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The History of the Ages – Lesson 105

As we continue with the Sermon on the Mount, we’re ready for Matthew 7. Here Jesus turns to the subject of criticism and being judgmental of others in verses 1 through 5. Again, if you look at the article “The Greatest Commandment”, I deal with this passage in some detail. I believe the point Jesus is making here is that we should not make moral judgments on others, but spiritual judgments on ourselves.  

1. It’s not for you to decide what’s right or wrong for others. Keep your nose out of their business, unless that’s how you want to be treated.
2. Because if you do it to others, they’ll do it to you. Then it becomes a vicious circle of everyone interfering in everyone else’s life.
3. You may think you have a real talent for spotting other people’s problems. But how good are you at seeing your own? After all, they’re the ones you need to be dealing with.
4. You have to be your own first priority. You can’t spend all your time trying to “help” others with their problems, while you ignore your own.
5. That kind of super-spiritual attitude is useless! True righteousness only comes when people face their faults and weaknesses with God in confession and repentance. Then they can understand how to truly help others by encouraging them to do the same.

This next verse (6) goes with the previous passage above; but requires some explanation, as it is generally misunderstood. The historical background of this verse is necessary, if we are truly to understand Jesus’ meaning. Here, He quotes two popular, religious proverbs, well known to the Jews of His day. The first was usually stated, “What is holy is not to be released to be eaten by dogs.” The second was, “Do not cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn on you and tear you to pieces.” Both have no basis in Scriptural truth. Remember, the context here is destructive criticism or being judgmental.  

Wild dogs and swine were considered unclean animals, to be avoided and shunned. The message was that those who did not keep the self-righteous, public, ceremonial law of the religious crowd, were unclean and not to be associated with the sacred. Their attitude was that only the so-called righteous were worthy of the things of God, sinners were to be excluded (Mark 2:15-16). Of course, Jesus’ both taught and practiced just the opposite (Mark 2:17).

You may still be scratching your head, thinking, wait a minute, Jesus did quote these proverbs; so He apparently agreed with them. So, let’s look at the grammatical structure of the original language. The two verbs (“give not” and “neither cast”) are both in the aorist subjunctive used as an imperative. Not to get too deep in the details, this means both are commands where an additional negative is implied. This is literally a command to not do what these proverbs say to do. This is then consistent with the context. Jesus is saying we should not be judgmental and have the attitude that the holy and sacred should be withheld from those we deem unworthy.  

The literal translation should read something like, “Don’t say, Give not that which is holy unto dogs. And don’t say, Neither cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.” This is the reasoning behind my translation below.     

1. And, it’s not for you to decide who should or who shouldn’t hear the truth of God’s word. Don’t you know the purpose of the Good News is to show how God loves everyone, regardless of how undeserving or unacceptable you might think they are?

In the next paragraph Jesus tells us persistence is the test or proof of true dependence on God. One of the keys to understanding this passage is the meaning of “good”. Agathos is a Greek adjective that is used to describe something useful, helpful or beneficial. The temptation of some is to assume these verses refer to material things. However, an honest and thoughtful examination of the scriptures usually reveal that His emphasis is on the spiritual, not the physical or material (remember Matthew 6:19-34).  

1. Be persistent when you need the Father’s help. It proves your reliance on Him. When you ask Him for help over and over again, it proves that He’s your only source. When you consistently pursue Him, it proves you really want to know Him. And when you look only to Him for guidance, it proves you want to follow Him.
2. Then, when you show the Father you’re depending on Him alone, He’ll honor your trust and reveal Himself to you.
3. Your Heavenly Father is just like any earthly father who truly loves his children. And He will not betray your trust or disappoint your faith in Him.
4. If you ask Him for something good or useful or needful, could He disregard your request and give you something evil or harmful instead? Of course not!
5. Even as bad as some parents are, they still take pleasure in giving good things to their children. Your Heavenly Father, Who is perfect, takes even greater pleasure in giving good things to His children.

Jesus is getting ready to change the subject in verse 13. But to many, verse 12 does not seem to be connected to the previous verses. It is. This verse is generally regarded as The Golden Rule; treat others, as you would like to be treated. I like what the Amplified Bible has in this verse. “Whatever you desire that others would do for you, do also for them.” It was never His intention that we should hold or hide the spiritual blessings we receive in our pursuit of Him. 

1. And remember, this is the standard the Father has set; when you think about how you want others to treat you, take the initiative and treat them that exact same way. Because when you consider everything the Father has ever revealed to man, it boils down to this one thing: always be willing to use anything the Father has given you to be a blessing to others. This is what makes Him proud of His children!