Lent Day 23 [3.31.2025] / Believer's Recognition Pt. 2

Matthew 7:1-6, 15-20 / 마태복음 7:1-6, 15-20

Matthew 7:17 - Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

Overview:

Jesus presents the truth that the opposite of hypocrisy is humility. One of our greatest fears as believers in professing the love and perfection of Jesus Christ, is a pointed finger that reveals the dissonance between what we are saying and what we are doing. Jesus not only claims that the Pharisees and Sadducees are living in this type of hypocrisy, but we too are in danger of falling into the same pit when we judge others before realizing, admitting, and repenting for our own sin and wrongdoings. To escape a life of hypocrisy, Jesus teaches us that we are not to judge but to discern:

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” – Matthew 7:6

Discernment:

Discernment understands the difference between righteousness and wickedness, holiness and unholiness, value and worthlessness based on absolute truth rather than preference, emotions, experience, or outside influence.

How can we build discernment that not only overcomes hypocritical living, but also empowers us to lead others on the right path? Firstly, we are to be discerning about the measure we use to view ourselves and others. Jesus presents this measure not simply to show us our shortcomings and sins, but to reveal the infinite measure of His grace. Hypocritical living provides a short measure of sin for others, while pardoning a large measure of sin in our own lives. Instead, we are to measure our perspective, values, and worth based on the measure of grace that Christ has extended to all people. The first step to overcoming hypocrisy is the ability to discern room for grace for us and for others.

Secondly, we are to discern the revelation of God’s word as presented to us in the flesh through Jesus Christ. One of the obstacles that the people of Jesus’ day had faced was the limited access they had to scripture. Scripture was not readily available to the masses due to low literacy rates and language barriers. Despite being linguistically closely related, the masses generally spoke in Aramaic while religious texts were often written in the original Hebrew. Moreover, the literacy rates in ancient Israel during the time of Jesus were relatively low, estimating around 10-15% of the population as capable of reading and writing in Aramaic, and even fewer in Hebrew. Due to this, ordinary people relied heavily on religious leaders to read and explain the Scriptures to them leaving still a great barrier between God and His people. Not only this, but the religious leaders had manipulated and misinterpreted scripture to serve their own prestige and status rather than understanding and communicating the purpose and heart of God. The second requirement of discernment is to know God’s Word as presented by Jesus Christ (John 1:14).

Thirdly, Jesus warns us not to throw our pearls to swine lest they be trampled under their feet. When we throw our values and efforts on unworthy purposes, they do not turn these purposes into honorable ones; instead, our values and efforts are discarded. Jesus is referring to our devotion, our attention, and our hope. In Jesus’ day, the people have put their devotion and hope in religious leaders and in doing so, their efforts and values have been trampled under their greed and imperfection. No longer should anyone place their value in such people or in the world, rather they should place them on Christ. If there is any motivation to change, to forgive, to sacrifice, and to love let it be only found in the one who has already given us everything.

The Measure:

If we are to be discerning about our faith, our relationships, our lives, and our choices; what signs are we looking for that separate what is good from what is bad? In Jesus’ teaching about true and false prophets, discernment is based on the ability to identify good fruit. The fruit of the Spirit according to Galatians 5:22-23 include love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. No good tree bears bad fruit just like no bad tree can bear good fruit. By its fruit, we can determine the quality and condition of the tree it grows on. Does this opportunity, individual, or relationship produce life, promote good character, and have Godly intent? This is the measure that we are to put into practice as we live out our faith.

Finally, not only are we to be discerning towards others, but most importantly towards ourselves. Are we bearing life-giving fruit to those around us through our words, actions, and choices? To bear much fruit, we are to understand grace, read and wrestle with scripture, and set our motivation on Christ. The process of bearing fruit reflects the process of building discernment because to be discerning about what is good fruit we first need to bear it ourselves.

Reflection:

1. Are we actively discerning when it comes to our choices, relationships, actions, and words?

2. Are we bearing good fruit that provides blessing and healing for others?
   

Prayer:

1. God, thank you for teaching me the difference between judgement and discernment. Help me to be discerning according to your truth and never hypocritical in my judgement of others.

2. Jesus, I want to surrender my life to you. I do not want to spend my life on meaningless pursuits, rather I want my purpose to rest on the highest glory and calling that is found in you.

3. Holy Spirit, build in me a discerning and fruit-bearing heart that all would see and experience the love and joy of Jesus Christ through me.

   
   

개요:

예수님은 위선의 반대가 겸손이라는 진리를 가르치십니다. 우리가 예수 그리스도의 사랑과 완전함을 고백할 때, 가장 두려운 것 중 하나는 우리가 말하는 것과 행동하는 것 사이의 불일치를 지적당하는 것입니다. 예수님은 바리새인과 사두개인들이 이러한 위선 속에 살고 있다고 주장할 뿐만 아니라, 우리도 자신의 죄와 잘못을 깨닫고 인정하며 회개하기 전에 다른 사람을 판단할 때 동일한 함정에 빠질 위험이 있음을 경고하십니다. 위선적인 삶에서 벗어나기 위해 예수님은 우리가 판단하지 말고 분별하라고 가르치십니다:

"거룩한 것을 개에게 주지 말며 너희 진주를 돼지 앞에 던지지 말라. 그들이 그것을 발로 밟고 돌이켜 너희를 찢어 상하게 할까 염려하라." – 마태복음 7:6

분별력:

분별력은 의로움과 악함, 거룩함과 불결함, 가치와 무가치를 절대 진리를 바탕으로 이해하는 것을 의미합니다. 이는 선호나 감정, 경험 또는 외부 영향에 의존하지 않습니다.

어떻게 하면 위선적인 삶을 극복할 뿐만 아니라, 다른 사람들을 바른 길로 인도할 수 있는 분별력을 키울 수 있을까요?첫째로, 우리는 자신과 타인을 바라보는 기준에 대해 분별력을 가져야 합니다. 예수님은 이 기준을 제시하여 우리의 부족함과 죄를 드러내려는 것이 아니라, 그분의 무한한 은혜를 보여주시기 위함입니다. 위선적인 삶은 타인의 죄에 대해서는 작은 기준을 적용하면서도, 자신의 죄에 대해서는 큰 기준을 적용합니다. 대신에 우리는 그리스도께서 모든 사람에게 확장하신 은혜의 기준에 따라 우리의 관점, 가치, 자존감을 측정해야 합니다. 위선을 극복하는 첫 걸음은 우리와 다른 사람에게 은혜의 여지를 분별할 수 있는 능력을 가지는 것입니다.

둘째로, 우리는 예수 그리스도를 통해 육신으로 나타난 하나님의 말씀을 분별해야 합니다. 예수님의 시대에는 사람들이 성경에 접근하기 어려웠습니다. 문해율이 낮고 언어 장벽이 있어 성경을 읽을 수 있는 사람이 적었기 때문입니다. 고대 이스라엘에서 문해율은 약 10-15%로 추정되며, 아람어를 읽고 쓰는 사람은 적었고, 히브리어를 읽을 수 있는 사람은 더욱 적었습니다. 그 결과, 평범한 사람들은 성경을 읽고 설명해 주는 종교 지도자들에게 크게 의존할 수밖에 없었고, 이는 하나님과 백성 사이에 여전히 큰 장벽이었습니다. 더구나 종교 지도자들은 성경을 자신의 명예와 지위를 위해 조작하고 잘못 해석하여 하나님의 목적과 마음을 이해하지 못하게 했습니다. 두 번째 분별의 조건은 예수 그리스도에 의해 나타난 하나님의 말씀을 아는 것입니다 (요한복음 1:14).

셋째로, 예수님은 우리의 진주를 돼지에게 던지지 말라고 경고하십니다. 우리의 가치와 노력을 부적절한 목적에 쏟으면, 그것이 명예로운 것으로 변하지 않고 오히려 우리의 가치와 노력이 버려집니다. 예수님은 우리의 헌신과 관심, 소망을 말씀하고 계십니다. 예수님의 시대에 사람들은 종교 지도자들에게 헌신과 소망을 두었고, 그 결과 그들의 노력과 가치는 탐욕과 불완전함에 의해 짓밟혔습니다. 이제는 세상이나 사람에게 가치를 두지 말고, 오직 그리스도께 가치를 두어야 합니다. 변화, 용서, 희생, 사랑의 동기가 있다면, 이미 모든 것을 주신 분 안에서만 발견되어야 합니다.

기준:

우리의 믿음, 관계, 삶, 선택에 대해 분별력을 가지려면 무엇이 선하고 무엇이 악한지를 구별하는 표지를 찾아야 합니다. 예수님의 참된 선지자와 거짓 선지자에 대한 가르침에서 분별력은 좋은 열매를 구별할 수 있는 능력에 기초합니다. 갈라디아서 5:22-23에 따르면 성령의 열매는 사랑, 기쁨, 평화, 오래 참음, 자비, 선함, 신실함, 온유, 절제입니다. 좋은 나무는 나쁜 열매를 맺지 않으며, 나쁜 나무는 좋은 열매를 맺지 않습니다. 열매를 통해 나무의 품질과 상태를 알 수 있습니다. 이 기회나 사람, 관계가 생명을 낳고, 좋은 성품을 촉진하며, 하나님의 뜻을 담고 있는가를 분별해야 합니다. 이것이 우리의 믿음을 실천하며 적용해야 할 기준입니다.

마지막으로, 우리는 타인뿐 아니라 자신에 대해서도 분별력을 가져야 합니다. 우리의 말과 행동, 선택을 통해 주변 사람들에게 생명을 주는 열매를 맺고 있는가요? 많은 열매를 맺기 위해 우리는 은혜를 이해하고, 성경을 읽고, 그리스도 안에 동기를 두어야 합니다. 열매를 맺는 과정은 분별력을 키우는 과정과도 같습니다. 좋은 열매를 분별하기 위해 먼저 우리가 그것을 맺어야 합니다.

묵상:

1. 우리의 선택, 관계, 행동, 말에 있어 분별력을 적극적으로 사용하고 있는가?

2. 우리의 삶이 선한 열매를 맺어 다른 사람에게 축복과 치유를 주고 있는가?

   
   

기도:

1. 하나님, 판단과 분별의 차이를 가르쳐 주셔서 감사합니다. 진리에 따라 분별하고, 타인을 판단하지 않는 삶을 살게 해주세요.

2. 예수님, 제 삶을 주님께 드리길 원합니다. 무의미한 추구에 시간을 낭비하지 않고, 최고의 영광과 소명 속에 살게 해주세요.

3. 성령님, 제 안에 분별력과 열매 맺는 마음을 심어 주셔서, 많은 사람들이 제 안에서 예수 그리스도의 사랑과 기쁨을 경험할 수 있도록 도와주세요.