This weeks passage continues the topic of judging others that began with the new chapter, and which we memorized last week.

Jesus uses hyperbole to make a point.

Check out the passage in Matthew 7:3-5.

Jesus’ purposely illustrates his point with absurdity.

We’ve all had something in our eye. And it hurts! It’s sometimes difficult to get rid of, and even after we do, our eye still stings, sometimes for quite a while.

But Jesus tells us that we can’t see to get the speck out of someone else’s eye when we have a two by four in our own!

In other words, stop judging others and pay attention to what needs to change in our own lives.

This is input we could all pay attention to. I know I need to hear it. And I even know what my plank is. My temper can get the best of me. I know it. And I hate it.

Now I need to work on removing it, so I can be more helpful to others.

What about you? What’s your plank? Let me know in the comments.

We start chapter 7 this week!

I’m interested in hearing how you’re doing with this, and would like to hear from you. Please share your experiences in the comments.

This week’s passage begins chapter 7, and also begins the section on judging others.

Take a look. It’s found in Matthew 7:1-2.

This has always been one of those passages that seem to be taken out of context; or at least over used in conversations about judging.

One one hand, we aren’t to judge. Only God can determine the heart of a person with any definite conclusion.

On the other hand, James tells us that if we turn someone from sin, we’ve done something incredible. That requires a bit of judgment, don’t you think?

And Paul includes some instruction about judging others in the church as well.

It seems like Scripture is contradicting itself here. What’s going on?

Here’s my take on the matter.

I think the rule of conduct is best understood as “don’t get into the habit of being judgmental.” Such a judgmental attitude directly impacts how others, including God, respond to our deficiencies.

Jesus isn’t telling us that a critical assessment of others is to be completely avoided. In fact, Jesus expects us to be sensitive and responsive to the failures of others (Matthew 18:15-18, Matthew 7:6).

His illustration of the speck of sawdust and the plank, which we will memorize next week, exaggerates just how absurd it is to point out the flaws of another, while ignoring our own shortcomings.

It almost seems as if he’s saying that a detailed self-analysis or self-judgment is necessary before we can even begin to think about helping others.

And so, when people complain that the church “judges me”, what they are really complaining about is how the church, being used by the Spirit, is convicting them of sin, and they simply don’t want to hear it.

Know this: We are called to point out sin, not for the purpose of spotlighting the flaws of others, but to draw them toward Christ and his grace and salvation.

Nothing more, nothing less.

What’s your take on this whole idea of judging? Let me know in the comments.

Jesus wraps up his teaching on the topic of worry in this week’s passage.

Take a look at Matthew 6:31-34.

We’ve been memorizing this passage on worry for a few weeks now. Jesus wraps it up this week with some incredible advice on how to avoid worry.

Do a simple Google search on how to avoid worry and you will find dozens of ideas and suggestions.

But Jesus offers the simplest, and most practical suggestion of all.

Seek first his kingdom, and his righteousness.

In other words, get your priorities straight.

Look after his business, and he will take care of yours.

Don’t worry about what you can’t control anyway.

I know. Easier said than done. But still, our focus is to be on the work of Christ in this world. When we keep the main thing the main thing, all the peripherals will fall into place.

And you know what? They always end up being better than I could have done on my own anyway

So why worry?

What do you do to remind yourself to seek first his kingdom? Let me know in the comments.

Worry.

Jesus seems to spend a lot of time in Matthew 6 on this topic.

But I think that he knows that we struggle with it a lot.

Take a look at the passage, Matthew 6:28-30.

Last week, Jesus specifically addressed worry. This is an area that I believe we all struggle with to some extent.

Why worry, Jesus asks. He will provide all of our needs. Especially over something as simple as the flowers of the field.

I’ve seen some beautiful flowers. And yet God promises to take care of my needs even better.

How incredible is that?

Do you worry about daily things, like what you will wear? What do you do to combat that? Let me know in the comments.

Like last week, this week’s passage speaks directly to American society.

Jesus addresses worry. And it’s something we meed to hear. We tend to worry about almost everything, it seems. But Jesus has a better idea.

Read it for yourself: Matthew 6:25-27.

I don’t know about you, but I find overcoming worry to be a difficult struggle.

I worry about my kids. I worry about our finances. I worry about my wife when she’s traveling. I worry about upcoming events and programming in my ministry.

I know I shouldn’t; but I do.

How do you not worry?

And so this passage speaks directly to my life. What about you?

Do you worry? What about? How do you not worry? Let me know in the comments.

Do you ever get the feeling that Jesus is speaking directly to our culture?

Even though this passage was penned two thousand years ago, it seems to apply directly to America in the twenty-first century.

It’s almost eerie.

Check out the passage: Matthew 6:24.

Does this hit you right where you live?

If not, it should.

Think about it. As Americans, we are wealthy. We have our homes, two cars, TVs in every room, mobile phones and increasingly advanced electronics.

We have our savings accounts, our IRAs and pensions, our insurances.

Just who do we serve?

Hmmm….

How do you avoid serving Money in an extremely materialistic society? Let me know in the comments.