthew 7:3-5 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? 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? 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.
Romans 14:3-4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.
James 4:11-12 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
1st Corinthians 14:3-4…I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. …
Discernment is Our Responsibility
Matthew 7:6 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 turn and tear you to pieces.
Proverbs 8:8-9 All the words of My mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge
Hosea 14:9 Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.
The “dogs” and “swine” are unappreciative, worldly, and uncaring people who belittle the value of the things of God. “That which is holy” would be the meat offered in sacrifice to God. A dog could care less whether it came from the altar or the garbage. The swine have no appreciation for either the beauty nor the value of the pearls under their feet.
The Lord Expects Personal Effort
Matthew 7: 7-8 Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Faith In God’s Ability Is Rewarded!
Matthew 7:9-11 Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 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!
Right Behavior is Righteous & Fulfils ALL Religious Requirements.
Matthew 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.