Breaking the Word

"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. (Mt 7:6,12-14)

Holy thing and precious thing are not for animals. Animals are also God’s creation and in a sense they reflect the glory of God. We can even say that they also share the holiness of God. But what Jesus discusses here is regarding the holiness that is achieved or can be achieved. Animals cannot pursue after holiness and they will not be able to distinguish between good, precious great from the ordinary and unholy things.

"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you”. This is the golden rule of Jesus. This is the minimum criterion that is proposed to man. Man should be concerned about the other. Man should go out of his way to be good and to do good. In this man should keep in mind what he expects from the other. His expectation from the others should be expressed first in his own life.

Entering through the broad and wide roads and gates makes the one as indecisive. Because he does not decide or makes his option to enter. He may be pushed through and since there are many who follow this road or the way he is one among the crowd. But entering through a narrow gate would mean that he has to make his decision to enter and has to struggle through to enter. Jesus says that life has to be live with personal decisions and options and not just carried away by the crowd or pushed through by the others. 

"Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother's eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove that splinter from your eye,' while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother's eye. (Mt 7:1-5)

Stop judging. Jesus is very strong in his demand. Judging in itself is wrong. This is a known fact. But Jesus is telling his listeners to stop judging at least for selfish motives. The selfish motive is, in sense, that you yourselves may not be judged. He says that anyone will reap what he sows. If one keeps on judging the other then that is what his reward will be too.

Judgement can be given by God only. Because in front of God’s judgement seat all of us all equally guilty. Everyone has sinned in every aspect in certain percentage. No one is perfect in any of the demands. Even a righteous man sins seven times a day. All are equally guilty and sinful in front of God. It may be splinter size. It may be negligible  in ones reckoning.

Each one should be interested in removing the mistake of which one is culpable. Interest of the listener should be correct oneself. Self purification should be the primary task of every follower of Jesus. Each one should make personal effort in making oneself clean in front of the sight of God. This itself is a life long process. Only when one reaches the position of God then he can think of passing judgement on the other.