The Gospel of Matthew |
Arno C.
Gaebelien: "Introduction to Matthew, Chapter 7"
[1]
(Edited)
MATTHEW CHAPTER SEVEN
(Notes from Arno Gaebelein - Matthew - Moody Press)
The first few verses are warning against judging. The attention is called to the
conduct of a disciple toward another disciple. The Lord does not forbid here the
righteous judgment and condemnation of what is evil. We are told elsewhere to do
this (1 Corinthians 12-13). The judgment of; motives is forbidden. These are
known to god alone. Verse six (6) must be compared with 2 Peter 2:22. The dogs
and the swine represent mere outward profession, who were never born again.
(Christendom has in fact done shamelessly what the Lord here forbids, and has
proved the truth of His words in consequence. Baptism and the Lord's supper,
perverted from their original meaning and application, have been used above all
else to give the grossest evils tolerance in the house of God, and to make
Babylon the great "a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." They have thus
been trampled under foot by the profane, and Christianity been rent and mangled
fearfully, as all the centuries bear witness. The "Judgment of charity" is
continually invoked to take darkness to be light, and credit the most barren
profession with what it dares not even claim for itself. But the false judgment
of laxity has here its woe upon it, as much as the false judgment of
censoriousness: upon that which puts good for evil, and that which puts evil for
good alike. -- The Numerical Bible.)
The great proclamation of the King closes with warnings against false prophets
and false religious professors. The warning of verse 15 is for our age as well
and has a special significance in the end of the age. False teachers and false
spirits are on all sides and false prophets increase. See Acts 20:29-30;
Colossians 2:8; 1 Timothy 4:1, 6:20; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1-3; and 2
Corinthians 2:17, 6:13-15. How different these divine warnings are in comparison
with the optimistic vision of Christendom of an age which increases in
righteousness. When the King comes again "in that day" the false prophets,
though they used His Name (like "Christian Science" and "Jehovah's Witnesses"),
will be disowned by Him. The house built upon the sand of a mere profession and
not the rock of ages will be swept away by the judgment.
Reference:
[1] Gaebelien, Arno
C. (c. 1970). "The Holy Scriptures Analyzed and
Annotated: Matthew" - Moody Press, Loizeaux Bothers
2012-11-21
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