Judging, Seeking, and Receiving from a Righteous God

Sermon Outline: Matthew 7:1-12, NKJV

Title: Judging, Seeking, and Receiving from a Righteous God Text: Matthew 7:1-12, NKJV Theme: Judging with humility, seeking with persistence, and trusting in God's goodness

I. Judging with Righteousness and Humility (Matthew 7:1-5)

“Judge not, that you be not judged.” (v. 1)

A. The Danger of Hypocritical Judgment (vv. 1-2)

Matthew 7:1–5 “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Jesus warns against self-righteous, condemning judgment.

The measure by which we judge will be applied to us. If we say, “You have sinned and deserve to die, then we too have sinned and deserve to die.” Or, we say, “You have committed this sin and you shall never be allowed to fellowship with us again, then we have also sinned and should God not forbid us fellowship?” This is exactly what Jesus is saying, be careful the measure you use to judge, because God will judge you using that same measure. Some would say it, then we should not judge at all, because we endanger ourselves when we do, but thats also incorrect.

This is not a command to abandon all discernment, or exhortation, but to avoid harsh, unmerciful judgment.

Hebrews 10:23–25 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”

✅ Illustration: A person harshly judging someone’s lifestyle while ignoring their own sinful habits.

B. The Call for Self-Examination (vv. 3-4)

Jesus uses hyperbolic imagery: the "speck" in your brother’s eye versus the "plank" in your own. Imagine if you would, a man leaves his wife at home and brings his girlfriend to church. He sit down in the pew and turn to his neighbor and says, “Hey, I heard you got arrested for DUI last weekend, you know what the bible says, be of sober mind.” Is the man right? Sure, we should be of sober mind because we never know when the Lord will return or what stupid sins we might commit while drunk, but really man. Does the brother have the moral or biblical ground to stand on here? No, He has sin just a blatant in his won life he needs to deal with before he calls out his brothers sin.

We often magnify others' faults while minimizing our own.

Its human nature to see fault in others while rationalizing or minimizing our own sin, its the problem of the fallen flesh we all have.

If you do this, then Jesus is justified in calling you a hypocrite, you are an actor, someone pretending to be pious and righteous, a liar.

Before correcting others, we must examine our own hearts and motives.

Let us make sure we have repented of our sins before we call out our brothers. But we should, exhort one another as Christians, that is biblical and commanded. But after we exhort our brother and they repent we should restore them.

Cross-Reference: Galatians 6:1 – “Restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.”

C. The Right Way to Judge (v. 5)

Jesus calls us to remove the plank from our own eye first.

This allows us to see clearly to help others with compassion and humility.

Application: Righteous judgment seeks to restore, not condemn.

Cross-Reference: John 7:24 – “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

D. Evangelizing Smartly

We are called to make disciples, which means we have to evangelize and spread the gospel.

In verse 6, Jesus gives us some important guidance on spreading the gospel. Matthew 7:6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

Is Jesus telling us not to tell the gentiles the gospel? No, He is saying don’t cast such a wide net that the gospel is dishonored by the masses, who have not yet been prepared by the Holy Spirit to receive it. And we are to beware that they turn upon us and devour us. The apostles are all good examples of this, Paul is stoned and beaten nearly to death when he preaches to the gentiles several times. All but the Apostle John are killed for what they preached, and he was even scalded with oil and imprisoned, they attempted to kill him but God protected him for obvious reasons, he still work for him to do. The gospel is a life changing thing, its a very personal thing, and was always meant to be given from person to person with a personal touch and through brotherly love.

II. Seeking with Persistence and Trust (Matthew 7:7-8)

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (v. 7)

A. The Command to Ask, Seek, and Knock (v. 7)

These three commands represent increasing levels of intensity and persistence in prayer:

Ask – A simple request made in faith.

Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Ask God to forgive your sins. Ask for healing and restoration.

Seek – A deeper pursuit, requiring effort and diligence.

