Questions for reflection, application, and discussion 1. Matthew 7:1 ...

Questions for reflection, application, and discussion 1. Matthew 7:1 has become a favorite verse of many non-Christians who otherwise have little interest in the Bible. If someone makes a moral statement about an action or lifestyle, they quote Matthew 7:1, "don't you know the Bible says judge not lest you to be judged." a. Is this the right application of this verse? Is Jesus teaching that a Christ follower shouldn't make any absolute moral statements about the rightness or wrongness of actions? Explain why you think this is or is not what Jesus is teaching. b. As Christ-followers, are we being judgmental if we say that any actions and/or lifestyles are sinful? Explain your answer. c. Is it possible to state biblical truth in a judgmental way? What is the difference between stating the truth and being judgmental? 2. Our contemporary culture has made its highest moral value what it calls “tolerance,” but what is really “pluralism,” a value system that is tolerant of almost everything but the Christian faith. a. How and why do you think the change from the traditional Christian value of tolerance, to the modern value of pluralism has taken place? b. Have you felt the pressure of pluralism, to “tolerate” or accept any and all beliefs and lifestyles as equally valid? How have you dealt with it? 3. In Matthew 7:2 Jesus teaches us “for with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” Jesus is calling us to apply the “Golden Rule,” to our judgements of other people, which calls us “whatever you wish others would do to you, do also to them” (Matthew 7:12). a. How do you want other people to judge you? How do you want God to judge you? b. How do you view and judge other people in contrast to the way that you want them to view and judge you? c. What would it look like for you to apply the Golden Rule to the way that you view and judge other people? Who in your life is it hardest to do this with? 4. Jesus confronts our tendency to want to confront another person about their sin, while overlooking our own sin. As he says in Matthew 7:3, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eyes, but you do not notice the log that is in your own eye.” a. We are often much more bothered by the sin in other people’s lives than we are by the sin in our own life. Do you agree that this is the root of the problem? Is it always the case? Why or why not? b. Jesus said that the problem is we don’t even notice the log in our own eye. Often we can be completely blind to our own sins? Why is this the case? 5. In Matthew 7:5 Jesus says that we are hypocrites because we lack the same self-awareness of our own sin that we are accusing others of when we point out their sin. a. We need to ask ourselves, why does the other person’s sin bother me so much. How can what you feel about their sin, and understanding why it bothers you so much teach you about your sin – and help you see your own log?

b. One place its vital to apply this teaching is in our home, especially as parents and grandparents. While we need to teach our kids about right and wrong and confront them about their sin, they need to see that we are taking the log out of our own eye. How can we fail to do this as parents and grandparents? What are the consequences if we fail to apply this teaching?