We’re starting out the last chapter of the Sermon on the Mount, and today we’re going to talk about Matthew chapter 7 verses 1-6. Again want to give a shout out to our fellow teacher Linda Borcky, who is responsible for some of the content of this lesson.
“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. 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.” Matthew 7:1-5
Think about our culture. We live in a world that wants no judgment at all. We are told no one has a right to judge. We live in a culture that wants everything to be deemed “acceptable”; no actions to be judged, no absolute truth, and for all moral attributes to be looked at from a relative point of view. Everyone wants to do what is right in their own eyes, and they say they want the same for all people. However this kind of living gets tested when their ideas of right and wrong clash. In a world of relativism, who or what is the deciding factor of right and wrong? While on the outside this kind of lifestyle may seem like it would bring the most peace and joy to the world, when you think it through, it actually doesn’t work at all. But although the first verse in chapter 7 of Matthew seems to be talking about this kind of worldly judgement (and often gets quoted as such), is that really what Jesus is talking about here?
Remember in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaking to believers. He is telling them what kingdom life should, and will in the future, look like. So what are we not to judge? What is Jesus saying to us as Christians?
Let me start with a few things to keep in mind. First of all God is the ultimate judge. “I said to myself, “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” Ecclesiastes 3:17 Why does God get to judge? Because as Creator, He has every right to!
The second thing to keep in mind is that God is the only one who truly knows our hearts and our motives. Although we don’t know a person’s motives, nothing is hidden from Him. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13.
So, when we look at these first six verses, what we see is Jesus saying we should not condemn a fellow believer for his faults in a way that is unforgiving. Notice the plank and speck are made of the same thing. The goal is still to remove the speck, but remove your own plank first. In other words, don’t hypocritically rebuke your fellow Christian! Removing your own plank first will leave you with the skills, gentleness and humility needed to help him remove his speck.
What Jesus is not saying is that if we never make any judgements about sin in another believer’s life, that He will not judge us! That is not true at all. Everyone will be judged. As believers, we didn’t, in fact we can’t, earn God’s forgiveness. Not in any way. The point is, in those times that we feel that we need to help a fellow believer caught in sin, do it the right way, like we talked about already. We need to see clearly ourselves to do that; and we want to truly help him to see clearly then too! We are sheep belonging to the same family. We do not devour each other; we love each other!
And what about verse 6? What is Jesus talking about here?
“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.” Matthew 7:6
What is Jesus saying in this very strange sounding verse? The sacred things would be the things of God. Pearls were priceless gems, referring to something of great value, and were a symbol of wisdom and truth. Dogs in that culture were considered unclean, filthy scavengers. Scripture never refers to God’s own as “dogs”. Pigs and swine were considered unclean and were repulsive to the Jews. Scripture never refers to God’s people as “swine or pigs.”
Jesus is warning believers about the dogs and pigs…the unbelievers. While we are to preach the gospel to everyone, not knowing those who the elect are, we are not to continue to preach the gospel to those who are hostile to it, or to those who treat it with contempt and scorn. Jesus taught the Apostles to “shake the dust off of their feet” when they left a city that would not listen to the gospel message. We see them taking this advice in Acts 13:49-52 “The word of the Lord spread through the whole region. But the Jewish leaders incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their region. So they shook the dust off their feet as a warning to them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”
This may seem harsh, but there are going to be people who will not ever understand and accept the gospel message, and some of them will be hostile to it. There may also be people who profess to be Christians, but who are actually apostate, meaning that they aren’t really saved. There are instructions similar to Matthew 7:6 in Titus 3:10-11 “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them. You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.” This is reiterated in Hebrews 6.
Preach the gospel to all. Deal with your own sin first, then correct a brother or sister gently and humbly. However, recognize there may be a time to walk away and shake the dust off your feet. If the person is truly of the elect, they will eventually turn from their sin and repent. If they do, then lovingly welcome them (back) into the fold!
