Matthew 7

Matthew 7:1-6 – Judging

• If judging here is the same as being critical, explain:
  • John 7:24 – “judge righteous judgment”
  • “hypocrite, dogs, swine”
    • Some people don’t appreciate truth. We must make a judgment in this regard.
  • Your criticism of my criticism
    • “You shouldn’t judge.” “Are you judging me?”
  • John 10:26 – “you are not of my sheep”
    • Side note: This verse would have taken place during what we now call Hannukah.

Matthew 7:7-12 – Prayer

• Matthew 7:7-8 – “ask,” “seek,” and “knock” are all action words.
• If we are guaranteed a “yes” answer to all prayer, explain:
  • “Ask in my name” – John 14:13-14; 16:23
  • I Corinthians 12:7-8

Matthew 7:13-14 – Narrow way the only way

• If there are many acceptable ways to choose from, explain:
  • John 14:6 – “I am the way, and the truth and the life.”

Matthew 7:15-23 – False teachers

• Prophets sometimes were foretellers and sometimes “forthtellers” who simply brought the message of God.
• If we should never call men/women false teachers, explain:
  • I John 4:1-6

Matthew 7:24-27 – Hearing vs. doing

• If “doing” on our part is excluded as a “work,” explain:
  • Verbs in the text
  • James 2:14-26
  • Hebrews 11

Matthew 7:28-29 – Conclusion

• If acceptable teaching is entertaining, theater, joke / story-telling, explain:
  • Galatians 1:10 – “For am I now seeking the favor of people, or of God? Or am I striving to please people?”

Introduction

• Genesis 29:18-20

Hebrews 11

• Hebrews 11:1-6
• Hebrews 11:7 – Noah’s faith in God caused him to build the ark.
• Hebrews 11:8-10 – Abraham had faith enough to move. See Genesis 12:1. It didn’t matter where God was leading him on earth. He was looking forward to heaven.
• Hebrews 11:13-16
• Choosing what to focus on is a life-changing strategy.

Paul in prison.

• Philippians 4:10-13 – Paul had learned to be content.
• Philippians 4:8 – Dwell on the good things!
• “Sometimes it just depends on us.”

• Philippians 1:3-5, 12-14 – Paul was constantly thinking about spiritual things.
• The example of Joni Tada.

You see what you’re looking for.

• James 1:2 – This is a deliberate decision.
• Hebrews 12:2-3 – Jesus endured the cross because of the joy set before Him.
• If I’m looking for something positive, I’ll find it.

Galatians 2

Galatians 2:1-5 – Titus and circumcision

• Galatians 2:1 – It’s not entirely clear exactly where this fourteen-year interval fits chronologically. This visit in Jerusalem may be the same one mentioned in Acts 15.
• Galatians 2:2 – God told him to go. Compare Acts 15:3.
• Galatians 2:3-5 – Paul took a stand on principle to sow that circumcision was not necessary. (See Genesis 17 for the start of circumcision. In Leviticus 12:3, it was incorporated into the Law of Moses.) Compare Galatians 5:1-3. It is not a sin to be circumcised (notice Acts 16:1 – Timothy was circumcised to allow him to fit in with the Jews he would be preaching to), but it cannot be done as an act of worship.

Galatians 2:6-10 – The right hand of fellowship

• Galatians 2:9 – If this matches up with Acts 15, this must be referring to James the brother of Jesus because James the apostle had already been beheaded in Acts 12.
• Galatians 2:10 – Paul had already delivered aid to needy saints and would do so again. Paul also taught all people, regardless of wealth. He did not shy away from teaching the poor, the wealthy, or the powerful.

Galatians 2:11-14 – Opposing Peter

• Galatians 2:11 – Paul opposing an apostle to his face was a big deal! See Acts 10:28.
• Galatians 2:12-13 – This was a tremendous amount of peer pressure. It was so difficult for these Jews to break away from the old ways.
• Galatians 2:14 – Paul’s quoted words to Peter begin here. Various translations end the quote at different places (verse 14, 16, or 21).
• Galatians 2:16 – No one would be justified by the Law of Moses. What we need is a system of forgiveness, which is the Law of Christ (Romans 3:23-25; 4:4-8).
• Galatians 2:17-18 – See Galatians 5:4. If you try to go back to the Law of Moses, you make yourself a sinner again.
• Galatians 2:20 – See Galatians 6:6.
• Galatians 2:21 – If it were possible to obey the law correctly, Jesus would not have needed to die.

Introduction

• Genesis 1:11-12
• Hosea 8:7 – “They show the wind and reap the whirlwind.”
  • Hosea 8:1 – They had sinned against God.
  • Hosea 8:12
  • Hosea 10:12 – God pleaded with them to be righteous.

Give it time.

• Matthew 7:16
• Job 4:8-9 – Eliphaz understood sowing and reaping only halfway. Sometimes it is not an immediate effect. If we sow righteousness, we may not reap the rewards until after this life is over.
• James 5:7-8

Invest in your relationships.

• Romans 2:5-11 – We may be able to hide evil in this world, but we will eventually reap what we’ve sown.
• Ephesians 5:33 – Roles in marriage defined. We cannot sow selfishness and bitterness in our marriage and not reap a bitter marriage.
• Colossians 3:19
• Ephesians 6:1 – Disrespect damages any relationship.
• Ephesians 6:4; Proverbs 29:15 – We cannot sow child-centeredness and reap God-centeredness.

Sow good things!

• Galatians 6:7-10 – Christians should help each other.
• II Corinthians 9:6-11 – Giving cheerfully will be rewarded.

Matthew 6

Matthew 6:1-18 – “so that they may be honored by men”

• Compare Matthew 5:13-16. The motive is important here – glorifying God versus being noticed by men.
• Don’t show off, but serve God sincerely and discretely, maintaining focus on God and His reward.
• Matthew 6:16-18 – See Leviticus 16:29; Acts 13:2-3. Fasting is mentioned under the New Covenant, but not commanded. In those days, they spent a large portion of time preparing food. Taking that time instead to pray or worship would be a considerable change in time usage for them.

Matthew 6:19-24 – “You cannot serve God and wealth”

• Matthew 6:19-20 – This is a not-but statement. It is not a sin to have a bank account. But it is more important to concentrate on spiritual things. See Matthew 5:11-12. Don’t worry too much about this life. See also Hebrews 10:34.

Matthew 6:25-34 – “Do not worry.”

• Jesus is not negating the many other passages about work ethic, but God doesn’t want us to be overly concerned about this life. See Luke 12:16-21.