In Matthew 6:1, Jesus warned His disciples: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them.” That warning frames the entire middle section of the Sermon on the Mount, as Jesus gives six examples of how true righteousness should be practiced in God’s sight rather than for human applause. He speaks of giving, praying, fasting, handling money, resisting worry—and now—how we judge others.
The beginning of Matthew 7 is not a shift in topic, but the final part of that larger theme: How do we practice righteousness in our judgments? The tendency to judge others harshly or hypocritically is another way we try to elevate ourselves in the eyes of men. But Jesus calls us to humility, self-examination, discernment, and mercy.
This lesson explores:
- How improper judgment exposes our spiritual pride and hypocrisy (7:1–6)
- How trust in God shapes our own heart before we speak into others’ lives (7:7–11)
- How the way God treats us must shape the way we treat others (7:12)
These verses challenge us to replace judgmentalism with wisdom, anxiety with trust, and self-focus with golden-rule compassion.
Download a printable version of the guide here (download link beneath the preview):
By Jeremy Sprouse
Jeremy has been married to Erynn since August 1999. They are blessed with six children: Jaden, Isaiah, Isaac, Ean, Joseph, and Evelyn. Jeremy preaches for the Patrick St. church of Christ in Dublin, TX and is the author of To Train Up a Knight.
Knights of The Father 