Matthew 7:6
Jesus teaches the importance of making a distinction between holy and unholy, and the need for church discipline and guarding against heresy.
Chuck Smith emphasizes the importance of discernment in the Christian faith, particularly in the context of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:6. He warns against the dangers of indiscriminate acceptance that can lead to heresy and the neglect of church discipline. Smith illustrates that Jesus practiced discernment, choosing when to engage with individuals based on their openness to the truth, and highlights the necessity of distinguishing between the holy and the unholy in preaching. The sermon calls for a balance between grace and holiness in the message of the Gospel.
Text
I. THE CONTEXT.
A. Immediate is "Judge not."
1. Danger of not using any discrimination.
a. Accept anybody or anything.
b. So fearful not to judge, don't use good sense.
c. There must be church discipline.
d. There must be a guard against heresy.
B. The broader context. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, I came not to
destroy but to fulfill."
1. Lev. 10:10, Aaron's sons were to put difference between holy and unholy,
clean and unclean.
2. Deut. 23:3, Heathen excluded from worship.
3. Ez. 22:26, God complained of priest violating His law not making a
difference between holy and profane.
4. Jer. was told in 15:19 to "take forth the precious from the vile."
II. DID JESUS PRACTICE WHAT HE PREACHED?
A. He never had a word to say to Herod.
1. To Nicodemus, to woman at well, very patient in explaining way of life.
B. We never read of Him sharing the gospel of God's love with the Scribes and
Pharisees.
Ill. THE DISCRIMINATION NEEDED IN PREACHING.
A. In declaring the grace of God.
B. In declaring the holiness of God.
Sermon Outline
- The Context
- A points: - Danger of not using any discrimination - Accept anybody or anything - So fearful not to judge, don't use good sense - There must be church discipline - There must be a guard against heresy
- The broader context
- Lev. 10:10
- Deut. 23:3
- Ez. 22:26
- Jer. 15:19
Key Quotes
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, I came not to destroy but to fulfill.” — Chuck Smith
“Take forth the precious from the vile.” — Chuck Smith
“There must be church discipline.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- We must use good sense and discrimination when interacting with others, especially in a spiritual context.
- Church discipline is necessary to maintain the purity of the church and to protect its members.
- We must be careful to distinguish between what is holy and what is profane in our lives and in our interactions with others.