Our faith is actionable, we must respond to Christ’s sacrifice by seeking Him in everything. We cant just sit back and do nothing once we have been saved, if you can do that you don’t know my Jesus. But Jesus says, “seek, and you will find.” Seek Jesus and you will find Jesus, seek peace and you will find peace, seek love and you will find love. on the flip side, if you seek sin, you will find sin, if you seek war, you will find war, if you seek hatred, you will find hate. So seek, but be know this, what you seek, you will find. I know I pray that we all seek Jesus, and if you do, you will find Him and all that He is.

Knock – A picture of perseverance, continuing until the door is opened.

Sometimes we have to wait for what God has for us, even as devout believers. But if we ask, if we seek, and if we knock it will be opened to us. What is it the door reveals to us? its eternity and God’s will for our lives for eternity.

Application: We are encouraged to be bold and persistent in our prayers.

✅ Illustration: A child repeatedly asking their parent for help, confident in their love and willingness to respond.

B. The Promise of a Response (v. 8)

Jesus assures us that those who ask, seek, and knock will receive, find, and have the door opened.

This is not a blanket promise for any request but is in line with God’s will and wisdom.

Application: Don’t grow weary in prayer. God answers in His perfect timing.

Cross-Reference: 1 John 5:14 – “If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”

✅ Illustration: A job seeker who applies persistently until they find the right opportunity.

What does Matthew 7:1 mean when it says, 'Judge not, that you be not judged'?

III. Receiving Good Gifts from a Good God (Matthew 7:9-12)

“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 good things to those who ask Him!” (v. 11)

A. God’s Generous Heart (vv. 9-10)

Jesus uses a relatable analogy: even sinful human parents give good gifts to their children.

If a child asks for bread, no loving parent would give a stone.

This reveals God’s greater love and willingness to bless His children. For if sinful parents can give good gifts how much better is the gift from the perfect loving God of the Universe? Its way better!

What is the gift God gives us all freely and without reservation? His forgiveness, His grace, and His mercy. But not only that, He gives us purpose, structure, and all that we need to fulfil His plan for our lives.

Application: Trust in God’s goodness, even when His answers differ from our expectations.

Cross-Reference: James 1:17 – “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above.”

✅ Illustration: A parent lovingly giving their child what they need, not necessarily what they want.

B. The Golden Rule: A Reflection of God’s Goodness (v. 12)

Jesus concludes this section with the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated.

This summarizes God’s ethical principles—calling us to reflect His goodness in our relationships.

Application: Our treatment of others should reflect the grace and generosity we receive from God.

Cross-Reference: Ephesians 4:32 – “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”

✅ Illustration: A person showing kindness to a stranger, expecting nothing in return, simply out of compassion.

Application Section:

Judge with Humility and Righteousness:

Before correcting others, examine your own heart.

Practice gentle, restorative judgment, not self-righteous condemnation.

Pray with Persistence and Trust:

Keep asking, seeking, and knocking, even when answers seem delayed.

Trust God’s timing and His wisdom in responding.

Trust in God’s Goodness:

Believe that God gives what is truly good for us, even if it’s different from what we ask.

Reflect God’s goodness by treating others with love, grace, and mercy.

Conclusion:

Matthew 7:1-12 reveals the heart of God toward His people. Jesus calls us to judge with humility and righteousness, to seek God with persistence, and to trust in His goodness. As we live out the Golden Rule, we reflect the character of our gracious Father.

What does Matthew 7:1 mean when it says, 'Judge not, that you be not judged'?

Can you explain what Jesus means by the 'plank' and 'speck' analogy in Matthew 7?

How should self-examination influence our approach to judging others?

What are some practical examples of 'righteous judgment' as mentioned in the sermon?

How does Jesus' command to 'ask, seek, and knock' relate to our prayer life?

According to the sermon, why are we called to reflect God's goodness in our relationships?

What are some examples of 'good gifts' that God provides for us as discussed in the sermon?

How can the Golden Rule shape our interactions with others?

How can understanding God's goodness help us in times of struggle?

In what ways can we practice gentle, restorative judgment with our peers?

Why is it important to trust in God's timing when we seek answers through prayer?