THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 6
THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT 6
Jesus is the only one who is capable of judging Christians because He is the only one who paid the supreme sacrifice for their salvation, so no Christian should presume to criticise or condemn another for whom Christ also died (CP Ro 14:10-12). Setting at nought other Christians means despising them, holding them in contempt. That does not mean that Christians have to agree with what other Christians believe or teach, or that they must like what they do, but they are not to criticise or despise them because of it. Christians had better be looking at their own works rather than judge another's, because every single one of them will one day have to stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ to give an account of their own faithfulness (CP 1Cor 4:2-5; 2Cor 5:10 with 1Cor 3:11-15). None of this is teaching that Christians cannot exercise discernment regarding spiritual things (CP 1Cor 14:29). Christians can also examine, convince and reprove those in the world of their evil ways (CP 1Cor 2:15). This in no way is judging sinners, but simply witnessing to them the gospel of light.
Jesus is also not saying that Christians cannot judge false teaching, and who false teachers are in the church. It is obligatory upon Christians to do this (CP Mt 7:15-20; 1Th 5:21; 1Jn 4:1; Rev 2:1-2). Nor does Jesus mean that Christians cannot make value judgements with respect to sin in other Christians (CP 1Cor 5:1-5, 9-13). The fornicators, covetous, idolaters, railers (foul-tongued abusers), drunkards and extortioners here are professing Christians, and Paul warns other Christians not to fellowship with them. They are to be put out of the church - excommunicated - so that God can deal with them outside the church. Christian judgements are limited to those inside the church - God judges those outside. Christians must always remember that the same measure of judgement with which they judge others will be measured back to them - doubled (CP Lu 6:36-38). The word again in V 38 means repetitive - it is repeated, so Christians get double judgement, just as they get doubly blessed in return for their giving.
To show that He was not forbidding every kind of judgement, Jesus then went on to warn Christians against giving holy things to dogs or casting pearls before swine (CP Mt 7:6). In the general sense this means that objects of value or sacred things should not be offered to those incapable of appreciating them. However, in this context it centres on Christians judging others by their own standards. The point Jesus makes here is that as dogs are incapable of recognising something sacred, and pigs have no regard for pearls, so Christians cannot impose God's standard of morality on those who are morally corrupt (CP Pr 1:22; 9:7-8; 15:12). Christians cannot expect those who have no relationship with God to adopt His standards of morality. Rather, the morally corrupt are more likely to turn on Christians trying to impose their morality upon them, and attack them. It should be noted here however, that contrary to what many Christians believe, there is no suggestion whatever in Jesus' teaching that Christians are not to share the gospel with unrepentant sinners in case they reject it and attack them, because everywhere else in scripture Jesus teaches that Christians must be prepared to die for the gospel's sake, if need be (CP Mt 10:38-39; Mk 8:34-37; Lu 9:23-25; Jn 12:24-26).
What Jesus teaches next in His Sermon on the Mount is the certainty of answered prayer (CP Mt 7:7-11, also Lu 11:9-13). Right throughout scripture God promises to answer the prayers of His children and fulfil His promises in their lives (CP Nu 23:19; Psa 34:15-17; 89:34; 145:18-19; Pr 15:8, 29; Isa 46:9-11; 55:10-11; Mt 18:19; 21:22; Mk 11:22-24; Jn 14:12-14; 15:7; 16:23-24; Eph 3:20; Jas 1:5-8, 17; 1Pe 3:12; 1Jn 3:21-22; 5:14-15). According to the power that worketh in us in Eph 3:20 means by, or as a consequence of God's power at work within us. Christians need to be in total agreement with what these scriptures teach, otherwise they will have little chance of ever having any of their prayers answered. The clear teaching throughout is that there are no limitations whatever on what Christians may ask of God in prayer, in line with His will - His word, the bible. What Christians know of God's word is what they know of His will, and what they know of His will determines the success of their prayer life. It is imperative that Christians are thoroughly acquainted with God's word and do it, for their prayers to be answered (CP Josh 1:8; Psa 1:1-3). This is the guaranteed secret of success in the Christian walk: being thoroughly grounded in God's word. The closer Christians are to Christ through His word abiding in them as Jn 15:7 teaches, the more effective their prayers will be.
Christ's word abides in Christians in the measure it governs their lives, and in the measure they act upon it. That is what John meant in 1Jn 3:21-22: "beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence toward God and whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are right in His sight". Also in 1Jn5:14-15, "and this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him". Christians walking in fellowship with the word will never ask for anything outside of God's will, and this ensures that the answer to their prayers will always be yes (CP 2Cor 1:19-20). There is not one promise of God that is no to a believer in Christ in line with His word. God is glorified in His promises being fulfilled in their lives, which is what V 20 teaches (CP also Jn 15:8). There are absolutely no limits to what Christians may ask for in prayer in line with God's word. Salvation for their family and friends (CP 1Ti 2:1-4; 2Pe 3:9), their own good health and wellbeing (CP Isa 53:4-5 with 1Pe 2:24), their finances (CP Josh 1:8; Psa 1:1-3; 3Jn 2) etc. Christians can ask what they will in line with God's word and it will be done for them. If their prayers are not being answered they need to examine themselves closely and remedy the fault immediately (CP 1Cor 11:31-32; 2Cor 13:5). The fault lies with Christians, not God. He does not capriciously stop answering prayer - Christians themselves are the problem (CP Ro 3:4). If prayers are not being answered it is because Christians are not complying with the conditions God has laid down for them.