MATTHEW 7:1-12 MAY 15, 2011
“CHRISTIAN MANNERS”
How many of you remember the newspaper column on manners by Emily Post? Her name is now synonymous with good manners and etiquette. I am grateful to my parents and to my sister who taught me manners. I was constantly reminded: to say please and thank you, close my mouth while chewing, use my napkin and my handkerchief instead of my shirt sleeve, to show respect to all adults, etc… My sister taught me those manners which as a young teenage male, I was clueless in how to act around the opposite sex. She taught me to open car doors and any other door and to allow the woman to go first. She also taught me to hold the woman’s elbow to assist a woman in high heels to go up stairs. Most importantly she taught me to listen. Unfortunately manners must be taught and learned as they are not a part of our DNA. Another example of this was from a comment by a local kindergarten teacher of many years. She informed me that her task was to civilize young boys and girls so that they might have the tools to begin to learn. Each child at school has to learn: to raise their hand before speaking, to stand in line, listen to the teacher, stay in their seats, etc… Jesus taught the disciples the manners every believer needs to know. This portion of Matthew 7:1-12 I have entitled Christian manners.
Jesus often condemned the spiritual leaders of his day for their hypocrisy and their failure to live by the ethical demands of the scriptures. Jesus warned his own disciples to not follow the pattern set by the Pharisees and Sadducees. Matthew 7:1-2 (NIV) 1 "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.” The verb translated as “judge” has several slightly different meanings. In this context Jesus states that we are not to pronounce someone as guilty or to indicate that they stand condemned by God. James 4:12 (NIV) “12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you--who are you to judge your neighbor?” Only God has the authority to send someone to hell. We may think we know where someone is going but that is not our call.
This condemning attitude is the opposite of Jesus teaching us to be merciful in the Beatitudes. Matthew 5:7 (NIV) “7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” And remember that He taught us to pray, “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors”. When a Christian falls into this type of condemning behavior we are in effect setting ourselves as the standard of how one is to live. This critical condemning attitude is an indication that love is missing from our relationships. This absence of love is a sign that we may not have truly experienced God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Jesus uses an illustration showing a contrast between an insignificant problem in comparison to a major difficulty that the accuser has in their own life. From the Message, “It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your won. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you’, when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this whole traveling road show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.” This condemning attitude of others usually surfaces when we are being blind, unaware of our own self-righteous pride in ourselves. The primary example of a hypocrite is Judas Iscariot. Judas traveled with Jesus for three years seeing all of the miracles, hearing every lesson, and yet he never truly believed. Pointing out the sins of others should only be done after we have done a self examination, and then only with humility and love.
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 then turn and tear you to pieces.” This verse some have thought was thrown in as an afterthought. Yet in this verse Jesus addresses a problem if a person goes to the opposite extreme of judging. Instead of hypocritical judgment, is one who is naïve in continuing to present the message of God’s love and acceptance with one who continuously mocks and ridicules the good news of the gospel. In the first century dogs were mostly wild scavengers. I have experimented in talking with intoxicated persons and with those who are high on drugs. I have tired ignoring them and that doesn’t work. I have attempted to reason with them only to be greatly frustrated. I no longer attempt to reason with impaired individuals. I attempt to show love and concern and often that doesn’t work either. Someone who is so single minded like a wild dog or pig makes it unadvisable to attempt to share the precious truths of God’s love and forgiveness. If a pig can knock you down, they will attempt to eat any body part that is near them. I once made the mistake going to feed the hogs barefooted. They tried to eat my toes. I had to throw the slop bucket down and jump over the fence.
Jesus in this passage is finishing the sermon on the Mount providing us with how we are to apply the principles of holy living. It is not easy to be both merciful and forgiving and yet wisely discern when we should guard ourselves from those who make a mockery of the faith. In the same way when one tries to learn a new task, it is advisable to seek out the instruction manual and then ask one who knows what to do, and to not give up. Jesus in the same way tells us what to do and how to approach God: we are to ask, seek, and knock. 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; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Each of these words; ask, seek, knock; are words indicating prayer. These three words indicate a rising scale or ladder approach. When we go to God in prayer we are humbly asking for his assistance. Seeking indicates when we are needing to know God’s will as in what job to take or in seeking out a helpmate (who to marry). Knocking is being persistent and persevering in our prayers. Jesus consistently spent time in prayer with his Father. Jesus is very aware that we need help and so he provides us a framework of how to ask.
My children can still recite the words I told them numerous times. “I never mind you asking for anything as long as you don’t mind being told no.” God answers every prayer. God does not ignore us. Jesus uses an illustration of earthly fathers and then asks us if God will not then take care of us. From the Message, “Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t some cat and mouse, hide and seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? God answers our prayers. Remember how children sometimes react when they receive a reply they don’t know want to hear. They will either ignore your words or go ask the other parent. This doesn’t work with God either. We may not be listening when we receive an answer we don’t want to hear.
Jesus then summarizes his teaching in what we now call the Golden Rule. This rule was a Jewish saying but it was said in the negative. “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.” Jesus turned it around and said it positively. 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Living our faith is not simply following a list of rules and regulations. Being faithful to Christ means daily asking for help and discernment from our Father in knowing how best to respond. May we be wise and ask God for assistance, seek out His will for us, and be patient and persevering in waiting for his reply.
Let us pray.
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