John Lloyd - The Sermon On The Mount - Relationships that Encourage

Seeking God First:  A Study on the Sermon of the Mount

Relationships that Encourage Matthew 7:1-6 Part One

August 19, 2018

Pastor John Lloyd

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expresses His desire for us to live for Him in an upside down world.  This greatest sermon ever given, is uplifting, yet challenges us to live a life with Jesus that is far better than any other! It is our prayer that you will be encouraged and challenged by studying and applying this great sermon to your life. Small groups are also available throughout the week to further discuss and put into practice the lessons taught from the Sermon on the Mount.

Today’s Passage:   Matthew 7:1-6

Big Idea:  Relationships that encourage are built with great humility, discernment, love and truth.  Build encouraging relationships.

To build relationships that encourage:

I.               Let authentic humility be my guide.

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Three types of judgment:  1. Final judgment of our relationship before God.

2. Self-examination of our relationship with God.  3.  Judgment of our rewards/works as believers.

Judge-krino is used 114 times in the NT.  It ranges from ordinary judgment.  Luke 7:43.  It can also mean judicial litigation,  Mt.5:40, a bestowal of reward, Matthew 19:28,   a pronouncement of guilt, John 7:51, or an absolute determination of a person’s fate, Matthew 5:22.

Jesus makes an announcement and then gives reason for it.  A disposition to look unfavorably upon others especially character and actions.

A.   Beware of judging inappropriately.

Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Romans 2:1

“Two extremes Tolstoy who believed that we should have no human courts at all.  This has do with individual judgment.  Our culture on the other side feels that we should suspend our evaluative faculties and have no discernment at all.”  D. Martyn Lloyd Jones

Luke 18:11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. (Luke 16:15, Romans 14:4 &10, I Corinthians 4:3-4)

I should not judge:

1.   People’s motives because I cannot know why they do what they do, I can’t see into their minds.

2.   How people serve in ministry – to his own Master he stands or falls.

3.   Conscientious scruples about things that are morally neutral.

4.   Outward appearances – what is in the heart is what counts.

5.   Harshly or critically – “a habitual fault-finder is a poor advertisement for the Christian faith.” George MacDonald

B.  Remember that I will reap relationally what I sow relationally.

Matthew 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Galatians 6:7

Unkind treatment of others will be returned to you.  People tend to treat us the way that we treat them.  Break the pattern of this.  This may be why many are not experiencing the type of relationships that they desire. Kent Hughes

How I think about others matters to God.   

Help me to break harsh judgmental patterns in my soul! 

II.             Pray and discern my internal motives.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

We have a tendency to exaggerate the faults of others and minimize the gravity of our own.  John Stott

A.    Regularly examine my heart and testimony.

Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?  2 Corinthians13:5, Psalm139:23-24.

Shallow examination versus perpetual autopsy.

“When a man examines himself first he never judges anyone in the wrong way.”  D. Martyn Lloyd Jones

I Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

B.   Build encouraging relationships with love and truth.

Matthew 7:5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. I Cor.13:6

To sum up, the command to judge not is not a requirement to be blind, but rather a plea to be generous. Jesus does not tell us to cease to be men (by suspending our critical powers which help to distinguish us from animals) but to renounce the presumptuous ambition to be God (by setting ourselves up as judges). Stott, John.  (Ephesians 4:15, Galatians 6:1-2)

How I confront faults matters to God.

III.            Ask God for wisdom when discernment is appropriate.

Matthew 7:6“Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. (Matthew 7:15, 20, Galatians 1:8, James 1:5, Matthew 4:4)

John 8:11She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

“Lord when I am wrong, make me easy to change; When I am right make me easy to live with.”  Peter Marshall

I John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

God give me wisdom to build encouraging relationships!

Growth Group questions for August 19th

Icebreaker:  Describe a time you experienced harsh judgment.  What was your response?  How did it help or hurt you? 

1.   Read Matthew 7:1-6.  Summarize in your own words what you hear Jesus saying.  Ask God to speak to your heart and how these verses can be applied to your life.

2.   Is it sinful for Christians to judge one another?  Why or why not? What is the difference between hypercritical condemning and discernment?  What is right or wrong with each one?

3.   Read Matthew 7:2, Galatians 6:7.  Describe the quality of relationships a judgmental person will reap.  How does this hinder the gospel? 

4.   Read Matthew 7:3-5, 2 Cor. 13:5, Psalm 139:23-24.  How does examining ourselves help us to not become hypercritical in our relationships?  What does Jesus tell us to do?  What does he tell us not to do? 

5.   Read Matthew 7:6, 15,20.  What qualities are needed to fulfill these verses?   Describe what Jesus is telling us to do and not to do?  Why is this so important? 

6.   Read Galatians 6:1-2, Matthew 18:15-16.  What is the process for confronting a wayward believer?  What is the goal?  How did the Pharisees and Scribes deal with wayward believers?  Luke 18:11

7.   Read I Peter 2:24-25, I Timothy 1:15-16, Romans 2:4  How can these verses help us in taking the log out of our own eyes?  Why is the kindness of God a key tool in bringing people to repentance?

Memory Verse: Matthew 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.