Matthew 7

Blockers of Mercy

Judge not, that ye be not judged.

2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

After having seen the Lord's dealings with the servants of him, at this time it looks like we're moving on into judgment fairly quickly just on from here. Though should we have such a perspective in view, we'll miss all that the Lord is saying for you. In this case, it's about judgement then proper or is it very much so now and again. Sure, judgement must first begin at the house of God but let it start now within. That is to say, our God is holy you see and cannot begin to look upon sin. Though perhaps when we've started our judging expressions and such one of two things is bound then to happen. Last time we'd seen that when your reward is of man, you reap an earthly perspective as unto men. Though when your reward is naught but the Lord it matters not to you what another is saying or doing only that he's brought you into his banqueting house and his banner over you is love as the Song of Solomon says. Oh my friends, once you have that view in mind, let me tell you won't nothing be the same ever again not in this life and not for the one you're doing it for then. Consider this, as the prodigal son returns on back home or whether there be many such sons to repentance. You're standing there as the older son arms crossed and ready to raise up a fuss for his having left you with all his inheritance and his fair share of the chores. That is to say you're doing everything in your own power aren't you for the Father and you feel very much that he has just left you alone. Certainly a right perspective of God in the midst would've remedied all this other wrong sorts of mess. Though you could either do as Jude says and attempt to warn your brother about the path that he's on or you could by fear and trembling try to make your way in. Then too, there's that of the judgment there that's just for you. Well, of course it's not really but that of the Father and also his Son. So first you're either trying to stand in his way just again or to take his position as Lord and ruler of all and also as head of the house. Consider though if you will the role that forgiveness would play in the midst as you turn you your brother and first reconcile your own self so that you might once more attempt to hear from the Lord. That's what not judging is all about is learning how not to stand in the way of the Lord. Then too consider trying to navigate a relationship there with your brother with a good distance between and also some things in mind that you'd rather not say much as it would be some firewood ready for kindling. When you speak of being able to pull distance out of someone's eye as a thing to be crossed there instead, you must first take care that there is nothing flammable as James would've said to be said on fire of hell. Then are you more able to pull the distance out as one with the love of the Father in mind. Indeed as some of us are ever so fond of singing in the church 'Lord I give you my all' when you are still camped without the city as did Jonah waiting for the whole place to just go up in smoke. My friends, it's awfully hard to just be knowing the Lord and even so to enter into his glory to have all these things down here below.

Blockers of Justice Surrendered

6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Then too there appears at such a time as this the treating of all things as unto the Lord. Consider this if you will that even the animals serve him and do all his good will. I know so often some of us come from some sit down conditions when it comes to the things of the Lord. You know, where we'd rather just to sit down on his throne up above. Though it's the Lords place is it not and it goes with saying that you already know that. Though the animals should be in their proper place should they not as beings created of God to do all his good will. Consider If he teaches creation and sets eternity on the hearts and minds of all men, how much more does he not care for these things right here. The dogs you see feast from the Master's table with whatever crumbs that fall or scraps they've been given. Though when you've got a good Master and Lord you're not wanting for anything that much for sure. Nor are the swine in need of fulfillment much rather only to be suffered not for their destruction instead. Certainly the God who cares for all things and provides for even the sparrows would have time for such as these should they but come to him then in prayer. How much more should we then who are of so much more value spiritually speaking for which Christ bought the church washing her with the water of the Word sanctify her, preserving her against spot blemish or wrinkle until the day of his Son. That is to say simply this that should any be ever in need, our God stands ready to receive as we saw once before. Nor is he as unto men that we'd get the reward from for service to them a reaction as any before seen or hereafter known. A certain parable in the Scripture tells of it thusly that our God has taken a care for his all of creation. Though man did not which is why when the homeowner woke up he found a friend without or a relative, though surely it was not just a stranger. Anyhow, he stood without knocking for food and a loan and perhaps just maybe somewhat of a home though the text doesn't make clear the particulars nor any more details. Just that as with here the Father would've opened and suffered not for his children. Certainly it's not that Heaven as the throne of our God up above is something to be bound and then broken into that our God would not have ceased from providing us treasures. Just as before, if there's a storehouse, a place laid up as unto the Lord, that God will open the windows would he not and pour you out a blessing that you wouldn't have room to receive. Though perhaps it should've been that you'd stored up with him something for need. See, when it comes to the treasures and what is valued or when, our God in his mercy has everything visible. He can't imagine a greater treasure than that of his Son. Second from that was that God so loved the world that he gave his only One, begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him might not perish but shall have everlasting life. As you're standing without an all of your children for which you woul give anything including the world, consider that he has no greater gift to us then in full. Nor is it just so his gifts might be squandered and wasted, stored up in some solid condition but that we might receive the righteousness of Christ by whom we are predestined to sonship crying Abba Father thereby or so removed from his sight.

Blockers of Righteousness

12 Therefore 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.

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Surely at such a time as this our God knows just what we need before we yet ask him. Before a word is yet on his tongue, he knows it all so well. Certainly unless our righteousness should exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees as our Lord has once said there's no hope is there for the rest of us being justified then in his sight. Were they not known as the most rule keeping religious that time had to offer. Though our Father you see will judge on a much different manner. Some have heard this so called golden rule and applied it to a good many things I'm afraid that just weren't as becoming the Lord. I like to call it a law of spiritual sowing and reaping if you will one where all things reaped are gathered into barns in his sight. There is some room for men to do unto each other as would have been done to themselves and so to avenge in their sight. Though that is very much where our Lord draws the line in the reaping as unto men. At times like these I feel almost tempted to say as with the serpant in the garden so long ago, 'well if he meant it like that what are you referring back to the law and the prophets then for.' Lest happily though we should have missed the ways of the Lord, he came to shed just a little more light on the matter. Indeed, there are some strait gates and wide or broad ways that lead unto desolation for that is the state of the natural man. Though when our Lord has called you and sanctified you much rather he makes you righteous, does he not, in his blessed sight. It's a change on the inside that so does appear in the outward much rather and not as unto men. He's the God who changes all things time and again, who is bringing the whole world back to his Son. There's some false prophets also as ministers of this way which so do appear as undone before him much rather. He sees right through them doesn't he knowing the end from the beginning having tried and found that these are false in their way. Then too among the sheep of his pasture and the we his people have they crept in. Between that and the all we like have they gone their own way. It's a sheep's clothing certainly because the manner, appearance, and dress is not as unto the Lord but a form of godliness while the power thereof to change hearts and lives all the while is being denied. Thusly, there's none to pull these back from destruction onto the narrow paths and the ways of our Lord for to do so you must first be considered a son being accepted in the beloved and adopted now unto him which is all that's needed for a change on the inside to be thusly appearing. Herein we see just how much our God cares for his people in protecting his people form all sorts of evil. Then in the desolation much rather should we not just trust ourselves on back unto him.

Blockers of Fruitfulness

16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

It seems then that the fruits of the righteous are a dead give away that something's not quite right in the house of the Lord. There's some fruits that are as unto men of course then there's just that of the Lord in the end. He brings forth the harvest in the time of his choosing of course and there's none that can tell him his perfect will from the way he should chose. Certainly, it's awful hard at such a time as this just to be producing thorns and thistles as unto the Lord. Not when the fruits of righteousness are love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness and against such there is no law first of all. Knowing the Lord and being all connected together as unto THE BRANCH then in full or just as unto the vine and the branches thereof to which we have come there seems that God in his mercy is just not going to let us alone. There's some fruitfulness then that accompanies the Lord and then again there's some blockers of it such as just no longer abiding in him. While there's no one else good save for that of the Lord, it's his mercy that caused him to die upon that there tree. So then he's the only one as in the garden correcting the fruit and the heart of the matter. As with the trees of knowledge and good and evil besides he's the only One for life and it's mercy and all good things with it besides. Certainly we would not want to not be known as after the Lord. Just as he did with the sheaves in his vineyard our good Lord is the one calling in reapers. So that if there's any matters of judgement left to be had in the house, we're not inspecting the fruits but rather a walking with him, our Father, Master, Savior, and Lord. It follows then too that the bringing forth is a direct result of our connection to him nor is the fruitfulness as unto all men.

