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In Matthew chapters 5-7,\u00a0 the Sermon on the Mount as taught by the Lord Jesus Christa was recorded.\u00a0 Chapter 7 which is the last in the series focuses on Christ\u2019s teaching on the dangers of judging others, and how we can live and run our Christian race here on earth successfully.<\/p>\n
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Judgment can mean the ability to make considered decision or form sensible opinions based on facts available to one.\u00a0 It can also imply assuming the right to criticize someone.\u00a0 Correction is seen as the action or process of direction aright.\u00a0 It can also be viewed as a change that rectifies an error or inaccuracy.\u00a0 Discipline refers to the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behaviors, or a resulting from such training.\u00a0 It can also mean training someone to obey rules or a code of behavior by punishment or rebuke, punish or rebuke formally for an offense.<\/p>\n
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The major consequence of judging others is that the one who is judging will also be judged.\u00a0 Also with what judgment he judges, he shall be judged: and with what measure he metes, it shall be measured to him again.\u00a0 However, it is worthy to note here that we should correct or reprove our brethren when occasion warrants.\u00a0 We should do this with all sincerity and in love, in order to deliver the soul of a dear one that Christ died for.<\/p>\n
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In many instances some people are prone to criticizing others while ignoring their own faults.\u00a0 These acts are referred to as acts of hypocrisy by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.\u00a0 For example there are many so called believers in the Church today who indulge in one form of sin or immorality and are always critical about other people\u2019s misdeeds yet they are neck deep in such vices.\u00a0 Some individual may be involved in adultery in church but will be the first to accuse others of the same crime even without verifying the truth of the matter.\u00a0 We must first examine ourselves before criticizing others.\u00a0 Even when we think we are upright and without any sin, we must learn to correct our brethren in love.<\/p>\n
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God expects us to persevere in our prayers. We are enjoined to ask, seek and knock.\u00a0 We must be men and women of prayer who must never give up until our requests are met.\u00a0 It is commonly said that if there are people to pray there is a God to answer.\u00a0 Manifold blessings attend our ways when we persevere in prayers.\u00a0 God promises us that when we ask we will receive, when we seek we shall find and when we knock it shall be opened unto us.\u00a0 The Lord Jesus Himself promised us this as He said thus, \u201cHitherto have ye asked nothing in My name; ask and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full\u201d, John 16:24.\u00a0 Furthermore in Luke 18:1, the Lord enjoined us to pray always and not faint.<\/p>\n
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The Lord has clearly instructed us in Matthew 7:12, \u201cTherefore 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\u201d.\u00a0 The truth is that we cannot expect to receive good things from God if we do not do good to all the people around us who we come in contact with on a daily basis and at all times.\u00a0 Christ came to teach us not only what we are to know and believe, but what we are to do, not only toward God, but also toward men.\u00a0 We must therefore do to others what we would want them to do to us.\u00a0 If this golden rule is strictly followed and adhered to by all believers, it will be the foundation of good neighborliness.\u00a0 Firstly, people will love their neighbors as themselves.\u00a0 When this is so, then no one will hurt or offend his neighbor.\u00a0 All will show mercy and kindness\/goodness to one another.\u00a0 \u201cHe hath shewed, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?\u201d, Micah 6:8.\u00a0 The effect of this will be manifested in our churches, neighborhoods, offices and society at large.\u00a0 There will be no room for suspicion among us, no bitterness or any such vice in the midst of God\u2019s people. We would live peaceably among ourselves and this will create an enabling environment for the move of the Spirit of God in our midst.<\/p>\n
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The analogy of Christ to show the difference between the broad way and the narrow way is very instructive.\u00a0 This serves as a means of assessing ourselves to know on which track we are.\u00a0\u00a0 The characteristics of the two ways have been made obvious.<\/p>\n
The main characteristics of the broad way can be seen as follows:\u00a0 a way of sin and evil, no regard for God, unholy living, ungodliness.\u00a0 Jesus said, \u201cfor wide is the gate and broad is the way . . . and many there be which go in thereat:\u201d.\u00a0 This implies that it is a very busy way with many who are headed for eternal damnation.<\/p>\n
ON the other hand, the major characteristic of the narrow way is this, \u201cand an high way shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called the way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools shall not err therein.\u201d, Isaiah 35:8.\u00a0 This narrow way is characterized by righteous living, desire for the things of God and living to please God in all things.<\/p>\n
Just as the two ways have characteristics at variance with each other, so are those in them.\u00a0 As many as have not yet given their lives to Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior are on the broad way.\u00a0 Those on the narrow way are the ransomed of the Lord, washed with the blood of Jesus have accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, living daily for Him, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, living soberly, righteously and looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, Titus 2:12-13<\/p>\n
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Christ was very categorical about the end of those on the broad way and narrow way.\u00a0 He made a clear distinction as to their final destinations.\u00a0 For those on the broad way, it leads to destruction.\u00a0 They will end up in hell, and eternal separation from God.\u00a0 However, those on the narrow way, the pilgrims on the way that leads to life will end up in Heaven and spend eternity with God. \u201cAnd God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away\u201d, Revelation 21:4<\/p>\n
For those on the broad way, there is good news for you.\u00a0 There is still an opportunity for you to change your track by leaving the broad way and crossing over to the narrow way that leads to life.\u00a0 Jesus; the way, the truth and the life is willing to redirect you to the narrow way as you yield your life to Him by accepting Him as your Savior and acknowledging His Lordship over your life.\u00a0 He will give a turn around and set you on the path of holy living and an acceptable walk with God as long as you continue to follow Him and His divine instructions.<\/p>\n
For those on the narrow way, there is no provision for looking back or going out of the track.\u00a0 There is no option, we must continue so we can finish well.\u00a0 \u201cFor we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end\u201d, Hebrews 3:14<\/p>\n
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We are being admonished by Christ not to judge others lest we be judged.\u00a0 We must desist from being very critical and always quick at finding faults in others while overlooking our obvious faults.\u00a0 We must daily examine ourselves to ensure that we are having a right standing with Him.\u00a0 It is only by o doing will we be able to see clearly and will then be able to appreciate our brethren, thereby correcting them in love when the need arises.\u00a0 We must learn to do to others what we expect them to do to us.<\/p>\n
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Matthew 7:13 \u2013 \u201cEnter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and may there be which go in thereat.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Demands of the Kingdom, VI Central thought: Judge not, that ye be not judged, Matthew 7:1. Text: Matthew 7:1-14 In Matthew chapters 5-7,\u00a0 the Sermon on the Mount as taught by the Lord Jesus Christa was recorded.\u00a0 Chapter 7 which is the last in the series focuses on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sundayschool"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=483"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":484,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483\/revisions\/484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mzgtiglobal.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}