Matthew 7: Empowering Children and Teens Today!

Matthew 7:  The Gift

I have read somewhere, “People who equate righteousness with behavior tend to judge or criticize others.”  I venture to say, these same people also judge and criticize themselves, too.  Many of us try very hard to do right and be good enough to have a relationship with God.  When we do this, and we make a mistake we feel guilty, ashamed, and like a failure.  Then, just like Adam and Eve hid from God after they sinned, we draw back from God.

Is this what God wants?  Do we have to feel and act perfect (what many view as righteous) to talk and fellowship with God?

In reality righteousness is simply “right standing with God.”  How do we get in right standing with God?  We believe with our heart unto righteousness (Romans 10:10), and receive it as a gift (Romans 5:17)

Gifts do not require us to work for them.  They are given by the giver freely.  All the good works and acting right will not make someone righteous.  As believers, righteousness is already ours.  Growing up spiritually, doing good, and acting as a child of God have a place, but they will not make you righteous. 

In this final chapter of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches about judgement.  "How can you say to your brother, `Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (vs. 4-5). 

All of us have made mistakes and have sinned, whether intentional or unintentional.  Sin is equal in God’s eye.  A lie is sin.  Murder is also, sin.  In our society, we do not put liars in jail, but we do commit murders to jail.  Our laws determine the price we pay for many of our sins today on earth, and this gives us a view that one sin is worse than another.  In God’s eye, sin is disobedience, plain and simple.  He forgives the murderer when they seek repentance, just as much as He forgives the liar. 

Planks

I am not questioning our laws, they are in place to keep us safe.  It is judging someone spiritually that is the problem.  We have all sinned and make mistakes.  Jesus is teaching here that we cannot judge others when we are sinning ourselves.  Once you remove the plank from you own eye (have become righteous by receiving it as a gift from God and you believe with your heart that Jesus died on the cross, was buried, and rose again to pay the price for our sin; you will respond with God’s love rather than judgement and criticism towards others.  

When we realize who we are in Christ, and begin to grow spiritually in the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” with our eyes of “understanding being enlightened” (Ephesians 1:17-20), we are able to begin to lay aside judgment and criticism because we see the need to pray for those who need Him, rather than be offended, or put off, by them.  And we are able to pray for the needs and situations of our brothers and sisters in Christ. 

What are your thoughts as you read, and think on this chapter throughout the day today?