Tag Archives: Matthew 7

Could Not Say It Better

March 16, 2025 A Labour of Love Leave a comment

photo of a turtle swimming underwater — Photo by Belle Co on Pexels.com

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of reading on social an article by Benjamin Knight who posted on the Reformation Resurgence. In these troubling days, his words struck me and I could not get them out of my mind. Oh how many need to hear these words and advice in their walking with other Christians and with humanity.

How we long for God’s truth and long to live for Him, looking forward to an eternal life serving Him. Do the scriptures change you when you read them? Have you taken the words to heart and understood who you are standing before Him? I cannot tell you how convicted I am after each sermon when gospel truth is correctly taught. In fact, I leave for home pondering with great wonder at how the Lord prompted one of his beloved shepherds to speak the truth that I personally needed to hear. I reflect on my own sins, my own failures, my own near miss temptations and sit in awe that He has given me truth so that I may repent, ask for forgiveness and do better than I have. I do not take the words of scripture lightly…. I accept them with great care knowing that living for Christ and in Christ is not easy and is a minute by minute decision. Out of which comes either success or failure. If I stay faithful to Him, I will never be lost. While I may wander, He will always find me and place me on the straight path.

Did you know that a puffer fish can inflate itself multiple times over its lifetime to survive? Do we as humans have unlimited “puffer” power or do we die slowly each time we puff ourselves up with our own context of “doctrinal truths” that fit our selfish wants and needs? Do we have such pride in our biblical knowledge that we feel we would rather win debates and argue rather than to take everything to our Holy Father in prayer? Do we thrive in doctrinal truths or do we enjoy walking around wearing crowns of pride to support our own agendas and our own desires?

Scripture is clear the responsibility a Christian should have in their walks with Christ:

Matthew 16:24-28. Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. [25] For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. [26] For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? [27] For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. [28] Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8. [7] “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose trust is the LORD.
[8] He is like a tree planted by water,
that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Matthew 7:1-5. [1] “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.

Matthew 7:21-23 [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.’

I have said many times over one of the best studies I had the honor and privilege to participate in was going over a book by Matthew Henry. The Quest for Meekness and Quietness of Spirit helps one become more aware of shortfalls that go along with humanity and of all sinners alike, including Christians. Bringing forth scriptures and doctrinal truths to help understand IN CONTEXT humility and the understanding of what that means. Are we in Christ through humility and grace or are we like the Pharisees, hypocrites and puffed up?

Matthew 23:25-26 [25] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. [26] You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

Psalm 10:2-7 [2] In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
[3] For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD.
[4] In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
[5] His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
[6] He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”
[7] His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.

So much to say and yet, with the approval of the original author, I do not think I could say it any better. (Permission granted directly by the author, to be kept exactly as was written with mention of the Reformation Resurgence)

To My Fellow Reformed Brothers and Sisters,

There’s something heavy on my heart that I need to get out. It’s something that I wrestle with every day, and I believe it needs to be said—honest and unfiltered.

What good is sound theology if it doesn’t transform how we live and love? Yet, too often, we wear doctrine like a crown of pride rather than a mark of humility.

Being Reformed in India is often a lonely road. We are few and scattered across the nation. The joy of discovering the doctrines of grace is quickly tempered by the challenge of finding others who share this conviction.

Most of my interactions with Reformed believers have been online. Out of countless conversations, only a handful truly reflected humility, grace, and Christ-centred living. The rest were dominated by arrogance—heads full of doctrine, yet hearts devoid of its practical outworking. Theology, intended to humble the soul before God, had become a badge of superiority.

For example, a few days ago, I encountered a guy who called me a heretic over two secondary issues—Sunday worship and baptism. I mentioned that the specific day of worship is not the ultimate concern, citing Colossians 2:16–17. His response? A rigid defence of Sunday as the Christian Sabbath, quoting Calvin and the Westminster Confession of Faith. When I asked, “Have you ever been to a Muslim-majority country where Christians, including Reformed believers, meet on Fridays due to legal restrictions? Does that make their worship any less acceptable to God? What about persecuted believers who can only gather secretly and irregularly—will God reject their worship because it’s not on Sunday?” He ignored the heart of the matter. The conversation shifted to baptism, and his accusations escalated. Because I did not hold to the WCF’s view but the LBC, he insisted I was not truly Reformed and should stop using the term. His arguments, clouded by theological pride, missed the heart of the matter—valuing rigid tradition over Christlike humility.

Too often, we love to quote Calvin, the Puritans, and other historical figures more than we quote the Bible itself. While their contributions are invaluable, their words should never overshadow Scripture. Do we quote Scripture with the same passion we quote Calvin? Do we defend the gospel as fiercely as we defend our theological camp? If this makes a Reformed guy like me uncomfortable, imagine how a new convert or someone from another Christian tradition might feel. If Calvin or the Reformers were alive today, they would be the first to rebuke us for elevating their writings above the Bible. Their goal was to point people to Scripture, not to themselves.

