 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.
6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. Ask, and It Will Be Given 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! The Golden Rule 12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. A Tree and Its Fruit 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. I Never Knew You 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Build Your House on the Rock 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” The Authority of Jesus 28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. Meditation Jesus is the good Shepherd and disciples of Jesus obey His word. Gospel discernment for disciples begins with trusting in the Lord and His word with all our heart, leaning not on our own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5-6) Today our meditation will work backwards through the chapter empowering disciples in discernment of which trajectory our life should take. Discernment for the disciple sees two foundations, choosing God’s way of grace-filled relationship with Him where by faith we build all of life on the the solid rock of Christ’s Word rather than foolishly building on sand (24-28). Disciples know only through personal relationship with Jesus will there be eternal life (21-23). Disciples see two trees, knowing a bad tree cannot bear good fruit (15-20). Spirit filled disciples abide in Christ to bear fruit of the Spirit. Faith in Jesus and His word will fertilize a fruitful life. Discernment sees two paths, one wide and one narrow (13-14). Disciples follow Jesus who leads to life down the narrow path. Discernment is developed when disciples know the one rule is a golden light (12) lived from the place of knowing the love of our Father (7-11). One primary ethic marks the disciple saved by grace (1-6), a secure saint willing to remove the plank from our own eye first in order to see Jesus and follow Him down the path on which He leads, loving as He has loved us. The Lord is our Shepherd and His sovereign grace invites His disciples to trust Him and His word with all of our heart! Richly Dwelling -What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the direction in discernment? -What hinders you from being most discerning, choosing the right foundation and path for your life and discipleship? What does this say about your trust in Jesus, His word and work? -How does knowing the Father through the finished work of Jesus free you to not only find forgiveness and fuel faith to walk in His ways? Key Verse 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
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