MATTHEW LESSON 15

     In this lesson, we will begin in Matthew 7:1 "Judge not, that ye
be not judged." Matthew 7:2 "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall
be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you
again."

     This Scripture above in not saying not to ever judge, but rather
is saying with whatever severity you judge someone else, God will
judge you. We cannot, even if we wanted to, be someone else's judge.
Jesus is the final Judge, and each person shall stand before Him in
judgement. We must not condemn someone else for smoking, if we smoke.
We must not tell someone God will not forgive them for overeating, if
we over eat. We need to examine ourselves and get forgivness for our
own sins, before we start pointing them out in someone else.

     God expects us to consider, in ourselves, if someone is trully of
God, before we blindly follow him. It is not for us to say whether
he is saved or not. That is between him and God. What ever we might 
say is just our opinion.

     The Bible says, if we know one of our brothers or sisters is
involved in sin, go to him and tell him. If he does not listen, take
a witness. Then, if he does not listen, stop fellowshipping with him.
Even then, whether God forgives him or not, is not our business. The
only judgement that is allowed is whether we should fellowship with
him or not. Jesus is the final Judge of his outcome.

     Matthew 7:3 "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy
brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?"
Matthew 7:4 "Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the
mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye?"
Matthew 7:5  "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own
eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy
brother's eye."

     One lesson in the Bible comes so clearly to mind in all of this.
The religious people of the day brought the woman (caught in the very
act of adultery) to Jesus to stone her to death. Jesus told them
anyone that was without sin cast the first stone. Jesus then leaned
over and wrote something in the sand, (I believe He wrote the sins of
those self-righteous people). Of course, they all left the woman.
Jesus told the woman that He did not condemn her, and to go and sin no
more. This is the most vivid example of this Scripture above.
(John 8:3-11)

     Ministers and people proclaiming Christianity need to live clean
lives, not giving even the appearance of evil. Then, through love and
concern, we can encourage others to clean their lives up; not through
condemnation, but love.

     Matthew 7:6  "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither
cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their
feet, and turn again and rend you."

     "Dogs", in the sense above, are low moral and low character
people, who have no intention of coming to Christ. It is as if the
lesson to be learned here is saying: when you see there is no hope to
regenerate them, leave them in their own mire of sin. Do not get in
there with them and let them destroy you and the treasures (spiritual)
that you have obtained from God. Don't stay around and listen to them
blaspheme your Saviour. Do not wallow in the sin (mud) with them. It
will not clean them up. It will dirty you up.

     Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" Matthew 7:8 "For every
one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him
that knocketh it shall be opened."

     We have not, because we ask not. When we ask God for anything, in
Jesus' name, God hears us. Actually, just praying in the name of
Jesus, recognizes Jesus for who He really is. If you trully search for
God, you will find Him. God is always there, just waiting for us to
take one step toward Him, and He will do the rest. God is not hard to
find. Just pray and read the Bible, and you will find, that He is with
you all the time.  In fact, invite him inside of you, and He will be
in you always.

     Matthew 7:9 "Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask
bread, will he give him a stone?" Matthew 7:10 "Or if he ask a fish,
will he give him a serpent?" Matthew 7:11 "If ye then, being evil,
know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall
your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?"

     Parents love their children and will give them freely all the
things that they have to give. Human love is not even closely compared
to the great love that God has for mankind.  Man's love is
conditional.  God's love is unconditional, expecting nothing in
return. God loved us while we were yet in sin, so much he gave His
only begotten Son to a cruel death  on the cross, that we might be
saved.  It is such a little thing, in comparison, for God to answer
our prayers. So little is required of us. Just believe on Jesus Christ
as our Saviour.

     Matthew 7:12  "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the
prophets."

     Here, again, we see that we should  expect the same kind of
treatment that we give. Giving is very much a part of receiving.

     Matthew 7:13 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the
gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many
there be which go in thereat:" Matthew 7:14  "Because strait [is] the
gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there
be that find it."

     We all know it is easy to sin. The world is full of sin of every
kind. I heard a lady say that a book will lay on the shelf and never
be sold, unless it had sex and violence in it.  The television set,
which has been some people's God, is just not fit to watch. News
programs, ball games, and maybe one or two of the game shows are just
about the only shows that do not teach us new ways to sin. Little
girls have no idea what a real marriage is. Young girls think marriage
is a long honeymoon.  They base what they think marriage is from the
absurd episodes in the soap operas. They have gotten so popular that
they are now on night television.

     Even on a show that doesn't have nakedness, there is cursing, and
every other kind of sin imaginable. The commercial breaks have Satan's
music trying to sell you some product. Mind control is ardently
practiced. There is even some woman offering to read your horoscope
advertised. (Nearly everyone of the numbers you can call that is given
for your month, has the number "666 (mark of the beast) in it". Even this
 one thing should tell you that there is something wrong. God warns us 
in all sorts of ways.  We seldom heed His warnings.

     I believe that alcoholic beverages are sold in half the places
that sell milk and groceries. Young people's heroes advertise beer and
whisky, and cause the young people to believe it is okay.

     If we do not discipline ourselves to walk the walk with Christ,
then yes, we will wallow around on the wide road which leads to our
destruction.

     In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, the whole chapter calls us to
Godliness; following the narrow path. I will use one little verse that
tells it all. I Thessalonians 4:7 "For God hath not called us unto
uncleanness, but unto holiness."

     God does not want someone lackadaisical following Him. He wants
people with pure intentions, with their eyes constantly on the goal
(Him), steadfastly staying in the path of righteousness, which leads
to everlasting life with Him.

Next lesson, we will begin at verse 15.

















                  Matthew Questions 15

1.  Why should we not judge?
2.  Does this mean that we should never, in any circumstance, judge?
3.  Who shall we stand before in judgement on Judgement Day?
4.  What must we be careful to do, before we start telling someone
    else what to do?
5.  If we know a brother or sister in Christ is involved in sin, what
    should we do?
6.  What is the second thing we should do?
7.  If there is no chance of changing him, what should we do?
8.  What shall we do before we cast out a mote in our brother's eye?
9.  What sin was the woman caught doing that the religious people
    brought to Jesus?
10. Under the law, what was the punishment for this sin?
11. What did Jesus say to the accusers?
12. What do you think Jesus wrote in the sand?
13. What did Jesus say to the woman?
14. What kind of lives should ministers live?
15. When we help people clean their lives up, how should we do it?
16. In verse 6, what is meant by dogs "dogs"?
17. Should we enter the mire with them to get them saved? Why?
18. In verse 7, "ask", and what will happen?
19. Seek, and ye shall what?
20. Knock and what happens?
21. We have not because, we ____ ____.
22. To have good with us all the time, what two things should we do?
23. If the son asks for bread, will the father give him what?
24. If we, being evil, give good gifts to our children, what will God
    do to His children.
25. Describe man's love?
26. Describe God's love?
27. What is the "law and prophets", in verse 12?
28. What kind of gate leads to destruction?
29. Which type leads to life?
30. What, in our homes, has become some people's God?
31. Why should children's heroes not sin?
32. In verse 7 of 1 Thessalonians, what has God called us to do?