Matt 7:1-12 - A Greater Righteousness in our Relationships.

INTRODUCTION

Good Morning Life Church.

Stand with me as we read together the Word of the Lord.

Matthew 7:1–12 NASB95

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at 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,’ and behold, the log is 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 what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. “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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

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CONFLICT

Conflict, conflict, conflict.

How many of you have experienced conflict in any relationship in your life time?

CONFLICT IS A NORMAL HUMAN EXPEREINCE AND WE WE WILL NOT AVOID IN THIS LIFE.

Raise your hand if you have had conflict with -

family members

spouse

kids

parents

friends

work relationships

church relationships

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IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT JESUS CALLS HUMANITY TO A GREATER RIGHTEOUSNESS IN AND THROUGH HIM.

A Greater Righteousness than base line Torah - You have heard, but I say.

A Greater Righteousness in our Religious Practice

Giving

Prayer

Fasting

A Greater Righteousness in Our Relationships.

Our relationship to money and security.

AND TODAY: A GREATER RIGHTEOUSNESS WHEN IN CONFLICT WITH OTHERS.

I think it really awesome how Jesus in his Sermon addresses so much of what we expereince in our everyday human life.

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LETS JUMP RIGHT IN:

Through 3 case studies Jesus shows us our natural response to conflict and what it looks like to live as a child of God in the midst of human conflict.

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CASE STUDY 1: DO NOT JUDGE FOR THE MEASURE YOU USE WILL COOME BACK ON YOU.

Matthew 7:1–2 NASB95

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. “For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

Verse 1 is often taken out fo context and misused in our society.

It is used as a bully text so they can continue in sin with out you bothering them.

BUT WHAT IS JESUS REALLY TEACHING IN THESE TWO VERSES?

The Greek word used for Judge has 2 meanings.

JUDGE CAN MEAN TO DISCERN, CHOOSE, SELECT, PICK BETWEEN.

Acts 20:16 NASB95

For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus so that he would not have to spend time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 21:25 NASB95

“But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote, having decided that they should abstain from meat sacrificed to idols and from blood and from what is strangled and from fornication.”

THE SECOND WAY THIS GREEK WORD IS USED CAN BE REFLECTED IN THE ENGLISH WORD, CONDEMN.

How Jesus approached the woman caught in adultery.

John 8:11 NASB95

She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.”

Concerning those in Israel that conspired to put Jesus to death.

Acts 13:27 NASB95

“For those who live in Jerusalem, and their rulers, recognizing neither Him nor the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled these by condemning Him.

NOW LET’S SEE WHICH WORD FITS CORRECTLY.

DO NOT _________ SO THAT YOU WILL NOT BE ___________.

BUT THIS BECOMES EVEN MORE OBVIOUS WHEN WE LOOK AT VERSE 2.

Matthew 7:2 NASB95

“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

Standard of measure

Think of ancient scales that would weigh a product - a weight.

By what weight or standard are you using to condemn a person?

That same standard will be used on you!

JESUS IS NOT TEACHING US TO NOT USE DISCERNMENT TO RECOGNIZE GOOD AND EVIL, RIGHT AND WRONG, OR GOOD AND BETTER.

He is not saying we are to ignore what people do.

JESUS IS TEACHING US NOT TO CONDEMN - NOT TO ALLOW A PERSONS BEHAVIOR TO CAUSE YOU TO CONDEMN THEM AS A PERSON IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

WHAT STANDARD ARE YOU USING TO CONDEMN A PERSON?

THE LAW? YOU FAIL ALSO

JESUS - YOU ARE NOT HIM EITHER

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS - LOL STOP IT.

WHAT STANDARD CAN YOU USE TO CONDEMN SOMEONE ELSE THAT WILL NOT ALSO CONDEMN YOU?.

JESUS IS CALLING US TO USE THE STANDARD OF GRACE.

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Jesus calls us when in conflict to not condemn a person, because what standard we use will be used against us, and like them, we too will fail.

The only standard, we as humans can use is grace.

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OK JESUS BUT WHAT IF I SEE A REAL PROBLEM IS A PERSON AND I WANT TO HELP THEM?

CASE STUDY 2: BEAM BEFORE SPLINTER.

Matthew 7:3–5 NASB95

“Why do you look at 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,’ and behold, the log is 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.

Notice; Jesus did not say do not help them.

WHAT DID HE SAY WE NEED TO DO FIRST?

Before we can help we have to deal with our motives, heart, and our own sin.

