| Teacher: Rusty Kennedy Series: Gospels |
Rusty's Notes | |
Matthew 7 – Sermon on the Mount (Part 3)
1 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a log in your eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
- How many of you were quick to judge Tiger Woods this week? Or Kathy Griffen?
- So are Christians not to judge?
- We judge other Christians to help them in their walk.
- The Pharisees were judging other believers to make themselves look good.
- 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 – 1 It is widely reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles —a man is living with his father’s wife. 2 And you are inflated with pride, instead of filled with grief so that he who has committed this act might be removed from your congregation. 3 For though I am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already decided about the one who has done this thing as though I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus with my spirit and with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast permeates the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch. You are indeed unleavened, for Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old yeast or with the yeast of malice and evil but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. [1]
- You can judge one’s actions or attitudes but you can’t judge their motive (what comes from the heart).
- It is possible for a person to do a good work with a bad motive.
- It is also possible to fail in a task and yet be very sincerely motivated.[2] - Should we baptize in the Jordan River?
- Sometimes we take our own plank out and learn from the process… it is then we can help others with the same issues.
- Other times we have to discern when to not interfere or get involved.
7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
- What is “it”?
- This isn’t about “getting stuff” or “opportunities”.
- This passage is in light of “judgment” and seeking wisdom for each situation.
- Wisdom comes from the Lord.
9 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
- If the Pharisees know how to give good gifts to their kids (not even questioning their motive of giving), won’t the Lord give even greater gifts (when it comes to wisdom)?
12 Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.
- We should no more build our theology on the Golden Rule than we should build our astronomy on “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”[3]
- The Golden Rule – This is for believers!
- If our judging of others is not governed by this principle, we will become proud and critical, and our own spiritual character will degenerate.[4]
- No matter what… we will face opposition.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
- The Pharisees have a whole Mishna of rules and regulations when it comes to passing judgment.
- Jesus narrows it down to one. Love others.
- I was told it was difficult road… but it was more difficult to find than it was to live.
15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
- We have no membership here at Leavener.
- You are free to roam.
- Figure this thing out… are we teaching Truth or lies?
17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
- Most churches measure growth by the 3B’s (Baptisms, Budge and Butts in the seats)
- “Is your church growing?”
- How do you measure what happens in the hearts and homes of people? You see it… first hand.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
- The difference between those who naturally walk by the Spirit vs those who naturally walk by the flesh.
- One (the flesh) living their life by doing things in their own strength.
- The other (the Spirit) living their life by the strength and power of another.
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.
- Describing those who naturally walk by the Spirit.
26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!”
- Describing those who naturally walk by the flesh.
28 When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, 29 because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes. [5]
- The scribes and Pharisees spoke “from authorities,” always quoting the various rabbis and experts of the Law.
- Jesus needed no human teacher to add authority to His words; for He spoke as the Son of God.[6]
[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Co 5:1–8). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 29). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 30). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 30). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 7:1–29). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
1 “Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged. 2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the log in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a log in your eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
- How many of you were quick to judge Tiger Woods this week? Or Kathy Griffen?
- So are Christians not to judge?
- We judge other Christians to help them in their walk.
- The Pharisees were judging other believers to make themselves look good.
- 1 Corinthians 5:1-8 – 1 It is widely reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and the kind of sexual immorality that is not even tolerated among the Gentiles —a man is living with his father’s wife. 2 And you are inflated with pride, instead of filled with grief so that he who has committed this act might be removed from your congregation. 3 For though I am absent in body but present in spirit, I have already decided about the one who has done this thing as though I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus with my spirit and with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 turn that one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord.
6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little yeast permeates the whole batch of dough? 7 Clean out the old yeast so that you may be a new batch. You are indeed unleavened, for Christ our Passover has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore, let us observe the feast, not with old yeast or with the yeast of malice and evil but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. [1]
- You can judge one’s actions or attitudes but you can’t judge their motive (what comes from the heart).
- It is possible for a person to do a good work with a bad motive.
- It is also possible to fail in a task and yet be very sincerely motivated.[2] - Should we baptize in the Jordan River?
- Sometimes we take our own plank out and learn from the process… it is then we can help others with the same issues.
- Other times we have to discern when to not interfere or get involved.
7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
- What is “it”?
- This isn’t about “getting stuff” or “opportunities”.
- This passage is in light of “judgment” and seeking wisdom for each situation.
- Wisdom comes from the Lord.
9 What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
- If the Pharisees know how to give good gifts to their kids (not even questioning their motive of giving), won’t the Lord give even greater gifts (when it comes to wisdom)?
12 Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them—this is the Law and the Prophets.
- We should no more build our theology on the Golden Rule than we should build our astronomy on “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.”[3]
- The Golden Rule – This is for believers!
- If our judging of others is not governed by this principle, we will become proud and critical, and our own spiritual character will degenerate.[4]
- No matter what… we will face opposition.
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
- The Pharisees have a whole Mishna of rules and regulations when it comes to passing judgment.
- Jesus narrows it down to one. Love others.
- I was told it was difficult road… but it was more difficult to find than it was to live.
15 “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
- We have no membership here at Leavener.
- You are free to roam.
- Figure this thing out… are we teaching Truth or lies?
17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
- Most churches measure growth by the 3B’s (Baptisms, Budge and Butts in the seats)
- “Is your church growing?”
- How do you measure what happens in the hearts and homes of people? You see it… first hand.
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’
- The difference between those who naturally walk by the Spirit vs those who naturally walk by the flesh.
- One (the flesh) living their life by doing things in their own strength.
- The other (the Spirit) living their life by the strength and power of another.
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.
- Describing those who naturally walk by the Spirit.
26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!”
- Describing those who naturally walk by the flesh.
28 When Jesus had finished this sermon, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, 29 because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes. [5]
- The scribes and Pharisees spoke “from authorities,” always quoting the various rabbis and experts of the Law.
- Jesus needed no human teacher to add authority to His words; for He spoke as the Son of God.[6]
[1] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (1 Co 5:1–8). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[2] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 29). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[3] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 30). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[4] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 30). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[5] The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Mt 7:1–29). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
[6] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 1, p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
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