Matthew 7:1-11

It is possible to press the words of the Bible so far that they yield not medicine, but poison.

— Matthew 7:1-11

Our Lord does not mean that it is wrong, under any circumstances, to pass an unfavorable judgment on the conduct and opinions of others. We ought to have decided opinions. We are to "prove all things." We are to "test the spirits." Nor yet does He mean that it is wrong to reprove the sins and faults of others, until we are perfect and faultless ourselves. Such an interpretation would contradict other parts of Scripture. It would make it impossible to condemn error and false doctrine. It would debar any one from attempting the office of a minister or a judge. The earth would be "given into the hands of the wicked." (Job 9:24.) Heresy would flourish—and wrong-doing would abound.

Verses 1-5. What our Lord means to condemn, is a censorious and fault-finding spirit. A readiness to blame others for trifling offences, or matters of indifference—a habit of passing rash and hasty judgments—a disposition to magnify the errors and infirmities of our neighbors, and make the worst of them—this is what our Lord forbids. This was common among the Pharisees—and it has always been common from their day down to the present time. We must all watch against it. We should "believe all things," and "hope all things" about others—and be very slow to find fault. This is Christian charity. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

Verse 6. The second lesson contained in this passage, is the importance of exercising discretion as to the person with whom we speak on the subject of religion. Everything is beautiful in its place and season. Our zeal is to be tempered by a prudent consideration of times, places, and people. "Don't reprove a scoffer," says Solomon, "lest he hate you." (Proverbs 9:8.) It is not everybody to whom it is wise to open our minds and hearts on spiritual matters. There are many, who from violent tempers, or openly profligate habits—are utterly incapable of valuing the things of the Gospel. They will even fly into a passion, and run into greater excesses of sin—if you try to do good to their souls. To name the name of Christ to such people, is truly to "cast your pearls before swine." It does them not good, but harm. It rouses all their corruption, and makes them angry. In short, they are like the Jews at Corinth, (Acts 18:6,) or like Nabal, of whom it is written, that he was "such a worthless fellow, that a man could not speak to him!" (1 Samuel 25:17)

This is a lesson which it is peculiarly difficult to use in the proper way. The right application of it needs great wisdom. We are most of us far more likely to err on the side of over-caution—than of over-zeal. We are generally far more disposed to remember the "time to be silent"—than "the time to speak." It is a lesson, however, which ought to stir up a spirit of self-inquiry in all our hearts. By our moroseness and irritability of temper—do we ourselves ever check our friends from giving us good advice? By our pride and impatient contempt of counsel—have we ever obliged others to say nothing? Have we ever turned against our kind advisers, and silenced them by our angry passion? Alas! we may well fear that we have erred in this matter.

Verses 7-11. The last lesson contained in this passage is the duty of prayer, and the rich encouragements there are to pray. There is a beautiful connection between this lesson and that which goes before it. Would we know when to be "silent," and when to "speak"—when to bring forward "holy" things, and produce our "pearls?" We must pray. This is a subject to which the Lord Jesus evidently attaches great importance. The language that He uses is a plain proof of this. He employs three different words to express the idea of prayer. "Ask." "Seek." "Knock." He holds out the broadest, fullest promise to those who pray. "Everyone who asks, receives." He illustrates God's readiness to hear our prayers, by an argument drawn from the notorious practice of parents on earth. "Evil" and selfish as they are by nature—they do not neglect the needs of their children. Much more will a God of love and mercy attend to the cries of those who are His children by grace.

Let us take special notice of these words of our Lord about prayer. Few of His sayings, perhaps, are so well known and so often repeated as this. The poorest and most unlearned can tell you, that "if we do not seek—then we shall not find." But what is the good of knowing it, if we do not use it? Knowledge which is not improved and well employed—will only increase our condemnation at the last day.