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Sermon on the Mount: The Golden Rule

Matthew 7:1-12 NIV

7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.

How to Judge

  1. Judge according to God’s standards (Matthew 5:19)
  2. Judge people’s actions and who they SHOW themselves to be (Matthew 7:18-20)
  3. Judge humbly because you need God’s grace too (vv. 3-4)
  4. Judge the difference between essential and non-essential issues (Romans 14:10-18)
  5. Judge with the intent to restore and redeem whenever possible (Luke 5:27-31)
  6. Judge without partiality (Leviticus 19:15)
  7. Judge how to deal with people according to their conduct (v. 6)

How NOT to Judge

  1. Judge according to human standards (1 Corinthians 1:26)
  2. Judge people’s inward attitudes and motivations even though you can’t know them (1 Corinthians 4:3-5)
  3. Judge hypocritically as though you are never guilty yourself (vv. 2-4)
  4. Judge your own preferences as being essential (Romans 14:13-18)
  5. Judge with the intent to condemn and destroy (Luke 5:27-31)
  6. Judge with favoritism (James 2:1-4)
  7. Judge not and refuse to acknowledge or confront evil conduct (Proverbs 25:26)

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

How to Pray

  1. Pray continually (Luke 18:1-8)
  2. Pray expectantly (James 1:5-7; 1 John 5:14-15)
  3. Pray to God as a loving Father (1 John 3:1)

 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

The Golden Rule

  1. The summary of the Law of the Kingdom (Romans 13:8-10)
  2. Loving God and Loving People (Matthew 22:34-40)