Our ultimate authority is the Bible—not Calvin, not the Puritans, and not the confessions. These men are guides, not the goal. Their writings illuminate the truth, but they are not the source of it. Confessions summarize our beliefs, but they are not infallible. The moment we elevate them to the level of Scripture, we fall into the very error the Reformers stood against.

Our passion for doctrinal precision can sometimes blind us to the heart of the gospel. We become so focused on being theologically correct that we forget to be Christlike. We argue over doctrinal nuances while failing to show love, grace, and patience to those who differ. We can dissect every nuance of predestination, yet if our words tear others down, we betray the very grace we claim to believe. We can recite the Five Points of Calvinism flawlessly, but if our words lack love, we are nothing more than clanging cymbals (1 Corinthians 13:1).

Ask yourself (as I often ask myself): Does my theology make me more like Christ or more like a Pharisee? Am I known for my love and humility, or for my ability to win arguments? The doctrines of grace should produce the most humble, compassionate, and patient people on earth—those who know they are recipients of God’s mercy, not because of their merit but solely because of His sovereign grace. Yet too often, we appear harsh, arrogant, and unapproachable. We win arguments but lose people. We defend truth but forget that truth without love is incomplete and ineffective.

I am not claiming to be prefect in my walk. I, too, stumble and fall short in many ways. There are times when pride creeps into my heart, and I am not as humble as I ought to be. Yet, we are called to grow together, encouraging and challenging one another to walk in greater obedience and faithfulness. As Proverbs 27:17 reminds us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” True spiritual growth happens not in isolation but in community, where we lovingly correct, encourage, and build each other up in the truth.

Let our pursuit of sound theology never puff us up with pride. Instead, let it drive us to our knees in humility before the holy God who, by His grace, opens our eyes to His truth. May our knowledge of Him break our pride, deepen our worship, and lead us to love and serve others with the same grace and patience He has shown us.

Some Reminders for a Christlike Life:

Be quicker to listen than to speak. Arguments rarely soften hearts, but a listening ear can open the door to truth (James 1:19).

Pray more than you debate. God alone opens blind eyes (2 Corinthians 4:6).

Serve with joy and humility. Let your actions display the gospel you proclaim (Philippians 2:3-4).

Be patient with those who disagree. God was patient with you (2 Peter 3:9).

So, brothers and sisters, let us return to what matters most—exalting Christ and pointing people to His Word. Let us defend sound doctrine with humility and grace. And let us remember that theology is not about winning debates—it is about knowing, loving, and glorifying God.

The world is watching. What will they see in us?

Soli Deo Gloria.

Jeremiah Knight –The Reformation Resurgence

If you are still reading, I implore you to read that last section again by Jeremiah Knight. Where do you stand within the church body as a whole? Who do you identify with, being Christlike or more like a Pharisee/puffer fish? I hope that you will join in me in self evaluation and be humble in doing so. Understand what motivates all intentions of your daily living, especially as you strive to become more Christlike.

Following in Faith

Judgement Of Self

July 20, 2015 A Labour of Love 1 Comment

Trials in our lives come in many shapes, sizes and severities. The type of trial in our lives can sometimes be so overwhelming to the soul that if not managed properly can turn our hearts toward bitterness, defeat, and death.

Starting this blog 2 years ago, it was an avenue to express myself during a trial of illness. It has been a wonderful way of expression and a way to reach out to others so that I can share my own experience in overcoming and accepting. My illness was only one of many trials I have had to overcome in my life and was certainly not the worst. With great encouragement I found that the Lord never left my side and I was confident of His presence over my life and that of my family. Just as He had in other, more devastating times. With the help of a handful of wonderful sisters in Christ I had fellowship, with the daily hands on help of my family I was cared for physically, and I was nourished daily in the Word by the faith that tenders my heart.

That being said, I was taken aback by an assumption made that I was in need of feeding due to my lack of faith and or doubts that my illness had provoked. What? Really? As I pondered this assumption by a loving soul, I began to pray about it and ask those closest to me at that time if that was truly what I had shown to others. Politely they replied the opposite, which then had me questioning myself and if I had been truly honest with my internal feelings. I had to take what was implied, consider what had been true to others who actually spent time with me during that time and take an observation of my own mind, heart and faith. The similarities of Job and his strength turning to doubt because of assumptions became very evident to me in a very short amount of time. Prayerfully with thanksgiving, I was reassured with my past prayer journaling and my blogging.

