Scripture Reading: Matthew 7:1-12
When someone asked Raphael how he made his wonderful pictures, he replied, “I dream dreams and I see visions, and then I paint my dreams and visions.” The teachings of Christ, if reverently received, fill our mind with dreams and visions of spiritual beauty. But there is something we must do if we would receive from these teachings the good they are intended to impart — we must get them wrought into our own life.
The lesson on judging is not an easy one. We may as well confess that most of us are quite prone to the fault which is here reproved. Of course, the teaching is not that we should never have any opinions concerning the actions of others — we cannot avoid having judgments either of approval or disapproval. It is not understood either that we shall never express condemnation of the acts of others; we are required to censure men’s evil courses. A little later in this same Sermon on the Mount Jesus bids His disciples beware of false prophets which come in sheep’s clothing, while in reality they are ravenous wolves. It is not an easy-going acceptance of all sorts of people that is taught. What we are forbidden to do is to be censorious. Rather, we are to treat others as we would have them treat us.
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