Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 7:1-14

Jesus continues to give us practical teaching on how we can live out the Beatitudes in Matthew 7.

• The case for judging (Matthew 7:1-6)
  • The principle
    • Don’t judge (Matthew 7:1)
    • If you do… (Matthew 7:2)
      • The measure is how you judge others will be how you are judged
  • Does this mean we are not to evaluate words and actions?
    • We do not know what is the motive of words and actions
  • The hypocrisy of judging (Matthew 7:3-5)
    • Jesus challenged in John 8:7-11 that the one without sin cast the first stone
    • God is our judge
      • For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead. Acts 17:31
  • The need to make judgments (Matthew 7:6)
    • We need to recognize what is holy, but we are not empowered to judge
• The case for prayer (Matthew 7:13-14)
  • The invitation (Matthew 7:7-8)
  • The certainty of prayer (Matthew 7:9-11)
    • If a son asks for bread, does a father give a stone?
    • If a son asks for fish, does a father give a serpent?
    • If we in our sinful nature know how to give good gifts, how much more does our Heavenly Father give?
• The choice (Matthew 7:13-14)
  • The narrow way              
    • Difficult
    • Few
  • The wide way
    • Easy
    • Many
  • The result is destruction or destiny