“golden behavior” religion vs. spirituality” – p.8 matthew 7:1-12

““Golden Behavior”Golden Behavior”

Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.8Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.8

Matthew 7:1-12Matthew 7:1-12

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

So in everything, do to others what you So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus Bottom Line:Jesus Bottom Line:

• So in So in everythingeverything, do to others what you , do to others what you would have them do to youwould have them do to you

Two Warnings:Two Warnings:

• A warning against a A warning against a criticalcritical spiritspirit

““Do not judge, or you too will be Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to measure you use, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2)you. (Matthew 7:1-2)

Jesus “Jesus “chiasmchiasm” in vv 3-5:” in vv 3-5:

Why do you look at the speck of Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own no attention to the plank in your own eye? eye?


How can you say to your brother, ‘Let How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? your own eye?


You hypocrite, first take the plank out You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eyebrother’s eye


• A1 the A1 the speckspeck of sawdust in your of sawdust in your

brother’s eyebrother’s eye• B1 the B1 the plankplank in your own eye in your own eye• C first, C first, taketake outout• B2 the B2 the plankplank of your own eye of your own eye• A2 the A2 the speckspeck from your brother’s eye . from your brother’s eye .


• Jesus does not forbid confrontation but Jesus does not forbid confrontation but instead teaches us that instead teaches us that selfself--examinationexamination is the first step toward is the first step toward healthyhealthy confrontationconfrontation. .


• Jesus says there is a price to pay for Jesus says there is a price to pay for disregarding this truth: You will be disregarding this truth: You will be judgedjudged by by GodGod in the way you are in the way you are judgingjudging othersothers..


• A warning against A warning against overzealousoverzealous evangelismevangelism

““Do not give dogs what is sacred; do Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. and turn and tear you to pieces.

Matthew 7:6 (NIV)Matthew 7:6 (NIV)


• Jesus says there is a price to pay for Jesus says there is a price to pay for disregarding this truth: You will be disregarding this truth: You will be torntorn to to piecespieces..

Living this truth will require Living this truth will require divinedivine assistanceassistance

““Ask and it will be given to you; seek Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. door will be opened.


““Which of you, if your son asks for Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? asks for a fish, will give him a snake?


If you, then, though you are evil, know If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! – Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)ask him! – Matthew 7:7-11 (NIV)

Living this truth will require Living this truth will require divinedivine assistanceassistance (vv.7-11) (vv.7-11)

• In this teaching on prayer Jesus tells In this teaching on prayer Jesus tells us to do three things; us to do three things; askask, , seekseek and and knockknock


• Jesus says that because we live with Jesus says that because we live with certain certain moralmoral lawslaws we have we have expectationsexpectations for how parents will treat for how parents will treat their children.their children.


• We expect even We expect even evilevil parentsparents to provide to provide a certain level of care for their children.a certain level of care for their children.

• God’s care is God’s care is muchmuch greatergreater than the than the best human parent has ever provided.best human parent has ever provided.

Our Bottom Line:Our Bottom Line:

• Jesus-centered people have “Jesus-centered people have “goldengolden behaviorbehavior”.”.

So in everything, do to others what you So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.sums up the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12 (NIV)Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

Our Bottom Line:Our Bottom Line:

• Jesus “Golden Rule” is Jesus “Golden Rule” is activeactive not not reactivereactive or or passivepassive..

• Jesus “Golden Rule” connects religion Jesus “Golden Rule” connects religion ((doingdoing) and spirituality () and spirituality (beingbeing). ).

For those just starting…For those just starting…

• ForgiveForgive anyone who claimed to be a anyone who claimed to be a follower of Christ and violated what the follower of Christ and violated what the Holy Spirit is doing in your life by trying Holy Spirit is doing in your life by trying to force religion on you when you were to force religion on you when you were not ready for it.not ready for it.

For those just starting…For those just starting…

• Be Be sensitivesensitive to the work of the to the work of the HolyHoly SpiritSpirit in your life in your life

For those who are following hard For those who are following hard after God…after God…

1.1. Remember your own Remember your own salvationsalvation. .

2.2. Ask God to forgive you for trying to Ask God to forgive you for trying to correctcorrect and and controlcontrol others without others without even even listeninglistening to them. to them.

For those who are following hard For those who are following hard after God…after God…

3. Ask God to give you 3. Ask God to give you discernmentdiscernment for for inviting others to make Him their God!inviting others to make Him their God!

4. Live in 4. Live in repentancerepentance

5. Celebrate God’s 5. Celebrate God’s faithfulnessfaithfulness

For everyoneFor everyone

• Let Jesus words shape your Let Jesus words shape your imageimage of of GodGod

“golden behavior” religion vs. spirituality” – p.8 matthew 7:1-12

Documents