|
Chapter 7 -- Do Not Judge
"Do not judge. If you do, yo will be judged by the same judgment. Whatever you measure out to others will come to you again. Why would you consider the speck in another person's eye while there is a twig protruding from your own eye? With the stick in your eye, how could you say, Let me take the speck out of your eye: You are a hypocrite if you think to do that. First deal with the stick in your own eye. Then you will see more clearly should you ever have the opportunity to help the other person deal with the speck in his or her eye.
"Do not give holy things to the dogs or pearls to pigs. They may trample them and then turn on you to your harm.
"Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you. Everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks has it opened. Is there anyone here who will give a stone when a child asks for bread? Or a snake when the child asks for fish to eat? See, you do know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
"So whatever you want others to do to you, do the same to them. This is the core of the law.
"Go thorugh difficulties. Ease and expansion lead to destruction, as many demonstrate, but difficulties and austerity lead to life, and few walk that road.
"Beware of false persuaders. They are wolves in sheep's clothing. You will know them by their fruits. Does one get grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? In the same way a good tree yields good fruit and a corrupt tree yields evil fruit. A good tree cannot yield evil fruit, and a corrupt tree cannot yield good fruit. Every tree that does not yield good fruit is cut down and burned. Yes, you will know them by their fruits.
"Not everyone who claims my name will be in the kingdom of heaven, but only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven. Many will list the wonderful works they say they have done in my name, and then I will make my disclaimer: I never knew you; leave my presence; your works are evil.
"So whoever hears these sayings of mine and acts accordingly is like a wise builder who built a house on a rock. The rain fell and the floods rose. The winds blew and beat on the house, but it stood beause it was founded on a rock. Everyone who hears these sayings of mine and ignores them is like a foolish builder who built a house on the sand. The rain fell and the floods rose. The winds blew and beat on the house, and the house fell with a great fall."
Well, at the end of these sayings, the people were astonished because he taught them with authority, and that was different from the way the press expalined things.
Indeed, I have been changed by his teaching. I've heard much of this several times in different settings, and now his words seem to follow me wherever I go, whatever I do. I would have liked to be with him every day if I could, but the next week I was required back at the tax collection desk. By that time, it was not difficult to follow Jesus' actions by listening to the buzz of people who had been with him. I've recorded here a sampling of those actions. (coming next)
|
