Climbing the spiritual mountain of the Sermon on the Mount, we are now entering its final chapter, Matthew 7. This journey, spiritually higher than Mount Everest, is designed to expose our hypocrisy, crush our pride, and reveal the true depravity of our hearts. It is surprising that we have all continued this climb without fainting. For those who feel weary, just hold on for one more chapter! Having completed two chapters, we are on the final stretch and hope to conclude this sermon by the end of 2017.
Before we enter Chapter 7, we must remember the main themes of Chapters 5 and 6. The sermon began by describing the character of the kingdom’s children through the eight Beatitudes: poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. Then, it defined their function in the world as salt and light. Following that, it addressed their attitude toward the Word of God, where Jesus stated that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. He emphasized the eternal nature of the law, noting that not a single letter would pass away until everything was accomplished. Therefore, anyone who relaxes even the smallest commandment and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great.
A key verse here is Matthew 5:20, which states that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. The sermon explains this righteousness as a view of the law that goes beyond external actions to internal intent. For instance, if you harbor anger toward another, you have a murderous heart and are a murderer in God’s eyes. You have broken God’s law, and its curse is upon you unless you repent. Similarly, if you look at a woman with lust, you have an adulterous heart. God, who sees the heart, knows you are a daily murderer and adulterer before His holy law, even if you justify yourself before others.
Chapter 6 taught us how the “beatitude man” should live in his personal life, in the church, and in the world. He must always remember that his Father is watching him. This principle must guide his spiritual life, his giving of alms, and his prayers and fasting. Everything should be done with the Father in mind, who sees in secret and will reward openly, rather than for the approval of men.
The sermon then addresses how this man, living in the world with physical needs, should handle life’s worries. He must never allow his heart to be affected by worldly worry, which is a sin against God’s creation, providence, and redemption. It is not wrong to work hard, earn a living, plan for the future, or live with foresight, as the Bible tells us to be good stewards, not to waste money, and to save. However, it is wrong to let our minds become consumed by worry. A righteous man, after taking care of his worldly duties, doesn’t waste his energy but instead first seeks God’s kingdom. He gives his time, thoughts, energy, talents, and money to God first. Because he is so occupied with seeking the kingdom, worry doesn’t touch him. By seeking God’s kingdom, he receives all the necessary things—food, drink, clothing, and shelter—through God’s infallible promise that these things will be “added to you.” You won’t see him running after the world.
Understanding Chapter 7: The Theme of Judgment
Now we come to Chapter 7. Some people claim this chapter is a mix of unrelated topics, but this is only true if you read it without understanding Chapters 5 and 6. The continuous theme is living under God’s eye. A person becomes truly wise when they realize that the only thing that matters in this life is living with the awareness that the Father is watching. We are all moving toward the Day of Judgment, when our rewards will be decided by how we lived under that watchful eye. Everything we do to be seen by men has its full reward on Earth, but the Father who sees us in secret will reward us openly on Judgment Day. Because of this coming day, it is crucial that we pay careful attention to the Sermon on the Mount and ensure our lives align with its teachings. The Sermon on the Mount describes a man on a pilgrimage who will one day stand before God in judgment and eternity.
Therefore, it is fitting that Chapter 7 is filled with the theme of judgment. It begins with a striking proverb: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” This means our eternal judgment will be affected by how we judge others in this life. It is an important passage about relationships with other people, including our brothers in Christ. The Bible says we should have proper relationships with everyone. Even the world realizes the importance of good relationships for peace and personal well-being. Jesus has a remarkable way of summing up the entire world of human relations in simple terms.
In this 12-verse section, Jesus addresses what we should not do (verses 1-6) and then what we should do (the Golden Rule in verse 12). The sum of these two sections is enough to govern all our human relations. If you want a healthy and God-pleasing relationship with others, this is the key to understanding how to act in your family, at your job, in your neighborhood, or in any social situation.
The Misunderstanding of “Judge Not”
We need to understand Matthew 7:1-2 properly. This is one of the most misunderstood verses in the Bible, and it has been used by many to justify not judging anyone. Some people say, “We should never criticize, condemn, or evaluate anyone. We don’t want to judge, lest we be judged.” This is often used to avoid rebuking those with wrong character, confronting false teachers, or practicing church discipline. For example, when a reformed church requires a person to write a testimony to show evidence of regeneration before baptism, some might say, “Who are you to judge?”
To understand what “judge not” truly means, we must follow two hermeneutical principles of the Reformation: Context and the Analogy of Faith.
- Context refers to the surrounding verses.
- Analogy of Faith means comparing the verse with the entirety of the Bible’s teaching on that subject.
Applying these two principles, we can see three things that Jesus did not mean by “judge not.”
- He did not mean we should not discern the character of others.
- Context: The very next verse, Matthew 7:6, says, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; do not throw your pearls before swine.” How can we obey this command unless we can discern who has the character of “dogs” and “swine” concerning the truth? We are told not to waste time with those who have no value for the truth. Matthew 7:20 also states, “By their fruits you will know them,” which clearly tells us to discern a person’s character by the fruit their life produces.
- Analogy of Faith: The rest of the Bible confirms this. Romans 16:17 tells us to “avoid” those who cause divisions against the truth. Paul also told the Corinthians that they had the God-given right to judge those within the church by their outward life and fruits. This is necessary even for church discipline. Therefore, Jesus did not mean that we should not use discernment.
- He did not mean we should not judge the teaching of others.
- Context: In Matthew 7:15, Jesus says, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” How can we obey this command unless we carefully measure every preacher’s message against the Word of God? We must examine their teachings to ensure they are the truth handed down from the apostles. False teachers often seem harmless and emotionally appealing, but they can be spiritually destructive.
- Analogy of Faith: Other parts of the Bible also reinforce this. In Galatians 1:8-9, Paul pronounces the strongest possible Greek curse, anathema, on anyone who preaches a gospel different from the one he preached. The core of this gospel is that a person is justified by grace alone through faith alone. If the gospel is not this, then let even an angel be cursed. The Bible makes it clear that what you believe determines whether you go to heaven or hell.
- He did not mean we should not take decisive action in church discipline.
- Context: Jesus describes a Christian as being salt and light, and He warns that if salt loses its saltiness, it is “cast out and thrown down.” This implies that a Christian who loses his distinctiveness can be rejected. This concept is the basis for church discipline.
- Analogy of Faith: Matthew 18:15-17 gives a clear procedure for church discipline when a brother sins. If a person in the church is in open sin and refuses to repent, we are to treat them as an outsider, not as a brother, and not welcome them at the Lord’s Supper. This is not about throwing stones but about maintaining the purity and holiness of the church. The Reformers defined three marks of a true church: 1) The Word of God is rightly preached. 2) The sacraments are rightly administered. 3) Church discipline is exercised. These were considered the great marks of a true church.
By using context and the analogy of faith, we can see that Jesus did not intend for us to dismiss discernment in character, teaching, or discipline. This kind of diligent effort is required to truly understand God’s Word.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore 