PODCAST
Good Fruit Inspectors
March 19th, 2021
Matthew 7:1-6
This may come as a shock but the Sermon on the Mount teaches us to make good judgments while strongly admonishing us not to be judgmental. We are not to take the role of being a judge of persons, but we should have good discernment. If we focus on the speck in someone’s eye, we may overlook the plank in our own.
In the same chapter when Jesus instructs us not to judge others, He also instructs us to be good fruit inspectors, “By their fruit, you will recognize them” (vs. 16, 20). Parents, teachers, pastors, and officials must make judgments concerning people’s behavior and sometimes render consequences according to their responsibility.
Between those two apparently opposite teachings is the Golden Rule: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (v. 12). What we send out is what comes back to us. If we are judgmental, we should not be surprised to receive the same in return. However, if we treat others as we would like to be treated regardless of how they have treated us, then we can transform the world!
Author: Clark Armstrong
