Jesus - Hard to Believe
Matthew 7:1-5
January
12, 2008.
Worship focus -
How many of you wear eyeglasses?
Introduction:
"Jesus - Hard to Believe - A Study of
the Demands of Jesus on the life of a Disciple.” The radical teaching of
Jesus didn't fit into the traditions of the scribes and Pharisee's of His day.
He said, "You have heard that it was said, but I say unto
you…” Over and over again he contradicted man made ideas about
success, significance, and even spirituality. According to Him, if you want to
find your life you have to lose it, you are strong when you are weak, you have
to lose to gain, give to get, empty to be filled, die to live…
He dealt with the heart rather than being
satisfied with outward appearances. He hung out with sinners, criticized the
self righteous, and threw the money changers out of temple. He changed all
the price tags and required that those who would follow Him must put Him before
all other relationships, possessions, and selfish interests. Today, those
same teachings go against the grain of OUR
ideas about success, significance, and even spirituality.
Last week, Glen reminded us that Jesus
said, "No one puts new wine into old wineskins." In this ten
week series, we will be examining what it takes to go beyond the
surface and to discover the real life, real joy, real
So today I want to talk about Jesus’
Prescription for 2020 vision in Matthew 7.
Look at the context – The sermon on
the mount.
5:21 You have heard it said… but I say
to you… MURDER
5:27 You have heard it said… ADULTERY
Divorce, lying, Revenge, love… LOVE?
READ 5:43 – you have heard that it was
said, you shall love your neighbor…
6:2 – giving; 6:5 – prayer;
6:16 fasting… then touches
on anxiety, rewards,
Jesus is clearly thinking about the
Pharisees of the day. Did he turn and look at the small band of them hanging at
the edge of the crowd? Did his eyes seek out the spies who’d been sent in
to pretend to care, but look for a place to trip him up?
So turn in your Bibles to Matt. 7:1-5 and
step into the doctors office…
The Doctor is IN! Jesus is commenting on
living life as it ought to be.
READ 7:1-5
When do I judge? – It can be at any
time, anywhere, and about anything – The car you drive, the kind of
clothes you wear, the things you say, the money you spend. The car you
DON’T drive, the kind of clothes you DON’T wear, the things you
DON’T say, the money you DON’T spend. It can be about money, meals,
or movies… or music
EX: What is a praise chorus?
The inclination to discover and severely
condemn the faults of others real or imaginary, while passing over own even
serious problems is an epidemic. All are infected!
Jesus knew it was a problem then and he knew
it would be a problem today because he knew it is human nature to judge.
I.
Examination: Proper evaluation is impossible without correct
perspective.
Matt 7:1-5 "Do not judge...
·
Stop judgment of any kind, because you just
aren’t able! This is a serious problem! EX: Do NOT operate heavy
machinery…..
·
Krino = “To assume the office of
judge.” to decide after examination in the context of justice.
·
What is justice? The righteousness of God
vs. the moral and spiritual condition of mankind.
·
When do I judge? Anytime, anywhere, already
said.
·
How do I judge? By comparing someone’s
worst action against my best intention. By comparing someone’s outsides
against my insides.
·
Why do I judge? Simple. Because it makes me
feel superior.
·
EX: When I came home from the mission field.
·
Some have used this verse to say that we
should never form an opinion about someone or say anything that might be
construed as negative.
·
The problem is that we do that CONSTANTLY!
That’s why this is a challenge!
·
We must form opinions about people and act
upon the basis of these opinions. At time it is our DUTY – Matt.
18:15-18; John 20 23.
EX:
Matt 7: 6 = “Dogs and hogs”
·
Illustrate the difference between evaluation
and condemnation. Condemnation is God’s job.
·
APPLICATION: Put judgmental actions and
attitudes on hold!
·
TRANS. So, it’s BAD. In fact, if this
condition is left untreated, this is where it’s headed…
II.
Prognosis: Poor perspective points toward long term
problems.
Matt 7: 2
"For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of
measure, it will be measured to you.
·
Take a look at the way you are evaluating
others… Here’s what it says about where you are and where you are
going.
·
“in the same way you
judge…” by the same measure… If I judge unfairly,
hypocritically… or even if I judge loosely… I’ll get judged
that way? This was a Jewish proverb of that time.
