matthew 7

Read Matthew 7 at Bible Gateway.

Today in the first few verses of Mat 7 we find the favorite Scripture in the whole Bible of the unrighteous! We know right away that Jesus is NOT telling us to not make judgments about right and wrong actions and behavior. We know, because He tells us in just a few more verses, TO make judgments based on behavior. (“You will know them by their fruits," vs. 16.) We need to evaluate what fruit is being produced in someone's life, and then make a judgment based on that fruit, whether we want to listen to them or not, or associate with them or not.

Also, Torah commands nations and communities to set up judges who will judge cases according to the Law. We know that the Word of God is truth, Genesis to Revelation, and truth cannot contradict. So if two things seem to contradict, then it is our understanding that is off somewhere, not the Word of God.

So what does Jesus mean, when He says, “Judge not, that you be not judged?" “Judge" in Greek is krino, and it means, by implication, to try, condemn, or punish. We might make decisions based on someone's fruit, and even pass a judgment in a court of Law based on someone's action or behavior, but we are not to try the heart of another human being or condemn the heart of another human being. When we do that, we are taking on ourselves something only God can do.

We are to measure grace to people, and forgiveness, because the fact is, we are not at the point of judgment yet! Jesus has not returned yet and has not separated the sheep from the goats. So there is still time for anyone to have their eyes opened, or for anyone to be saved and redeemed, even at the last hour!

I know that when I stand before the Lord, I want grace and mercy measured to me (Mat 7:2), so I try to be careful to measure it to others. I want to be given the benefit of the doubt!

The discussion on specks and planks (Mat 7:3-5) continues the Judge not theme. Isn't it something that Jesus assigned the speck to our brother's eye, but the plank to our own? So no matter who is reading this passage, that person has a plank, and everyone else has a speck. It is human nature to play down our own faults and play up our neighbor's. Unregenerate man always tries to make the sin someone else is doing far worse than the sin that we are doing. Just listen to an argument between a husband and a wife!

The fact is, we are far too harsh on other's faults, and far too lenient with our own. If we remember that we are the ones with the plank, it will help us to hold our tongue when we want to start "helping" someone else by pointing out what is wrong with them. "Help" like that really disguises a desire to accuse. Accusations are not what we are to be about, but edification! The enemy is the accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10), so we ought to be very careful not to be about his business.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Mat 7:21-23

So what about this difficult passage? I do believe Jesus is warning us here, to not deceive ourselves into thinking that just because we talk the talk, we have our fire insurance and all is well. If we talk, we must also walk, and the manner of the walk is defined by God Himself and not us. Jesus will judge with perfect judgment, and He will judge whose hearts are truly His, by who does the will of His Father, which is revealed in the Word of God, including Torah. He will tell those who practice Law- lessness (Torah- lessness) to depart from Him. The key verb in this sentence is "practice:" ergazomai; to work, or labor to accomplish an end. He is not talking about the occasional lapse. He is talking about a lifestyle in which disregarding Torah is the cornerstone.

I do not know how Jesus will judge sincere believers who eat bacon every day, or gay pastors who are leading their flocks to disregard the Word of God. I just know that this is a serious warning, and I do not want to be found among those who practice Lawlessness! So I have determined for myself to obey the Lord and His Word, including Torah, and then measure grace and forgiveness out to others, not dwelling on their specks, but concerning myself with my plank only.