Matthew: Judging, Asking, and the Golden Rule

Listen in as we continue our time in Matthew's gospel. Today we look at Jesus' words on judging, asking, and his heart behind the golden rule.

Notes/Quotes:

Text: Matthew 7:1-12

Title: Judging, Asking, And The Golden Rule

 

Reading: Matthew 7:1-12

 

“The boundary between those who would follow Jesus and the world is unmistakably apparent, but nonetheless permeable. Matthew chapter 7 consists of Jesus’s instructions for how to negotiate that permeability.” -Stanley Hauerwas

 

“We quite literally cannot see clearly unless we have been trained to see “the log in (our) eye.” But it is not possible for us to see what is in our eye because the eye cannot see itself. The only way we are able to see ourselves is through the vision made possible by Jesus—a vision made possible by our participation in a community of forgiveness that allows us to name our sins. -Stanley Hauerwas

 

“When I judge, I am blind to my own evil and to the grace granted the other person. But in the love of Christ, disciples know about every imaginable kind of guilt and sin, because they know of the suffering of Jesus Christ.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

“There is a form of evangelism that urges Christians to use every opportunity to share the gospel. Unfortunately, insensitive evangelism often proves harmful not only to the obdurate whose heart is hardened by the undifferentiating evangelist, but harmful also to the gospel that is force-fed.… Aggressive evangelism gets converts and counts them, but we are never able to count those turned away from the gospel for the numbers of the offended are never tallied.” -Fredrick Bruner

 

Oh, that all men acted on it, and there would be no slavery, no war, no swearing, no striking, no lying, no robbing; but all would be justice and love! What a kingdom is this which has such a law!” - Spurgeon

 

Questions:

1. Do I understand the difference between the way the world makes judgment and the way a christian does?
2. Do I have discernment when it comes to presenting the gospel in the world?
3. How does being apart of a community of forgiveness which names their sins help me?
4. When I come to God in prayer do I ask selflessly or selfishly?
5. In terms of the Golden Rule, how do I hold it? In the negative or positive perspective?