Bible Study for July 3: Transformed in My Actions

Posted

Derek Berry writes on the the imperative by Scripture to help others, especially if you don't want to. OJO/Getty Derek Berry writes on the the imperative by Scripture to help others, especially if you don't want to. OJO/Getty

Matthew 7:1-12

Derek Berry, pastor

Tabernacle Baptist Church, Hiram

I wonder if we have ever connected how we treat others with prayer. Before you can transform your actions and live out Matthew 7:12, you must be actively living out the pervious verses.

The Connection

Any time you see the word “therefore,” know it is “there for” a reason. Jesus wanted us to know, that the pervious theme is connected with this theme. You have to be close to God before you can be right with people. Some people will never learn how to treat others people because they do not know how to treat our Father.

We learned in verses 7-11, that everyone who asketh receiveth, he that seekth findth, and he that knocketh it shall open. But it is not just any kind of asking, seeking, or knocking. It is asking of God, when I am right with God. It is seeking of God from a clean and genuine heart, and it is knocking that says I am going to keep knocking no matter what. I do not know how to treat people until I get to know God. I do not even know how I am supposed to be treated until I get to know God.

If you haven’t properly applied Christ’s teachings on getting what you need from God, then you are not to successfully live out the golden rule. Do you know why you get down on your knees and prayer time and time again?

He has something you cannot get anywhere else.

When we dig in to that unending wealth of God’s wisdom and get to know Him, learn Him, walk with Him, and talk with Him, the better we will treat other people.

The Command

Does verse 12 sound like a suggestion or an option? No. It doesn’t say “do to others as they do unto you.” It says all things “whatsoever ye would that men should do to you.”

Most of us are going to have to come up with what we think should be done to us before we can determine how we treat people. Before obeying this command, we must make a consideration – how do I really think people should treat me when I’m driving? Singing in church? Teaching?

The verse says all things that ye would that men should do. It didn’t say it will all happen; it just says you need to think about what you would like if.

Would = wish, desire, or want.

It’s good to figure out what you would, because there may be a day that you shall.

The Constraint

For us to obey this command it takes a selfless constraint of ourselves. Jesus is saying you write your own book with what is right and wrong by how you treat people. It becomes wrong when what you do to someone, is wrong when the same thing was done to you.

The principle is in the Bible. Verse 2 says, “… [W]hat judgement ye judge, ye shall be judged…” The Bible doesn’t say when you walk by someone and don’t say good morning it’s wrong, but last week someone did it to you and you were all messed up! If you have a certain expectation of people, then have a certain execution to people.

If you have high demands for how people treat you, make your demands that high on how you treat other people.

Golden Rule, Justice, kindness, People, respect