Section 8
To receive thanks is to receive a reward. If you do something good for a person and he gives you his thanks, that "thank you" is a reward to you. In these verses the Lord is asking what kind of thanks, what kind of reward, it is to us if what we do to others is the same as what sin ners would do. Even sinners love those who love them, do good to those who do good to them, and lend with the hope of receiving back an equal amount, if not more.
NOT JUDGING BUT FORGIVING
Verse 37 says, "And do not judge, and you will by no means be judged; and do not pass sen tence, and sentence will by no means be passed upon you; release, and you will be released." Here to pass sentence is to condemn, and to release is to forgive. If we do not condemn, we shall by no means be condemned. Likewise, if we for give, we shall be forgiven.
If we live in a humble spirit under the Lord's ruling, we shall always judge ourselves, not oth ers. God's children will be judged with what they judge. If they judge others with righteousness, they will be judged by the Lord with righteous ness. If they judge others with mercy, they will