Soglio

Soglio
Village of Soglio Hiking in the Swiss Alps - John 6:3    And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

Friday, January 24, 2014

Matthew 7 - Do we want to hear all of this?

Matthew 7 continues Jesus' train of hard teachings. We often hear verses quoted out of context here, as one works a specific point or agenda. But taken as a whole they create a true picture of many practical doctrines and can be use nicely in following Christ's teaching.

Let's start with the ending statements in the Gospel.

Mat 28:18    And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19    Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20    Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.


These teach of the total authority given to Jesus and how we are to teach and do ( observer is not sitting back and watching) all commands.

Two points spoken of in chapter  7.

Mat 7:28    And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Mat 7:29    For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.


Mat 7:21    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.


Mat 7:22    Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?


Mat 7:23    And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.


Mat 7:24    Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Mat 7:25    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Mat 7:26    And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Mat 7:27    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.


It is interesting that just doing many wonderful works is not the point but rather he stresses these two points "observe all things whatsoever I have commanded, heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them"...we tend to want to forget the little word all.

"All power" or in the ESV "All authority" or as it was said.

Deu 6:4    Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

Deu 6:5    And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.


Verses 1-6 speak strongly to judging others. Paul says he is he is the chief of sinners, yet still has harsh words for us to hear...

1Ti 1:8    But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;

1Ti 1:9    Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

1Ti 1:10    For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

1Ti 1:11    According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

1Ti 1:12    And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

1Ti 1:13    Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

1Ti 1:14    And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

1Ti 1:15    This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.


Likewise Jesus' words here appear equally harsh.

Mat 7:6    Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.


Matthew 7:6 Gill

Give not that which is holy to the dogs,.... Dogs were unclean creatures by the law; the price of one might not be brought into the house of the Lord, for a vow, Deu 23:18 yea, these creatures were not admitted into several temples of the Heathens (h). Things profane and unclean, as flesh torn by beasts, were ordered to be given to them, Exo 22:31 but nothing that was holy was to be given them, as holy flesh, or the holy oblations, or anything that was consecrated to holy uses; to which is the allusion here. It is a common maxim (i) with the Jews,

שאין פודין את הקדשים להאכילן לכלבים, "that they do not redeem holy things, to give to the dogs to eat".''

Here the phrase is used in a metaphorical sense; and is generally understood of not delivering or communicating the holy word of God, and the truths of the Gospel, comparable to pearls, or the ordinances of it, to persons notoriously vile and sinful: to men, who being violent and furious persecutors, and impudent blasphemers, are compared to "dogs"; or to such, who are scandalously vile, impure in their lives and conversations, and are therefore compared to swine;

neither cast ye your pearls before swine. But since the subject Christ is upon is reproof, it seems rather to be the design of these expressions, that men should be cautious, and prudent, in rebuking and admonishing such persons for their sins, in whom there is no appearance or hope of success; yea, where there is danger of sustaining loss;

lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you: that is, despise the admonitions and reproofs given, and hurt the persons who give them, either by words or deeds; see Pro 9:7. The Jews have some sayings much like these, and will serve to illustrate them (k);

אל תשליכו הפנינים לפני החזירים, "do not cast pearls before swine", nor deliver wisdom to him, who knows not the excellency of it; for wisdom is better than pearls, and he that does not seek after it, is worse than a swine.''

(h) Vid. Alex. ab. Alex. Gaeial. Dier. l. 2. c. 14. (i) T. Bab. Temura, fol. 17. 1. & 31. 1. & 33. 2. Becorot, fol. 15. 1. Hieros. Pesachim, fol. 27. 4. & Maaser Sheni, fol. 53. 3. (k) Mischar Happeninim apud Buxtorf. Florileg. Heb. p. 306.


Yet the next verses 7-12 provide more mellow commands...

Mat 7:7    Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

Mat 7:8    For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Mat 7:9    Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

Mat 7:10    Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

Mat 7:11    If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Mat 7:12    Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.


But then he commands much harder teaching....


Mat 7:13    Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Mat 7:14    Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Mat 7:15    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.


See Bunyan's book for a deeper reading of this.

T H E Strait Gate 
O R, Great Difficulty of Going to Heaven:
Plainly proving, by the Scriptures, that not only the rude and profane, but
many great professors, will come short of that kingdom:
with directions how and why every one should strive to enter in.

You can find it at.... http://acacia.pair.com/Acacia.John.Bunyan/Sermons.Allegories/The.Strait.Gate/index.html

It's more correct today to say the opposite.

To quote another author...

"I have addressed, on numerous occasions, the Church’s ongoing efforts to reinvent Christianity into a global religion of Results & Relationships by using the powers of pragmatism and consensus to artificially grow itself into something more widely accepted by the world instead of faithfully proclaiming the Word of God “in season and out” as we are commanded to do in 2nd Timothy 4:2. The leaders of the new spirituality and its church growth movement have always had a hard time avoiding the “wide gate” and “broad way” choosing clever methods of “evangelism” that are not only incompatible with God’s Word, but also prove them unwilling to trust Him with the increase – ever looking for something more clever, spectacular and impressive to glory in and boast about to a watching world."


The delima is who are the false prophets...

Mat 7:15    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.


Luckily, Jesus provides some insight which leads to the conclusion of the chapter, which I would summarize hear the whole word of God our solid foundation and observer ( do ) it, and teach others likewise. 

I will leave the discussion of these fruits to another day...it seems to be Jesus excludes both so called professors and doers of many good works as thorns and thistles? Just as a hint, perhaps it is true that the branch can not bear fruit on it's own......


Mat 7:16    Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:17    Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18    A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19    Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20    Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.


Mat 7:21    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22    Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23    And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.


Mat 7:24    Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Mat 7:25    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

Mat 7:26    And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

Mat 7:27    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.


Mat 7:28    And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

Mat 7:29    For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.


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