Sermon on the Mount (Part 9) - The Christian and his judgement

Scripture Text: Matthew 7:1-12 

1. We make judgements everyday. As Christians, we want to avoid wrong judgements. This is taught in v.1-5. We are to follow good judgements as taught in v 6. Finally, we have to learn what to do with judgements we do not know (v.7-11). 

2. We must be careful with our judgements on others as the Bible tells us we will be judged the same way. There is the law of just retributions. We are first to examine our own hearts and make sure we have repented of our own sins before judging others. In judging others, we must show compassion and care to restore them. Hence, this is the meaning to first cast out the beam (big object) from our own eyes before pulling the mote (small object) out of our brother's eyes. 

3. The good judgements are when we should preach the Gospel to those who are willing to listen and know when to stop for those who harden their hearts and persecute the believers. Yes, we should persevere on to preach the Gospel but when we are thoroughly rejected, we should also move on to other places where there are ready hearers who want to believe the Gospel. 

4. The "don't-know" judgements are when we are in cross-roads and not sure what we to do. Jesus taught us to pray and we must intensify from asking to seeking to knocking. God is our loving and good Heavenly Father who will surely take care of us and help us whether it pertains to our physical needs or spiritual needs. 5. Finally in verse 12, we learn to do unto others what we want others to do unto us. Hence, we must make righteous judgements before the Lord

Emmanuel, God with us

Scripture Text: Matthew 1: 18-23 

1. Joseph and Mary had to travel all the way to Bethlehem even though Mary was already heavy in pregnancy. They had to pay their taxes as Joseph was of the linkage of David and Bethlehem is the city of David. This was God’s way that prophecy must be fulfilled for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. 

2. Jesus was born in a manger which was really a box in which the food of animals was kept. The manger was a place of dirt and Jesus was born there to show His humility for us. 

3. The Bible tells us very clearly that Mary was with child from the Holy Spirit. She is the only virgin in this world that could conceive – one and only one. The power is of the Holy Spirit. There never was and it will never happen again. Again, this was prophecy fulfilled from prophet Isaiah about 700 years before Jesus Christ was even born in this world that a virgin shall conceive a son. God knows the end from the beginning. 

4. The meaning of Jesus is Saviour for He came to save His people from their sins. Jesus is also called Emmanuel which means God with us. God has come into the company of men. Jesus is God and He proves it by His words and miracles. Jesus came to live with sinful men and then to die on the cross for the sins of mankind. 

5. Christmas is only meaningful when we receive Jesus Christ, the only Saviour, in our hearts to have eternal life.