Kingdom Eyes
Matthew 7:1-12
Purpose: Jesus teaches us how to see with eyes of His Kingdom
- Go Through Elective Eye Surgery!
Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. 3 "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? 5 "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. 6 "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.
Remove the log from your own eye first!
Only then will you see clearly, i.e., Jesus teaches on Righteous Judgment
- Ask the Father For Your Needs!
Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 "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!
Jesus on Petitioning the Father for His Benevolence
In context, your needs are to be sought from the Father, not in comparison to others
- The Golden Rule: Treat Others As You Want to Be Treated!
Matthew 7:12 "In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Because the Father takes care of you (v. 11), you are free to love, not judge, others
The golden rule "is the Law and the Prophets" (v. 12)
This is how Christians fulfill the Law and Prophets, by living as Jesus taught
This is the bookend verse to Matthew 5:17, 20, and Jesus' Sermon Theme
Conclusion:
Do you see how "removing the log" is a mirror image to "treat people the same way you want them to treat you"? The first process is necessary to achieve the second.