Week 9 wrap-up

I feel like Ch 7 is very concise and self explanatory so I hope my words don’t detract from your learning. 

Verses 1-5 talks about the hypocrisy of our preoccupation with someone else’s sin while overlooking our own failings.  I think this is a natural tendency for us to look at another person’s life or choices and feel we have done better.  The speck of sin in your brother’s eye is not to be overlooked but our responsibility is not to go around pointing out sin and making it public.  Instead we should privately “bear with one another” in love, encouraging and correcting as needed.   If we are filled with love then we will be less interested in pointing out our brother’s sin.

The pearls are the truths found in God’s Word and the pigs are unbelievers who have heard the truth of the gospel but are opposed to it.  Christ calls them “children of the devil”.  Their hearts are hard and they mock the Word and its truths.  Look around and you will find them.  Christ tells us specifically not to share with them what is valuable, (the pearls of the Word).  Instead we should move on to more fertile ground.

Verse 6 also mentions “dogs” and what is “sacred”.  The dogs are unbelievers and what is sacred is the truths of the Word.  They are not ready for all the truth of the Bible until they have accepted the truth of their own sin and their need for salvation.

Generous and loving is how I would describe our Father who wants us to ask, seek and knock.  The great thing about asking is that he knows what we need better than we do.  The Spirit searches our hearts and speaks for us when we pray, (Rom 8:26-27).  He promises to answer  when we are obedient and doing what pleases Him.   Then he will give generously, (1 John 3:22).  Are you lacking wisdom, compassion, vision for your ministry, direction for your family, overcoming problems at work, struggling with sin or difficult relationships?   Are you tired and frustrated with trying to fix it yourself?  Then get praying.   You do not have because you do not ask.

A quick note about the Golden Rule, (verse 12).  I have to give up my selfish needs and interests to obey this great truth.  It actually condemns my own efforts to be good.  It is unattainable unless Christ is the center of my life.  Romans 12:1-2 applies here again.

Luke 13:24 says, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door.”  Matt 7:13, “Enter through the narrow gate”.  John 10:9, “I am the narrow gate whoever enters through me will be saved”.  Everyone must make a decision.  You cannot drift into Christianity.  Step through the narrow gate into salvation or follow man down the broad road that leads to destruction. 

Only a few will find the narrow gate because they may have heard and intellectually believed the truths of the Bible but they have not made it personal.  They just continue to drift down the path of life and fail to actually enter through the gate by accepting Christ as their personal Savior. 

Others will continue to follow the wide path of life that feels good and is full of pleasure.  They never take the narrow fork because they are deceived by this world and unwilling to give up its pleasures, confront their own sin and die to themselves.