Matthew 7

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

Mathew chapters 5, 6, 7

Please read Matthew 7 prior to this study.
I will cover the first 6 verses.
Mathew 7: 1-5 These five versus talk about judging others. It is easy to judge someone just by their looks or deeds. How many times have you walk down a street and profiled someone. Oh he’s homeless but looks able enough to work he should get a job. There are so many instances that we read about where a judgment has been made and it turns out wrong. Our news media is very  guilty of this  (am I judging here?) of putting out information on someone and have to retract it later. Damage was done and it cannot be taken back.

You can love someone and disagree with something they do. That person may lie, cheat, or be a gossip etc. You should not judge them to everyone you meet. If you do your weakness may be judged. (gossip maybe) We all have weaknesses and we need leave it to God to judge. For each of us needs repentance before the Lord. We should prayer for the person you feel is guilty of something. Mathew 7:5

These verses are quoted by Christians and Non-Christians alike. They are abused frequently. Think about your words prior to letting them out verbally. Just so you know I have been guilty of this from time to time and have asked for forgiveness. Thank you Jesus for a way to do that.

Mat 7:6  "Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces” from NIV. Don’t be flip with the sacred. Banter and silliness give no honor to God. Don’t reduce holy mysteries to slogans. In trying to be relevant, you’re only being cute and inviting sacrilege. From the Message. This verse is difficult to understand. What is holy I think is you and your knowledge and pearls are what you have to share from God’s word and your life experiences. From the   Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs—savage or snarling haters of truth and righteousness.

neither cast ye your pearls before swine—the impure or coarse, who are incapable of appreciating the priceless jewels of Christianity. In the East, dogs are wilder and more gregarious, and, feeding on carrion and garbage, are coarser and fiercer than the same animals in the West. Dogs and swine, besides being ceremonially unclean, were peculiarly repulsive to the Jews, and indeed to the ancients generally.

lest they trample them under their feet—as swine do.

and turn again and rend you—as dogs do. Religion is brought into contempt, and its professors insulted, when it is forced upon those who cannot value it and will not have it. But while the indiscriminately zealous have need of this caution, let us be on our guard against too readily setting our neighbors down as dogs and swine, and excusing ourselves from endeavoring to do them good on this poor plea.

I found this verse one of the more difficult to understand. If a person has a hardened heart and you know that you are wasting your time. They will not understand your words. Very shortened version.
2 Corinthians 4:4 Will help you to understand.

Agape
Dave