The Disciples Attitudes
Read: Matthew 7:1-12
Most Christians are familiar with the verse, “Do not Judge, or you too will be judged” and have
used it to excuse their own lack of discernment. Yet Matthew 7:6; 15-20 teaches the importance of
discernment. It is important to realize that verse 1 is concerned with faultfinding and condemning
others, not the correct use of discernment. Fault finding and condemning others are both linked to
blindness in knowing your own failings. Jesus uses the illustration of the speck of sawdust in your
brother’s eye and the log in your own. This indicates that there is in fact a fault in the brother. The
error is not in the diagnosis but in the failure to apply a similar standard to youself; it’s really about
being overly critical of others. No human being dare criticize another human being because this
immediately this puts him/herself in a superior position to the one being criticized. Criticism is deadly
and it divides. The reason we criticize others is because this makes us feel better about ourselves.
When we find fault with other people we may be quite sincere but Jesus says in reality we are frauds.
Yet at times, the Lord does reveal to us what is wrong in others but His discernment is never for the
purposes of criticism but for the purposes of prayer. When the Holy Spirit reveals a character issue
in someone it is for the purpose of intercession. His purpose is not to make us feel superior but to
bring us to our knees in prayer for that person. Verse six tells of another form of discernment. God’s
gifts are not to be laid open to abuse or His truth to mockery. There is a right discernment which
is different from judging others. Verses 7-12 speak of prayer. Ask, seek and knock are metaphors
for prayer. They represent a consistent, continuous, persistent prayer life. Such prayer will find
an answer. If persistent appeals will open the hands of hard-hearted men, how much more certain
should you be that your persistence in prayer will open the hands of your Heavenly Father? Today’s
passage concludes with verse 12, “Do to others what you would have them do to you”. This Golden
Rule makes a sweeping demand for unselfish love in action.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Spend a few moments thanking the Lord for the practical wisdom that He gives us through His
Word. Thank Him for the many application of today’s passage in your life.
2. In listening prayer, ask the Lord to show you any areas of criticism in your heart that need to be
dealt with today. Confess this as sin. Ask the Lord to root out the pride in your life that causes
you to be critical.
3. Pray a prayer of blessing on the people that you have been critical of. Ask the Lord to show you
some of the things that He loves about them. Pray that you would grow in seeing the positive in
the people around you.
