Sermon on the Mount ~ Part N
We continue our study of the Sermon in the Mount, beginning in Mattityahu 7:1.
As with the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, Yeshua describes how to live as members of the Kingdom of Heaven. He begins this section by explaining the dangers of a judgmental attitude (Mattityahu 7:1–5).
Judging Others
1 “Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. The Greek verb used here for don’t judge is krinō, which denotes the idea of expressing a negative opinion about someone.
2 For the way you judge others is how you will be judged—the measure with which you measure out will be used to measure to you.
Yeshua says that God will judge people according to the same standards they apply when judging others. Those who judge harshly, for example, will be judged harshly by God.
3 Why do you see the splinter in your brother’s eye but not notice the log in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ when you have the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First, take the log out of your own eye; then, you will see clearly, so that you can remove the splinter from your brother’s eye!
Yeshua commands His followers to address their own sins before they judge the sins of others. When people deal with sin and its distorting effects in their own lives, they have the discernment to help others repent from sin.
6 “Don’t give to dogs what is holy, and don’t throw your pearls to the pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, then turn and attack you.
These images characterize God’sKingdom – and Yeshua’s teaching about it – as something valuable that should not be discarded. Dogs were considered unclean according to the Jewish law (Leviticus 11:27), as were swine (Leviticus 11:7).
Ask, and It Will Be Given
7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you; keep seeking, and you will find; keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
In the first of three commands in this verse: ask, seek, and knock, Yeshua’s followers come to Him for their needs. Depending on your circumstances, that may lead you to persistent prayers.
8 For everyone who keeps asking receives; he who keeps seeking finds; and to him who keeps knocking, the door will be opened. 9 Is there anyone here who, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? 10 or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 So if you, even though you are bad, know how to give your children gifts that are good, how much more will your Father in heaven keep giving good things to those who keep asking him!
Yeshua compares sinful humanity with a holy God. He argues from a lesser principle to a greater one. Human parents know how to give their children good things; by comparison, the heavenly Father can do abundantly more for His children. Those who keep asking him completes the thought from verse 7.
In our next post, we continue to explore the last chapter of the Sermon on the Mount from Mattityahu’s Gospel.
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My Heart is for Israel 