The Cost of Judging Others

The Point of the Gospel—the Sermon on the Mount con’t

Salt and Light {Matthew}

Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt loses its saltiness, its usefulness is lost forever and it is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out.”

Personal Thought: Nowadays when we say someone is the salt of the earth, we mean a good, capable, and steady person. In Jesus’ time and still today, salt firstly preserves and secondly provides flavor. We are meant to preserve the earth, perhaps in all its aspects—environmentally and sociologically.

Light of the World {Matthew, Mark, Luke}

“You are the light of the world. As a city on a hill can’t be hidden, neither do people place a light under a bowl or a bed. They put it on a stand, and it lights the house. Let your light also shine so everyone may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Judging Others {Matthew, Mark, Luke}

{Luke} “Do not judge or condemn and neither will you be.” {Matthew, Luke} “Forgive and you will be forgiven. The way you judge others is the way you will be judged.” {Mark} “The measure you use will be used on you in an even greater amount.” {Matthew, Luke} “Why do you condemn others, looking at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye while paying no attention to the plank in your own and offering to remove your brother’s speck with your plank obscuring your vision? Hypocrites, deal with your sins, then you can clearly see your brother’s.”

{Luke} “Can a blind man lead a blind man and both not fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher but when fully trained can be like his teacher.” {Mark, Luke} “Whatever is hidden or concealed will be brought into the open. If anyone has ears to hear, hear this and think about what you hear. Those who have, they receive more, and those who don’t, whatever they think they have will be taken.” {Luke} “Give and it will be returned in good measure to overflowing.”

Be Careful With Your Advice {Matthew}

“Do not give dogs what is sacred nor throw your pearls (of wisdom?) to pigs. If you do, they may trample them then turn and tear you to pieces.”