As the days passed in my dwelling on this, I began to make my own judgements and fell into sin making assumptions of someone else’s intentions, which I should not have. I began to pray over this and with great comfort felt convicted that the judgement someone placed over me helped me to realize that I too am capable of and do judge others. As that one conversation sparked a hurt in me, I began to consider others and judge them as I had been judged. It, in my mind, began to look like a merry go round without an end. The hurt I felt, was being passed on to others through my own judging. Not acceptable!

I feel that the privilege of knowing how I was perceived by someone outside of my caring few was that I was able to see myself pridefully begin to judge others as less than myself, including the person that made an inaccurate assumption about my own trial and my faith. Painful as it may sound, I see it as a blessing. I have thus been able to pray about it, repent for it, and pray for those who I have judged and for those who judge me. I also have had the blessing of wanting to do more to set an example that would glorify God in my healing and overcoming. For many do not know that which lies in my heart and that which the Lord has placed in my path. Just as sweetly as the Lord has guided me through, I pray that He will also guide those who struggle, not just with trials, yet also with doubt and sin.

I thank the Lord for this lesson, as sad as it made me feel. I consider it to be a blessing that I was shown my own sin through that which was presented by another.

In reading C.H. Surgeon – A Popular Exposition to the Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 7, I found my observation of such matters reassuring. That my own unpleasing thoughts were hypocritical and that which deserved to be repented for and dealt with.

Verses 1-6
Matthew 7:1-2. Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Use your judgment, of course: the verse implies that you will judge in a right sense. But do not indulge the criticizing faculty upon others in censorious manner, or as if you were set in authority, and had a right to dispense judgment among your fellows. If you impute motives, and pretend to read hearts, others will do the same towards you. A hard and censorious behaviour is sure to provoke reprisals. Those around you will pick up the peck measure you have been using, and measure your corn with it. You do not object to men forming a fair opinion of your character, neither are you forbidden to do the same towards them, but as you would object to their sitting in judgment upon you, do not sit in judgment upon them. This is not the day of judgment, neither are we his Majesty’s judges, and therefore we may not anticipate the time appointed for the final assize, nor usurp the prerogatives of the Judge of all the earth. Surely, if I know myself aright, I need not send my judgment upon circuit to try other men, for I can give it full occupation in my own Court of Conscience to try the traitors within my own bosom.
Matthew 7:3-5. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cut out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

The judging faculty is best employed at home. Our tendency is to spy out splinters in other men’s eyes, and not to see the beam in our own. Instead of beholding, with gratified gaze, the small fault of another, we should act reasonably if we penitently considered the greater fault of ourselves. It is the beam in our own eye which blinds us to our own wrong doing; but such blindness does not suffice to excuse us, since it evidently does not shut our eyes to the little error of our brother. Officiousness pretends to play the oculist; but in very truth it plays the fool. Fancy a man with a beam in his eye pretending to deal with so tender a part as the eye of another, and attempting to remove so tiny a thing as a mote or splinter! Is he not a hypocrite to pretend to be so concerned about other men’s eyes, and yet he never attends to his own? Jesus is gentle, but he calls that man a “hypocrite “ who fusses about small things in others and pays no attention to great matters at home in his own person. Our reformations must begin with ourselves, or they are not true, and do not spring from a right motive. Sin we may rebuke, but not if we indulge it. We may protest against evil, but not if we willfully practice it. The Pharisees were great at censuring, but slow at amending. Our Lord will not have his kingdom made up of hypocritical theorists, he calls for practical obedience to the rules of holiness. After we are ourselves sanctified, we are bound to be eyes to the blind, and correctors of unholy living; but not till then. Till we have personal piety, our preaching of godliness is sheer hypocrisy. May none of us provoke the Lord to say to us, “Thou hypocrite”!
Matthew 7:6. Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

When men are evidently unable to perceive the purity of a great truth, do not set it before them. They are like mere dogs, and if you set holy things before them they will be provoked to “turn again and rend you”: holy things are not for the profane. “Without are dogs”: they must not be allowed to enter the holy place. When you are in the midst of the vicious, who are like “swine,” do not bring forth the precious mysteries of the faith, for they will despise them, and “trample them under their feet” in the mire.
You are not needlessly to provoke attack upon yourself, or upon the higher truths of the gospel. You are not to judge, but you are not to act without judgment. Count not men to be dogs or swine; but when they avow themselves to be such, or by their conduct act as if they were such, do not put occasions in their way for displaying their evil character. Saints are not to be simpletons; they are not to be judges, but, also, they are not to be fools. Great King, how much wisdom thy precepts require! I need thee, not only to open my mouth, but also at times to keep it shut.

Prayer to remember: Great King, how much wisdom thy precepts require! I need thee, not only to open my mouth, but also at times to keep it shut.