Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 7:1-12

Matthew 7:1-12
Relating to Others

Matthew 7:1-5
Some people cannot see past their own sins, but are always ready to point out those of others.
Why does Jesus call such people ”hypocrites”?
Matthew 7:6
Dogs- not man's best friend like we have today. They were wild scavengers.
Pigs- unclean
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask, Seek, Knock
The verbs in Matthew 7:7-8 are in the present tense, which describes continuous action. Thus these verses suggest persistent prayer over a long period of time. Some translations bring out this force of the verbs: “Keep on asking, Keep on seeking, Keep on knocking.”
Four reasons why we should pray continually:
1. Prayer is basically communion with and praise to God.
2. Earnest prayers are by their very nature persistent.
3. God uses prayer to change us.
4. God uses our prayers to help accomplish His will.

Matthew 7:12
The Golden Rule is another way of stating what Jesus said was the basic Old Testament teaching about relating to other people: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Lev. 19:18, Matthew 22:39). How do we love our neighbors as ourselves? The Golden Rule answers, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.

The Golden Rule demands that we take action on behalf of others.
Matthew 5:43-47 loving enemies
Luke 10:25-37 loving neighbors
“How do I want others to treat me?” after determining that, the next step is to take the initiative and do it for others.
The Samaritan in Jesus' parable of the Good Samaritan practiced the Golden Rule. He saw an injured man and knew what he would want someone to do for him if he were in that condition.

Summing up Matthew 7:1-12
1. Christians are not to pass judgment on other Christians.

2. We often see the sins of others more easily than we see our own.

3. Jesus warned against the indiscriminate sharing of the good news with hostile un-believers. We need to apply this teaching with caution. Withholding the gospel in the exception instead of the rule. We are called to tell the good news to all people with patience and perseverance.

4. A loving Heavenly Father will supply the needs of those who live a life of prayer. We cannot fulfill His expectations without prayer. God doesn't always give us what we expect of want, but we trust Him to give us the good things we need.

5. The Golden Rule says that we should take the initiative in doing good for others. The standard for deciding what they need is to ask what we would others to do for us.