·
God is judge and will judge. Matt 24:36
·
Genesis 18:25 = God is judge over
all the earth. He is the ultimate authority; unlimited authority, unlimited
knowledge, supreme righteousness, unrestricted power, and unending love.
·
Heb. 10:30,31
·
Heb 4:13
·
“Judge” in this case, means
condemning harshly judging, self righteously, w/o mercy or love.
·
BUT - If we have received God’s grace
in judgment because of the cross, then we will evaluate others that way. Clear
indication that you are living by grace is how you forgive others. (1 John)
Rom 2:1-2 -
Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that
which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the
same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who
practice such things.
·
We don’t judge, because God does!
We’re NOT the judge He IS.
·
APPLICATION: There are no job openings in
the Trinity – A. You’re not qualified, B. It’s NOT your
job!!!
·
The Lord’s prayer – Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy
name – YES. Thy
kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
– YES. Give us this day our daily
bread – YES LORD!
·
Forgive us our debts as we forgive
our debtors… what’s the GREEK on that?
·
The people you are judging are not
suffering… YOU ARE!
·
You have suffered for 15 years judging that
person and if you don’t you’ll be enslaved to them for the NEXT 15
as well.
• "The torture
of our anger eats us alive. The carcass we eat at the banquet of bitterness is
our own." ~Jay Carty
·
TRANS: We’ve identified the problem
and the long term results. Now let’s start looking at the symptoms…
III.
Symptoms: Seeing ourselves
and others inaccurately is proof
of poor vision.
Matt 7: 3
"And 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? 4"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
Its pretty serious here in
the sermon so Jesus tells a JOKE! This would have been a knee slapper!
It’s like he said, “Did you hear the one about the…”
A. Seeing ourselves
–
·
Speck in eye is PAINFUL! Eye tears up, nose
starts to run, can’t see a thing!!!
·
EX: My right eye in 9th grade.
·
Contrast the speck vs. the log (NIV says
“Speck of sawdust” and “Plank”)
·
Contrast “looking for” vs.
“notice”
·
Look at what kind of specks you may be
finding in others for a clue about the nature of the plank in your own eye.
·
EX: C.S. Lewis – If you want to find
out if you are a prideful person, see how you feel in the presence of another
prideful person.
B. Seeing others
·
“Let ME…” the arrogance of
denial. EX a dentist with bad teeth, a doctor with a broken arm, etc…
·
A “would be eye doctor” –
APPLICATION: When was the
last time you investigated the source of that stinging pain in your own heart
and life? Is it unresolved anger, hurt or resentment? Have you just gotten used
to it?
EX: I tried to leave the
church but I just knew that I had to resolve the issues, otherwise I knew
I’d carry them…
TRANS: At this point you
are saying, “Doctor, just tell me, what IS the problem?
·
Hypokrino = used of an actor who and not
identified himself with his role. OT = double heart, false lips. Ps 12:3.
Playacting or pretending, disguise.
·
To cover up a sin by putting oneself in a
favorable light at the expense of the truth.
·
The inclination to discover and severely
condemn the faults of others real or imaginary, while passing over own even
serious problems is an epidemic.
·
What for us is a understandable
mistake…. Is for someone else a deliberate and unforgivable
mistake… etc
·
It seems there is at least two kinds of
hypocrisy
A. Blatant,
deliberate pretense, similar to a staged performance. Matt 22.18 – (Pharisees trying to trap
him in what he said about paying taxes to Caesar) “But Jesus perceived their malice, and said, “Why
are you testing me, you hypocrites?”
B. Self deluded
– “defender of the truth”
·
James
1:22 – people who just hear but do not DO are deluded…
·
Matt. 15:7-9 “You
hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophecy of you, saying, THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME
WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY
WORSHIP ME, TEACHING DOCTRINES AS THE PRECEPTS OF MEN. (Is. 29:13)
·
Jesus did not condemn the Pharisees for
their serious and pious approach to the law. Rather, he condemned them for
evading the demands of righteousness for themselves, but requiring it from
others.
·
Matt 5:20 “For I say to you,
that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you
shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
·
MOTIVES?
·
To cover our own sins?
·
“help” others but be deceived
about ourselves
·
To retaliate – Luke 20:19, 20 “…for they understood that he
spoke this parable against them. And they watched him, and sent spies who
pretended to be righteous in order that they might catch him.
·
You hear people say, “Worldly people
are so loving and accepting. I get along better with my non-Christian friends
than Christians! Why can’t Christians be that way?” NEG = Because
we are hypocrites. POS = Because we love people too much!
V.
Prescription: Action is
required before vision can be clear.
THIS IS THE APPLICATION!
Matt 7:5
“…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.”
A. How to have clear
vision
James 3:8-12 – “ Draw near to God and He will draw near
to you. Cleanse you hands, you sinners; purify you hearts, you double-minded.
Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and
your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will
exalt you. Do not speak against one another brethren. He who speaks against a
brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but
if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it. There
is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but
who are you to judge your neighbor?”
Revelation 3:18,19 – Buy from me “…eye salve to
anoint your eyes, that you may see. Those whom I love I reprove and discipline;
be zealous therefore and repent.”
Personal –
Ps 51:2 - Wash away all my iniquity and
cleanse me from my sin.
Don’t start with
confessing sins of all those OTHER people…
Accurate –
Ps 51:3-4 - For I know my transgressions, and
my sin is always before me.
4 Against
you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are
proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.
Transparent – 1 Tim. 1:15 – “…Jesus Christ came into the
world to save sinners among whom I am foremost of all.”
Forgiving -
Ps 103:12- as far as the east is from the west, so far has he
removed our transgressions from us.
Grace filled –
Eph 2:4-5 But because
of his great love for us, God, who is
B. How to have clear
vision of others
“See clearly to help
others” is the obvious goal.
·
EX: ELENA with sharp seed in her eye…
·
Personal - Matt. 18:15
– And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens
to you, you have won your brother.”
·
Accurate – Matt
18:16 - “…take one or two more with you, so that BY THE MOJTH FO
TWO OR THREE WINTESSES EVERY FACT MAY BE CONFIRMED.”
·
Transparent – 1 Tim.
1:15 – “…Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners
among whom I am foremost of all.”
·
Forgiving - Luke 6:36,7
– “Be merciful, just as your father in heaven is merciful.”
·
Grace filled – Gal. 6:1
– “Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are
spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, each one looking to
himself, lest you too be tempted.”
An farmer went to the city one weekend and
attended the big city church. When he came home his wife asked him how it was.
"Well," said the farmer, "It was good. They did something different,
however. They sang praise choruses instead of hymns."
"Praise choruses," said his wife,
"What are those?"
"Oh, they're okay. They're sort of like
hymns, only different," said
the farmer.
"Well, what's the difference?"
asked his wife.
The farmer said, "Well it's like this -
If I were to say to you:
'Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well,
that would be a hymn. If, on
the other hand, I were to say to you:
'Martha Martha, Martha,
Oh, Martha, MARTHA, MARTHA,
the cows,
the big cows,
the brown cows,
the black cows,
the white cows,
the black and white cows,
the COWS, COWS, COWS are in the corn,
are in the corn,
are in the corn,
are in the corn,
the CORN, CORN, CORN'
Then, if I were to repeat the whole thing
two or three times, well that would be a praise chorus."
A suburban businessman went to his local
church usually, but one weekend attended a country church. He came home and his
wife asked him how it was.
"Well," he said, "It was
good. They did something different, however. They sang hymns instead of regular
songs."
"Hymns," said his wife,
"What are those?"
"Oh, they're okay. They're sort of
like regular songs, only different," said the young man.
"Well, what's the difference?"
asked his wife.
The young man said, "Well it's like
this - If I were to say to you,
'Martha, the cows are in the corn,' well
that would be a regular song.
If, on the other hand, I were to say to you:
Oh Martha, dear Martha, hear thou my cry
Inclinest thine ear to the words of my
mouth.
Turn thou thy whole wondrous ear by and by
To the righteous, inimitable, glorious
truth.
Oh the way of the animals who can explain
There in their heads is no shadow of sense,
Hearkenest they in God's sun or his rain
Unless from the mild, tempting corn they
are fenced.
Yea those cows in glad bovine, rebellious
delight,
Have broke free their shackles, their warm
pens eschewed.
Then goaded by minions of darkness and
night
They all my mild sweet corn have chewed.
"Then, if I were to do only verses
one, three and four and do a key change on the last verse, well, that would be
a hymn."