Matthew 7:1-12
Illustration: My family was traveling to Florida this past summer. We stopped at Wendy’s to eat, but it was also time for a bathroom break. As a parent, I have been trying to teach my son the importance of being sanitary. Of course, I don’t use that word. We talk about washing your hands. We were in the middle of washing our hands, when a guy entered the bathroom, did his thing, stood in front of the mirror and exited. As he was exiting, my son was so kind to point out that he didn’t wash his hands. I was just hoping the guy didn’t hear.
We left the bathroom, and started standing in line in the lobby. As soon as my son saw his mom, he immediately pointed and said, “That guy didn’t wash his hands.” It was one of those times when you just want to hide. I tried to redirect Brendon, but instead he looks at me and says, “But dad, he didn’t wash his hands.”
And so I’m trying to teach my son the importance of focusing on what he needs to do rather than judging. But the reality is it is so much easier to judge others than focus on who we should be or what we should be doing.
Focus: There are four words for you to focus on today. In fact, the outline in your worship folder is rather simple with four blanks. Stop Judging. Start Loving. (ask to repeat these words)
Exodus 20 – Ten Commandments
By the day of Jesus, 1000’s of rules in addition to what read in the OT were added to supplement Scripture. These rules and regulations multiplied and covered almost every conceivable activity a person could be involved in. This is where people like the scribes and Pharisees become so important. There were so many rules that the focus was on making sure people abided by the rules. The focus was on exposing people’s faults rather than on ones’ relationship with God. The focus was on being critical and tearing people down rather than loving people and building them up.
Jesus comes along and says, “Stop judging.”
Matthew 7:1-5
"Stop judging others, and you will not be judged. [2] For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged. [3] And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye when you have a log in your own? [4] How can you think of saying, 'Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? [5] Hypocrite! First get rid of the log from your own eye; then perhaps you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye.
Stop judging
Stop being so critical of others and pointing out their faults that you forget your own imperfections. Stop acting like you have it all together. Stop playing God.
How do people today describe Christians? You would hope it would be different today? Video earlier says it all. “….” How would your neighbors, coworkers who don’t follow Christ describe Christians?
I came across a survey done by a guy named Dan Kimball who went to a university campus and asked two questions.
Survey:
“What comes to mind when you hear the name of Jesus?”:
“What comes to mind when you hear the word Christian?”:
What they knew of Jesus they liked, but what they knew of Christians, they didn’t.
Perhaps that’s why Gandhi said “I like your Christ, but I do not like your Christians. You Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Have you ever reflected on the question: Would you be attracted to Christianity if you weren’t a Christian?
Illustration: A couple of months ago I took a trip to Kansas City and the number of billboards that made me feel like I was being preached at was really nauseating.
How many people like to be ridiculed as if others are superior to them? Would judging make you change? And we wonder why people have the image that they do of Christians. That they are scheming, hypocrites, judgmental, negative, legalistic – all about rules, anything but positive.
The people who designed those billboards may have had good intentions. Some of the things that are said may even be true, but you can’t just give the impression that you are perfect, preach at people, judge people and expect them to understand or want to even hear how much God loves them. In fact, what often happens is it makes the person defensive and angry. They want to reject you and they can develop a heart that is resistant to you.
Matthew 7:6
"Don't give what is holy to unholy people. Don't give pearls to swine! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.
At first glance, it appears that Jesus is calling people who don’t know God “swine” which is somewhat ironic since He has just said “Don’t judge.” Jesus isn’t calling those who are not Christ followers “lost” or “dogs” or “swine.”
In the day of Jesus, pigs were known to be dangerous. Pigs were scavengers, vicious, and diseased. They would often be found in the garbage dumps on the edge of town, and they would run wild in city streets, often responsible for the death of little children. If you came between them and their food they would likely turn and tear you to pieces with their sharp tusks and sharp hooves. If you threw a pig a pearl, there is no way they would appreciate being thrown a pearl. They wouldn’t understand it. They would only refuse it, trample it, and then possibly attack the one who threw it.
Pearls symbolize the value of the message of the Kingdom of Heaven. There are elements of this message that are so valuable that not everyone will understand it. Jesus was saying that you need to be discerning when it comes to the message that you have.
There is an old saying that says, “Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig.” We need to be wise when it comes to how we share such an incredible message about God’s love. Not everyone who hears it will understand it. Yet there are others who hear it and will respond to the pearls that are there.
How do you know how to share the message and who to share it with? How do you know what to say? How do you know what to do? How do you know when to take a stand? How do you know when to point out something that is wrong or false? You may have someone that you care about that you want to know God and you are asking, “How do I know what to say or what to do?”
Matthew 7:7-11
"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened. [8] For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks. [9] You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? [10] Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! [11] If you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.
“Ask God” – and you will receive.
“Seek” – pursue God, take action, don’t just sit there, do something – and you will find.
“Knock” – be determined, expect an answer – and the door will be opened.
If you are doubting whether or not you will find an answer Jesus clarifies the certainty of finding an answer by illustrating that even imperfect earthly parents know the importance of supplying a child’s needs. Yet the greatest earthly parent’s love cannot compare with God’s love.