Many times our motives are just as much a problem as the splinter we see in the other person.

Arrogance - I am better so I should help. That is a log

Offense - That splinter they have offends me - Log.

Anger - Their splinter really makes me angery - log

Mirror - I see it because it reminds me of my own issue and instead of dealing with me, I will deal with them. - Log.

JESUS GIVES US THE PROPER STEPS IN HOW TO HELP ONE ANOTHER TOWARDS RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HEALING WITHOUT HARMING ONE ANOTHER.

Before we help, we need to first be self-discerning. Allow the HS to search our heart and then deal with our own issues - motives, personal sin.

We then go to the cross with our motive and or personal sin and receive grace.

Now we are humbled before the cross and able to help our brother or sister with a gentle, loving touch, that is full of mercy, grace, and wisdom through our own expereince.

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HAVE YOU EVER GONE TO A PERSON IN HUMILITY AND LOVE, ONLY DESIRING TO SEE THEM HEALED AND RESTORED, TO HAVE THEM POUNCE ON YOU LIKE A WILD ANIMAL?

CASE STUDY 3 - DOGS AND SWINE NEED TIME TO BECOME HUMAN AGAIN.

Matthew 7:6 NASB95

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

Holy - Jesus is reafering to Holy food, meals for holy days or meat from offerings that were given to the priests.

Dogs - Not pets at the time and were seen as wild scavangers that will take what you give them and then take your arm.

Pearls - Torah was know as Pearls of wisdom.

Pigs - Wallow in their filth and seem to enjoy the filth over being cleansed and dressed for show.

The idea is this, at times you may have Holy Wisdom, that is healing and able to help but the person is not ready to recieve.

If you try to give them Holy Wisdom in the state of deep pain, hurt, or anger, they will likely trample it and then turn on you.

JESUS IS CALLING US TO NOT ONLY DICERN, APPRAOCH WITH HUMILITY, GRACE, MERCY, AND GODLY WISDOM, BUT TO ALSO DISCERN THE RIGHT TIMING TO DELIVER SUCH WORDS.

There is a time to bring healing by helping a brother and sister out of the mud, and to feed them godly wisdom.

There is also a time, to let them be and be a listener who discerns but does not condemn.

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YOU COULD DISTILL THE TEACHING OF JESUS DOWN TO THIS.

Do not condemn another person for you will be judged in the same way you measure them.

Rather, deal with your own heart first and personal sins.

Approach the person with humility, love, mercy, and grace to bring healing and restoration.

But before you attempt to bring healing, you need to discern if the timing is right to speak or if you simply need to be a non- condemning ear.

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WOW JESUS IS ASKING A LOT, LIVING IN A GREATER RIGHTEOUSNESS WHEN IN CONFLICT IS NOT EASY.

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This is why Jesus teaches us to seek the Wisdom of the HS before we do anything.

Matthew 7:7–11 NASB95

“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 he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

WE CANNOT ON OUR OWN LIVE THIS GREATER RIGHTEOUSNESS.

We must be a people who are dependent on the Holy Spirit and seeking God for his wisdom, and grace when we find ourselves in conflict.

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Jesus concludes the message in this way.

Matthew 7:12 NASB95

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

ASK YOURSELF, HOW DO I WANT TO BE TREATED WHEN I HAVE OFFENDED OR SINNED AGAINST SOMEONE.

I do not want to be condemned but to be treated with mercy and grace.

I want to be corrected with mercy and grace, as well as a soft touch.

And when I am in a dark place, I want people to love me, even when I am in the wrong. I want someone who will listen and hear me before they try to solve all my problems.

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CONCLUSION:

Jesus calls us to step away from our pettiness, and to step into a greater righteousness in our relationships even when they are in the midst of conflict.

I am to respond to others, the way I would want them to respond to me.

I can only do this by, seeking God for His grace, humility, love, paitience, and wisdom to discern correctly.

TODAY IF YOU FIND YOURSELF IN CONFLICT AND ARE IN NEED OF THE GRACE OF GOD, THE ALTARS ARE OPEN TO YOU.

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PRAYER

Holy Trinity, show me where I am wrong, show me my heart that I may bring it to the cross and find grace, forgiveness, and wholeness.

In my relationships Lord, lead me to be a healer, restorer, and reconciler. Give me the discernment to recognize evil, the love to heal, and the wisdom to know when to approach others.

And when I am in the wrong, my I be dealt with the same love and grace as I desire to give others.

In the name of Jesus our Lord, Amen.