Righteousness with Respect to Man’s Relation to Man

Notes
Transcript

Order of Service

Welcome

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Psalm Reading

Psalm 69:13–15 ESV
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me.

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Reading

Matthew 7:1–12 ESV
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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? 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? 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. “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. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Sermon

Qualities of those who are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven
Proclaimation of the Gospel

Judging Others

Matthew 7:1 ESV
“Judge not, that you be not judged.
What does Jesus mean “Judge not”?
Does he really mean that all manner of judging is absolutely and without qualification forbidden?
not allowing us to form or express any opinion?
not allowing us to voice an adverse or unfavourable opinion?
Absolutely not!
Jesus has already expressed clear opinion and critism against the Pharasees and Scribes in this sermon
Jesus taught...
Attributes of the Citizens of the Kingdom Heaven
Called to be a Light on the Hill
Moses (Deut) taught...
Called to be Different
Paul taught...
Fruits of the Spirit
Church Discipline
Jesus later teachers...
John 7:24 ESV
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
Paul writes...
1 Corinthians 5:12 ESV
For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?
Galatians 1:8–9 ESV
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Philippians 3:2 ESV
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
1 Thessalonians 2:14–15 ESV
For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind
John wrote...
1 John 4:1–2 ESV
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
3 John 9 ESV
I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.
Paul wrote in Timothy of those who had turned against him, and turned away from God
Return...
Matthew 7:1 ESV
“Judge not, that you be not judged.
We cannot read our neighbours heart
Our judgments must be more reserved and never be final
At times it will be out duty to express our judgments
Jesus on Church Discipline (Matt 18:15-18)
John 20:23 ESV
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”
Return...
Matthew 7:1–5 ESV
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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? 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? 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.
To use Jesus’ words to go against church discipline is without justification
The context is in v3-5
Jesus condemns a spirit of
censoriousness
judging harshly
self rightiously
without mercy
without love
Luke records Jesus teaching ...
Luke 6:36–37 ESV
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
To be discriminating and critical is necessary
To be hypercritical is wrong
One should avoid what is ...
Untrue
Exodus 23:1 ESV
“You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.
Unnecessary
Proverbs 11:13 ESV
Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.
Unkind
Proverbs 18:8 ESV
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Return..
Matthew 7:1–6 ESV
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 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? 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? 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. “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.
Avoid Rumours & Gossip
King David (2 Sam 12:1-7) quickly condemned to death the rich man who the King has been made to believe had stolen and killed the poor mans lamb, not realising that he was concdemning and passing sentence on himself!
The inclination to discover and severely condemn faults, rela or imaginary, of others while passing lightly over our own frequently more lamentable violations of God’s law was common among
The Jews (Romans 2:1)
The Pharasiees (Luke 18:9 & John 7:49)
Everyone everywhere
Compassionate not Self-righteouness
“there but for the grace of God go I” - phrase from 1700’s
“with the measure you use it will be measured to you”
Both by man and especially by God
If you judge without mercy, you will be judged without mercy
If you judge kindly, you will be judged kindly
Speck (particle of sawdust) in brothers eye & Log (Beam) in your own
Hypocrite! - professes beliefs and opinions that they do not hold to, consealing their feelings or motives (liar & actor)
Examine yourselves (1 Cor 11:28)
The beam is self-righteousness (lacking in humility) - a defect so glaring that in the sight of God is amounts to a beam
Restore the person with a “speck in the eye” in the spirirt of gentleness
Love (1 Cor 13)
Galatians 6:1 ESV
Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
It is not Jesus’ intension to discourage mutual discipline
Self-Discipline and Mutual discipline are encouraged
Matthew 7:6 ESV
“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.
Brothers & “Dogs”/ “Pigs” must not be treated equally
Brothers with endless patience
“Dogs or Pigs” trampled underfoot
We must discriminate carefully
What is meant by “Dogs” & “Pigs” ?
Philippians 3:2 ESV
Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh.
Wwicked, vicious and despicable nature
Disciples are not to endlessly continue to bring the gospel message to those who scorn it
Patience must be exercised, but there is a limit
A moment arises when constant resistance to the gracious invitation must be punished by the departure of the messengers of good tidings.
Jesus was patient with
Thomas in the upper room (John 20:24-29) - offered him to put his finger in his hands and side
Peter (John 21:15-19) - do you love me?
Jesus pronounced a curse on Capernaum
Matthew 11:23 ESV
And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.
He instructed disciples not to remain long in those places that reject their preaching
Matthew 10:14–15 ESV
And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.
Matthew 10:23 ESV
When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
Parable of the Barren Fig Tree
Luke 13:6–9 ESV
And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”
God’s patience, though prolonged, is not endless
Return...
Matthew 7:6 ESV
“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.
“Lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you”
They treat the gospel with disdain
The pigs consider the pearls to resemble peas or acorns, greedily taste them, but reject them and trample them underfoot and attack those who gave it to them
What is Holy & Pearls is not limited to the Gospel Message
Eldership and Diaconate must not be entrusted to the unqualified
Lord’s Supper - “let no one eat or drink … except those who have been baptised in the Lord’s Name”

Ask, and it will be Given

Matthew 7:7–8 ESV
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
continue to ask, seek and knock
Ask
Humility and conscious of need
“God be merciful to me, the sinner” (Publican’s Prayer: Luke 18:10-13)
Faith in God he Father
Asking presupposes belief in a personal God with whom man can have fellowship
Expects an answer and implies faith in a God who can, does and will answer
Such faith makes the prayer warm and personal
Seek
Asking + action
Earnest petitioning alone is not sufficient
The person must be actively endeavouring to obtain the fulfilment of his needs
E.g. One should not only pray for a deep knowledge of the Bible
but should also diligently search and examine the scriptures (John 5:39)
attend services (Hebrews 10:25)
strive to live in harmony with God’s Will (John 7:17)
Knock
Asking + Action + persevering
One knocks repeatedly until the door is opened
The King & Father opens the door and supplies whatever is needed
(Luke 11:5-8) - visitor in the night asking, household gone to bed, the owner won’t get the items because of being a friend but because of the persistence and impudence
Matthew 7:9–11 ESV
Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
If an earthly father will satisfy reasonable desires of his son
will not deceive his son
will not replace a fish with a serpent (eel?)
Surely, your heavenly Father, who is the source of all goodness, will give good things to those who address to him their humble petitions
On basis of Luke 11:13 the conclusion is valid that the Heavenly Father will give his children the Holy Spirit and all his benefits
Christians may rest assured that God will answer our prayers and will provide the day by day solutions for the problems with respect to interpersonal relationships.
Leading to ...

The Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12 ESV
“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
“Whatever you wish others would do to you, do also to them”
Not mearly to refrain from negative treatment, but to be proactive in “love your neighbour as yourself”
“For this is the Law and the Prophets”
Love God & love your neighbour as yourself

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Closing Prayer

Doxology

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