You Are Not the Only One

36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Being merciful also includes the willingness to be forgiving.

37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: This verse shows that God forbids hypocrisy and a condemning spirit that is birth from self-righteousness. It does not condemn godly discernment. This is the verse that ungodly people use to silence the children of God. Or Christians use to dismiss their unchristian behavior. Neither attitude is blessed by God. This forgiveness, in that sense, is a permanent and complete acquittal from the guilt, shame, and eternal penalty of sin; it belongs to all who saved by the blood of Jesus Christ (John 5:24; Rom. 8:1; Eph. 1:7) and Psalm 79:12; Isa. 65:6; Jer. 32:18 When one thinks about the issues of abortion one is reminded that just protesting against abortion is not enough. One must be prepared to care for the mother during her pregnancy and the child born to a mother who has chosen not to abort. 

This verse is anathema to people who think that poor people should take care of themselves. It is clear that we have a responsibility for the poor.

39 And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? Shall they not both fall into the ditch? This verse is not speaking about physical sight. It is speaking about spiritual discernment and spiritual leadership. Today, many church leaders are blinded by their doctrine (just like these Pharisees), that they cannot see the signs of the times. The Lord Jesus warned us about getting in a daily grind attitude. He also reminded us about following others without discernment of who, what, why, and where they are. It was a disaster for people during the time of Christ’s visit to earth and for those of us who will not open our eyes and see today.

40 The disciple is not above his master: but every perfect one shall be as his master. None of us are masters of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are all followers of the way. 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? So if we are only apprentices of the Word of God, why are we using our apprenticeship to beat another apprentice down? Jesus used hyperbole to get his point across in Luke 18:25; Matt. 23:24.

42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye. How can we tell the people we rely on us for guidance not to sin when there is sin in our lives? Of course, we can tell them, but it would be meaningless as long as there is visible sin in us. We are not to live a “do as I say do, but do as I do life.” That is pleasing unto God. Spiritual teachers should set a pattern of righteousness. So, Jesus rightly calls the Pharisees hypocrites, and He will call us hypocrites too. We cannot live a double life. I remember losing many people because I expected our gospel team to live, act, and speak differently from the rest of the world. I just did not understand why it was such a huge deal. Yes, we all fall short. Yes, we will all do stupid stuff, sometimes, stuff we are not even aware that we are doing. Yes, the rules are for everyone. No, there are no exceptions. When we are told that we are not following them, having a hissy fit shows that we are operating out of our flesh and not the spirit. No amount of penance will deliver us from judgment. Especially if we go back to doing the same things after it has been brought to our attention. Leaders are not exempt from God’s laws. It is easy to see the sin in someone else and tough to see it in ourselves. We must pray for God to reveal them to us and then repent of them. If a person ever tells you that they have NOT sinned, they are self-righteous – plain and simple. We sin in thought if not in our actions. We are NOT perfect.

• 43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. We must remember that Christ is the tree, we are the branches, and the tree branches produce the fruit. But it only produces the fruit because it is attached to the Tree. So, we cannot produce fruit if we are not connected to the tree – Jesus. 44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. Romans 11:16 KJV makes it clear; “For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.” it tells us about the spiritual connection to the tree and the fruit that it produces.
• 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart, his mouth speaketh. Romans 10:10 reminds us that “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.” Out of one’s thoughts, or heart, their mouth speaks. It comes from no other source. No pain will not make you a mean person. It is buried deep in your heart. When pain comes, you no longer have a covering over your buried emotions. They will come to the surface. But if your thoughts are pure, then your heart will be pure, and the words you speak in anger will be pure. Oh, we can cover up our thoughts and hateful heart, but not for long. When threatened, in any way, the person whom we are inside will come out. A person with an evil heart cannot speak sweet words. The heart is either desperately wicked, or it is filled with the love of God. A natural spring will not produce nasty and sweet water at the same time. Just look at what Romans 11:16 tells us.

• We, the church, are the branches that produce fruit. We are attached to the vine, who is Jesus; therefore, we must produce good fruit. Romans 10:10 tells us that “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.” Verse 46 explains why we must produce good fruit. 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: Just like the parable of the seed that fell on good ground and brought forth much fruit, some even 100 fold. So is a wise person who receives the Lord Jesus as their Savior and then lives trying to please Him in all that they do. Such a person . . . 48 He is like a man which built a house, and dug deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: [ the rock is Jesus] and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock[ Jesus is our foundation and nothing that happens in this life will shake us.] 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 says, “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 2:19-22 tells us that “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.” On the other hand, when we built our hopes on a shaky foundation, just look at what happens to it. See also 1 Peter 2:4-8; Psalm 118:22: Isaiah 28:16 and Matthew 7:24-27 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. A note of the foundation of Jesus Christ.