Matthew 7:1–11 (NKJV, also appearing in Luke 6:37-42)
7:1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Don’t judge! If you do, you will be judged in the same way and the same measure with which you judged. Sounds like a judgy individual will get the same amount of judgment in return when he is found in a compromising situation. Don’t be judgy. As a matter of fact, clean up around your own house, under your own feet, so that you have the clarity with which to help someone else with their problems.
6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.
Don’t throw away the holy or give away your pearls! In this passage, the witnessing believer is to be judicious and efficient with their proclamation of the gospel in one area. If someone rejects the gospel and is especially resistant, not ready for conversion, then do not persist. While God will never give up on them, it is useless to pursue someone who does not intend to receive Christ. One may actually incite anger, wrath, or retaliation, which would only bring unwanted attention to the gospel, and may push that individual even further away from salvation. I would think this type of reaction is rare, and that we would rarely retreat from a witnessing opportunity, but nevertheless the admonition is here in Scripture and should be heeded. Pray for discernment to know the difference.
7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
This final passage discussed the “do” of today’s Scripture study. Ask, Seek, Knock! What will be the result? You will receive, find, and have doors opened. What brings about these glorious results? The love of the Father. In the Greek, the imperative words above, commands to take action, are in a form that signifies immediate and continuing action. In other words, these words could just as easily be interpreted, “ask, and keep on asking,” etc. When you do not see the answer to your prayer immediately, don’t give up. Keep asking, but do so with the will of God as your guide. God desires to bless His children. He will give you good things when you ask. Don’t stop asking, don’t stop seeking, don’t stop knocking.
Artwork:
https://www.heartlight.org/gallery/1769.html
https://growingupgodandbeingbusy.wordpress.com/2015/06/17/the-beauty-of-asking-matthew-77/
Devoted To You 