Matthew 7:1-6
New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)
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.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
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. (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:%201%206&version=NIV1984)
As I looked at this scripture today I had to stop and really think about what Jesus was meaning in this scripture. I prayed about it and was brought to a scripture that I believe explains it well. I think this is very amazing because I did not go to the back of my Bible and begin to look for scriptures, the word was opened to me and it was clear. That has happened so many times in my study and it thrills my heart because I feel that God is saying, “Here it is Sheila, read this.” No one will ever be able to convince me that it is by chance. My God is amazing, that is all I can say!!!!!
Judging others, it is so easy to see the faults of others but forget to look in the mirror. Maybe it is as simple as recognizing that someone has gained weight but forgetting that your pants have been getting tight too. Sometimes we get so caught up in what others are doing that we forget to take a look at ourselves and see our own faults. In psychology we are taught that sometimes people put others down because they don’t feel good about themselves. Somehow by looking at other peoples faults it makes ours not seem so bad. I believe that Jesus is telling us to be concerned about our own hearts. We don’t know the hearts of our brothers but He does. We don’t know what they are thinking, feeling, or their true intentions but He does. We need to leave the judging to Him and make sure our lives are in line with His will.
So, that made pretty good sense and then He throws in the last part, 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” Now that kind of sounds like judging doesn’t it? Who are the dogs and who are the pigs? As I thought about this I was directed to II Peter 2:
False Teachers and Their Destruction
1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell,[a] putting them into gloomy dungeons[b] to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8 (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.[c] 10 This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature[d] and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11 yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12 But these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish.
13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their pleasures while they feast with you.[e] 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey—a beast without speech—who spoke with a man’s voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.
17 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: “A dog returns to its vomit,”[f] and, “A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Peter%202&version=NIV1984)
Now, it may sound like judging others but I think one is blatant sin while the other may be those petty things that we seem to judge people over. I believe His is also telling us to be cautious that we do not become like the dogs and pigs and get trampled. Make sure you are living a life as Peter describes in II Peter 1: 3 – 8:
3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II%20Peter%201:3%20-%208&version=NIV1984)
If we live a life worthy to the calling of Jesus Christ, He will guide us, direct us, and reveal to us those who are “dogs” and “pigs”. He will give us direction in our ministry and will bring to light those who are willing and worthy to receive His precious gift. Those who are not worthy are those who blatantly refuse it, who choose their desires over His. Be cautious of those, be open to those who truly want to follow Him and don’t judge them when they slip up. Always be looking out for your spiritual growth and maturity and always seek God with all your heart.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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