1 "JUDGE not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment 2 ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, 3 it shall be measured unto you. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam 4 that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me cast out the mote out of thine eye; and lo, the beam is 5 in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
6 "Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast your pearls before the swine, lest haply they trample them under their feet, and turn and rend you.
7 "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; 8 knock, and it shall be opened unto you; for every one that ask-eth receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that 9 knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, who, if his son shall ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; 10 or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye 11 then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give 12 good things to them that ask Him? All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them; for this is the law and the prophets.1513 "Enter ye in by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many be 14 they that enter in thereby. For narrow is the gate, and straightened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few be they that find it."
Golden Text: "Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them." Matt. 7: 12.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) In the Saviour's instructions to His followers, what command does He give? Why? V. 1. Note 1. (2) What will be the result to the one who judges another? Upon what does our treatment by another in great measure depend? V. 2. (3) In what way does the Saviour show the folly of criticising one another? V. 3. (4) In what other way does the Saviour express the same thought? V. 4. (5) What is a person who would attempt to do such a thing? What is his first duty? Having done this, what work may he then attempt? V. 5. Note 2. (6) Against what does the Saviour warn His followers? What might be the result to one who would attempt to satisfy swine with pearls? V. 6. Note 3. (7) What three things will the follower of Christ do? V. 7. (8) What will result to the one who asks? To the one who seeks? To the one who knocks? V. 8. (9) What two illustrations does the Saviour use to emphasize God's willingness to give what His children ask? Vs. 9, 10. (10) How does the Saviour apply the illustration? V. 11. Note 4. (11) What grand rule does Christ give us for the treatment of our fellow-men? V. 12. (12) What is the only safe gate for the Christian? To what does the other lead? What is said of this gate? V. 13. (13) For what reason are so many going in at the broad gate? What is the peculiarity of this gate? V. 14.
NOTES.
1. Judge not.—"Do not think yourself better than other men, and set yourself up as their judge. Since you can not discern motive, you are incapable of judging another. In criticising him, you are passing sentence upon yourself; for you show that you are a participant with Satan, the accuser of the brethren. The Lord says, 'Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.' This is our work."—Desire of Ages. "It means to impute wrong motives, to put the worst and not the best construction on the actions or words of others. This command forbids us to sit in judgment upon the conduct of others, forming and expressing opinions upon that of which it is impossible for us to know all the facts."—Peloubet.
2. Then shalt thou see clearly.—Having had experience in getting rid of his own sins and faults, he is better able to help another in getting rid of his. In other words, his vision is not distorted or discolored by viewing his brother's faults through the spectacles of his own sins.
3. Neither cast your pearls before the swine.—"There are those who will only make a misuse of the highest and holiest things in religion. Their natures are so sensual, their hearts so hard, that they can not understand or appreciate the best things of God. It does not follow that we are to do nothing for them. There are some things even they can understand,—sympathy, loving-kindness, aid in temporal things, the love of Jesus Christ. By these we are to seek to change them into sincere men and Christians, and then they will understand the holy things and appreciate the pearls."—Peloubet.
4. How much more.—The difference is infinite. In Christ, God gave heaven's choicest gift. Then may we not expect that He will "with Him freely give us all things"? The greatest and best gift presupposes all the lesser ones.