Illustration: Each night we take time as a family to sit down and read a story from the Bible. We use a toddler Bible, and a couple of weeks ago, we opened to the story of Moses and the 10 Commandments. We’ve read this story before, but this time I was asked, “What are those things that guy is carrying?” I said those are the 10 Commandments or rules that God gave Moses and us to live by. You need to understand that right now we have four rules at our house which have consequences if they are broken. (Telling my two year old and four year old right now not to commit adultery probably wouldn’t mean a whole lot.) So the immediate response is, “Wow, we only have 4 rules. God gave 10 rules.”
Jesus boils it down to one rule that he says sums up the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:12
"Do for others what you would like them to do for you. This is a summary of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.
Start loving.
This principle can be found in literature of almost every major religion and philosophical system. However, it is always used in a negative sense.
A common theme in Judaism even during the time of Jesus was “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.”
Jewish Rabbi Hillel said “What is hateful to yourself do not to someone else.” Confucius taught, “What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.”
Those expressions are expressions not of love but of self interest. The motivation is basically selfish – saying “Don’t harm others so that you won’t be harmed.”
Jesus says, “Love others the way you want to be treated.” - (stand near billboard metaphor)
Love is much more than something negative; it is immeasurably more than simply not wishing evil on others or doing them any wrong. Saying “I don’t hate anyone” doesn’t mean you demonstrate love. (The mere absence of hatred does not constitute love.)
The positive side of love is the active side – that is the true measure and test of love. It is not seen in what we don’t do but in what we do.
How we treat others is not to be determined by how we expect them to treat us or by how we think they should treat us, but by how we want them to treat us.
Jesus is looking for a group of people who will BE the message. Jesus isn’t saying, “I’m looking for a group of people who will protest popular movies. That is how I’m going to change the world.” Jesus isn’t saying “I’m looking for a group of people who can boycott the right things because it is so compelling when you are defined by what you are against.” Jesus isn’t saying “I’m looking for a group of people who will just be angry about certain things and stir up a whole lot of uproar, so that other people will ask what is going on and change.” Jesus isn’t saying “I’m looking for a group of people who will go around and point out what people are doing wrong.” Jesus is looking for people who will BE the message.
When the church starts to think, “We have the message, we carry it. It is this thing out here and if we just articulate it or communicate it right then people will be changed,” then there is a disconnect. The church - people - we are the message. The medium is the message.
People immediately say I can’t be the message, because I’m messed up. I’m not perfect. No. That is the beauty of the message. Your junk is the beautiful part of the message. This is where things get messed up in our modern culture because we want lists. “Tell me the 9 things that I should or shouldn’t do.” The message is lived out in people who were messed up, but now have been rescued. We have been and are being changed. The message is not about being perfect. You don’t have to pretend that you have it all together.
The world doesn’t need someone else pretending to be perfect and pointing out other people’s faults. The world will always have plenty of Pharisees. What the world needs is more disciples, more learners who are striving to follow Christ. There is always room for more disciples.
What Jesus is talking about isn’t just a nice message. It can be difficult to live. It is ultimately about a relationship with God that is so real it changes the way you live. Can you imagine if Christ followers were known more by their love? Can you imagine if the church was known more by its loving than judging, pointing fingers, or it’s fundraising, or even its programs? Can you imagine if Christ followers realized that their life is a billboard? Can you imagine if we truly loved others the way we wanted to be loved? That is bringing God’s love and Kingdom to earth. That kind of love could change our community – our world. That is what our third C, “Call,” is about. It is embracing the call to love – to be compassionate – to be intentional about loving people. It is about actively looking for ways to serve others because our desire is to be known more for our loving and serving than anything else. And we realize it isn’t a one time deal. It takes multiple acts of kindness to show that we are serious about having a desire to love people. (E.g. Pictures from summer – Community Car Wash, Mega Sports Camp, Operation Gear Up, Community Splash, McGuffey Lunch).
Illustration: letter
It is not just about this neighborhood around this building. It is about the neighborhood where you live. It is about your coworkers and friends who may not know God. What are you doing to love them? Like the girl in the video asked earlier, “When is it going to happen?” What are you doing to be known more for your love than anything else? You are the message. Your life is the message.
As we sing, will you ask God to change our hearts and change the way we love? May the people who know you, know you by your love.
Send Out: Responsive Prayer
As we leave this morning, will continue to ask God to change our hearts and the way we love by praying this prayer together responsively and very personally. Please read the sentences that are in italics.
Lord, I confess today that I have fallen far short of loving the way you have shown me to love.
Help me love others the way I want to be loved.
On those days when things aren’t going my way and I’m tempted to take it out on the people around me . . ..
Remind me that my problems and obstacles are in your hands.
When people make it hard to love them by making the same mistakes over and over again . . .
Remind me of the habits in my life which have taken years to break.
When I’m tempted to see someone as less valuable or worthy than I am . . .
Remind me that we all have been created by you for love.
When I am afraid that someone will take advantage of me if I give too much away . . .
Remind me that you gave everything away for me.
When I think that I deserve better treatment than what I’m getting.
Remind me of the times I have failed to give others the respect everyone deserves.
Help me to remember that it is in only in sharing your suffering that I can become more like you. It is only when I love beyond myself that your love can shine through. It is only in my weakness that your strength can be made perfect. In all these things . . .
Help me to stop judging and start loving others as you love them . . . with an unconditional love, without expecting anything in return, without reservation.