Blockers of Entering In

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Certainly when it comes to knowing the Lord and so having entered as into his glory, there remains but a few last things you'd have to consider. It's not though as some would've done and had you know the names of every stray saint, angel, or apostle you're like to encounter. Then too you've just got to have ready all the payments for sin. My friends, if Jesus paid it all once again, then whatever are we doing standing in the way of him then. See, the bearing fruit and our connection determines how we'd know him as in the end. When we're doing it for man though, we reap a reward as unto men towards this very end. Thus, it's entirely possible to be saved, sanctified, and on the way to glory and know not our Father in Heaven. Doing his will though and having a relationship with him first of all as unto the branches from whom we were grafted or the vine from whence these were taken from a not having abided in him prevents it from happening. Though when your reward is just unto men, that's probably where your focus got messed up again. Not having been known of the Lord comes directly from who are you doing it for whether of preaching, prophecy, casting out demons, or coming before him in prayer then in full. To them that seek him our God stands ever waiting and ready to receive all of his children, of this you can be sure.

Blockers Above

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Hereafter, our Lord can be seen teaching as one with authority, who owns the whole house, Heaven, the hereafter, and those mansions in sum. So it shouldn't astonish any now at this time that he should own all that and come down here just for men. See, he came to seek and save that which was lost no matter the cost especially the lost sheep of the house of Israel and then those of the church which would believe on him later. Our God knows them that are his but just in caase that waasn't enough it's not for our sins only that he suffered and gave but also for that of the whole world then as well. Certainlny by taking heed thereunto according to his word is how the young man cleansed his way back in the Psalms and how we should as well being ever so submitted in our bodies and lives back to the Lord of all who determines what may and also sheltered us from all the bad things that would come our way. He's likening them in the text to a wise man which built his house well. Though when our founder and maker the Lord as with that holy city, he's the God who is able to keep us from falling then is he not in the end. Nor is that just safety in this life only but surety in the one to come then eternally as them that would know to whom they were coming as unto a just God and also his throne. He's the stone the builders rejected thusly fitted, the same being the head of the corner, the chief, the captain of our salvation and all who would but come to him in prayer. Though when he's filling the whole earth there in the midst with his glory or simply as Daniel saw as the stone made without hands, there's bound to be some displacement that follows. Thus it was, that the rains, the floods, and the winds were a surety there in the end but not when it came to him then. See, the presence of God brooks no argument, it drives out all others, it stands for no place when it comes to the Son. So too his presence is disruptive now surely being the strength needed to stand against time, circumstances, the judgement, and whatever the weather. Still of this we can be sure that the heart of the Father is good as supposed. Though when some of us get in the habit of the all we like sheep have gone astray and have turned every one to our own way and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. After having gone our own way and turned very much astray, it's very much possible I'm afraid to forget what we're doing it for then having left our first love there once again. The house not built upon the Lord though has it's own reward and while it might look cute and pretty at the moment and have all sorts of fame, you cannot miss these other claims. That when the storms and the rain have come and been the life not founded on him then will crumble being the first to fall whether on the stone or off it. Then too there's the danger of being ground instead to powder, a life that's trampled by the world, instead of you know when he's got to come to save us he brings with him a sword. Thus the power of God brooks no argument, if suffers no authority, it casts down all others there in his sight. Then again how I'd like to provide a set of instructions detailing with which things you are to build, but when you're life is like Solomon set upon the Lord, he's your wisdom to complete it and so also to find out where you are to start. Else wouldn't you be just as Zephaniah which found the Lord's visitation grievous upon all of these here his children.