Friday, May 30, 2014

May 31, 2014 Judge Well



Judge Well

Matthew 7:6 “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.”  

JESUS has preached in the previous verses that we are not to judge. Now he preaches, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs.” to illustrate we are to refrain from giving material possessions and even the word of God to irresponsible, unrepentant people. Do we violate Jesus’ “Do not judge.” command if we judge people to be “dogs” and “pigs”, wasting God’s provisions?
     The first reason to study scripture is to know God’s Word. As we learn His truths, we will more readily be able to judge our own and others’ lives in view of God’s Word. This kind of judging, though, is not the condemning judgment Jesus preached against. But it is judging as in discerning God’s truth. Christ’s followers judge and adjust their actions in accordance with Christ’s words.
     But we all know there are people who refuse to adjust to what’s right. They negate and neglect God’s good Word. One can repeatedly rebuke and teach them, but they continue to sin, and even “turn and tear you to pieces”. Some are lazy and make a living by living off “the system”. They speak lies and excuses regarding their inability to work, to seek God and to do what’s right.
     These are the “dogs” and “pigs” of Jesus’ sermon. They trample the good things of God, disregarding the Lord and his people who want to teach and to help them. Jesus’ words here tell us it is appropriate to discern when it’s time to stop helping those who waste your help.

LIFE Link: Judge well with Jesus’ discerning love.

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