Matthew 7

I'm losing steam at this point, but Jesus isn't. He wraps up His SOTM in great fashion. He continues to cut to the heart with His words. Am I a hypocrite with my interpersonal relationships? Do I trust God and seek His guidance for my life? Do I totally follow Him? Does my life bear witness to God's glory? Every section of the chapter is worth much more time than I am giving it. There is plenty of meat in there for several sermons.

I can't get past the first two verses. When I interact with non-believers this is the argument that comes up time after time. Something like "Who are you to judge me?" Those without sin cast the first stone and all that. It's nothing more than a simple rationalization to justify their sin. I don't know what the Greek is but I like to apply the verse this way. "Judge" defined not as to give an opinion on, but "judge" as in to issue a sentence. I read it as "Do not condemn others or you will be also condemned." That still gives me the right to call your sin sin, but I can not assign any punishment to you for that sin.

The high point of this chapter is solid gold. I read that as many as 8 major world religions contain something akin to the Golden Rule given in verse 12. I can't even come up with 8 religions, but I don't doubt it's true. It sums up the Law and the Prophets. The whole entire Old Testament summed up in one phrase. This Jesus is a pretty good teacher.