2. Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5-7
Today we continue studying the greatest
sermon by the greatest preacher…
Matthew 5-7
Sermon
on the
Mount

3. Threats to kingdom righteousness:
Introduction
Kingdom Righteousness
Threats to kingdom righteousness:
Materialism
Trust
Matt. 5:20: For I say to you, that unless your righteous-ness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus gives us several examples of the superior righteousness required in His kingdom.
Jesus helps those with good and honest hearts (i.e., Matt. 5:3-6) to see themselves as God sees them.
Jesus gets to the “heart” of true righteousness for that is where it begins…the heart! Matt. 15:17-20
The Sermon on the Mount

4. Kingdom Righteousness
Introduction
Kingdom Righteousness
“poor in spirit” (5:3)
“mourn” (5:4)
“meek” (5:5)
“hunger and thirst for righteousness” (5:6)
“merciful” (5:7)
“pure in heart” (5:8)
“peacemakers” (5:9)
“persecuted for righteousness sake” (5:10)
The Sermon on the Mount

5. Righteousness
of the
Kingdom
Matthew 7:1-12

6. 11. Judging
Matthew 7:1-5
Matt. 7:1: Judge not, that you be not judged.
Most oft quoted and most oft misused passage in the Bible.
Must be kept in context and harmonize with rest of the Scriptures.
Context of acceptable vs. unacceptable righteousness.
Not a blanket condemnation prohibiting all judging.
Is a condemnation of hypocritical, hypercritical, censorious judging.
The Sermon on the Mount

7. Hundreds of passages require us to “judge.”
11. Judging
Matthew 7:1-5
Matt. 7:1: Judge not, that you be not judged.
Hundreds of passages require us to “judge.”
1 Cor. 10:15; Lk. 12:57; Jn. 7:24; Heb. 5:14; Matt. 7:15, 20; 2 Thess. 3:6; Rom. 16:17; Psa. 141:5; Prov. 18:13
The Bible requires Christians to make judgments.
Judgment : to make a decision, form an objective opinion, come to a conclusion based on the circumstances presented.
There are many situations in which it is critical for a Christian to make judgments.
Many Scriptures require us to make a judgment!
1 John 4:1
Ephesians 5:11
Galatians 6:1
The Sermon on the Mount

8. Matthew 7:1-5 Ezekiel 33:7-9 11. Judging
Matt. 7:1: Judge not, that you be not judged.
Think! If Jesus made a blanket condemnation of judging we could NEVER:
Identify a false teacher: Matt. 7:15; 1 Jn. 4:1
Practice church discipline: 2 Thess. 3:6
Help a brother overcome sin: Gal. 6:1; Jas. 5:20
Evangelize the lost: Lk. 19:10; Mk. 16:15-16
Ezekiel 33:7-9
The Sermon on the Mount

9. 11. Judging
Matthew 7:1-5
Matt. 7:1: Judge not, that you be not judged.
Double-standard: Those who misuse Matthew 7:1 are doing the exact thing they condemn: Hypocrites!
Those who misuse Matthew 7:1 violate its immediate context: cf. Matt. 7:6, 15
How can one identify a “dog” or a “hog” (spiritually) without making a judgment?
How can one identify a “false prophet” without making a judgment?
The Sermon on the Mount

10. 11. Judging
Matthew 7:1-5
Matt. 7:2: For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.
Consequences : Not strictly applicable to how God judges the judgmental.
The “judged” is likely to reciprocate the same kind of judgment to the “judger.”
God’s lack of mercy for the “judger” is not because He is playing tit-for-tat, it’s because the “judger” is sinning in his lack of mercy and love: Jas. 2:13; Matt. 5:7; 1 Cor. 13:4-7; Gal. 6:7-8
The Sermon on the Mount

11. 11. Judging
Matthew 7:3-5
Folly : Jesus presents a cartoonish picture of the folly of judgmentalism.
Proper judging is required! The keys are:
Correct method:
Correct standard: Jn. 12:48; 7:24
Weigh all the evidence: Prov. 18:13
Considers all sides: Prov. 18:17
The Sermon on the Mount

12. 11. Judging
Matthew 7:3-5
“First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:5
Folly: Jesus presents a cartoonish picture of the folly of judgmentalism.
Proper judging is required! The keys are:
Correct attitude:
Humility: Gal. 6:1; 2 Tim. 2:25
Compassion: Jude ; Matt. 9:36
Love: Matt. 22:39-40; Jas. 5:19-20
The Sermon on the Mount

13. 12. Discretion
Matthew 7:6
Matt. 7:6: Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
“And they said, ‘Stand back!’ Then they said, ‘This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with them.’"
Genesis 19:9
“Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it.”
Psalm 141:5
We must keep this verse in context: judging.
Vv. 1-5 concerned judging that’s too harsh; v. 6 is a comment when righteous judgments are rejected.
No matter how correct from a scriptural standpoint.
No matter how humble & compassionately offered.
No matter how much love is shown.
Most will reject! Then turn on you like a pack of wild dogs or herd of wild hogs! Matt. 13:45-46; Rom. 1:26
The Sermon on the Mount

14. Matthew 7:7-11 13. Prayer (again!)
Just another isolated lesson on prayer? No!
Many regard vv as God’s guarantee to answer every prayer. No!
Consider all of Jesus’ teaching up to this point: “who is sufficient for these things.” 2 Cor. 2:16
We need spiritual strength and wisdom to put all of Jesus’ teaching into practice.
How can we possibly do it unless we receive divine help?! Lk. 18:1-8; Jas. 1:6-8; Mk. 2:3-5; Gen. 32:26
The Sermon on the Mount

15. Matthew 7:12 14. The Golden Rule
Matt. 7:12: Therefore, whenever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Simply another way of stating the second greatest commandment: Matt. 22:39-40
Disciples should treat others as God treats them.
Being a “partaker of the divine nature” brings great blessings and great respons-ibilities: 2 Pet. 1:4
The Sermon on the Mount

16. Matthew 7:12 14. The Golden Rule Many human philosophies of life:
Matt. 7:12: Therefore, whenever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
Many human philosophies of life:
“might makes right”
“do unto others as they do unto you”
“do nothing to others that they would not want others to do to them”
None compares to that laid down by the Lord.
The Sermon on the Mount

17. Conclusion “Judge not, that you be not judged.” Blanket statement? No!
Lord willing, we will finish our study on the Sermon on the Mount next week.
Christ’s teaching here is a clear challenge for us.
“Judge not, that you be not judged.”
Blanket statement? No!
Why am I judging? To help or hinder? To harm or heal? Jn. 7:24
Is what Jesus requires hard? Yes! But, is possible with God’s strengthening power! Eph. 3:20
Jesus requires a radical philosophy regarding our treatment of others! Imagine if everyone heeded!
The Sermon on the Mount