Loaded Statements

We’re treating this as a stand-alone text HOWEVER

It’s part of the larger context, this whole block of teaching

The “blesseds” and the “woes”

The “Love your enemies/do good to those who hate you”

The “Golden Rule” type of teaching in v.31 ff

Now we move into some specifics; ask the question:

How Do You Measure Up?

That’s a good subtitle for this message

Measure up in aspects of judging, condemning, forgiving and giving

Critical to note that all of those commands are present, active, imperative—continuing to...

Also note, they’re imperatives…not just a bunch of good ideas, but commands

We can back-track to “LOVE YOUR ENEMIES” of last week and find the same construction

That construction is good enough cause to pull all this together into the final thought of this week—the aspect of giving

Some of this will flow into next week’s message; but we have more than enough in these two verses for this morning

Rehashing some of this next week won’t hurt us, either

Aspect of Judging

This is a “don’t do that” statement

But, does that mean we let sin run unchecked? Never speaking against it? Never warning sinners regarding their sin? Never speaking the truth?

Our understanding of the word judge carries the thought of making value determinations or moral determinations

Jesus may have had the Pharisees in His sights when He spoke this truth

They lived their lives according to the strictest standards of the Law, and looked down upon everyone who did not live up to their standards

We could examine the many encounters between them and Jesus for details…the short version is that their righteousness, their judgmental nature did not impress the Master

We have guidance in Gal 6 1

Galatians 6:1 ESV

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

and Heb 3 13

Hebrews 3:13 ESV

But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

This verse in the context of a warning about unbelief and hardening

These two verses deal primarily within the Christian Community

We must look at behaviors and, based upon Scripture, make some value judgment

Caution here is BASED UPON SCRIPTURE!

Too often, we judge based upon preference, tradition, prejudice

If something is sinful, we should recognize it as such and reach out to our brothers and sisters to bring them back from the evil of their ways…the danger of their ways

We must also identify sin as sin

If the Bible has done so, we do not rewrite it to accommodate current thought process or cultural trends

We can go deeper than the obvious ones, so popular in preaching: abortion, sexual sin…even the “respectable” sins of back-biting and gossip

We can take it to cultural sins of excessive welfare—softness on crime (often sin compounding sin, compounding sin…)

Aspect of Condemning

Another “don’t do it” statement

This is the second half of the previous statement

Once we judge as guilty, we pronounce sentence

Ours is not to pronounce sentence; ultimately, God will take care of all that

We should be happy that He is not only a righteous judge, but a merciful judge—we have a tendency to wish justice for others, mercy for ourselves

Aspect of Forgiving

Here’s a positive command; nothing new here; Jesus plugged it His model prayer for His disciples: Matt 6 12

Matthew 6:12 ESV

and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

We’ve done some teaching on that before: When we pray that, Jesus expects that we have ALREADY forgiven our debtors!

One of those reasons that the Lord’s Prayer, if prayed rightly, should break our hearts…have we really forgiven those who OWE us?

Whether it’s money, an apology or something else, have we really forgiven?

That’s all v. 37, now for 38

Aspect of Giving

Pastors—myself included—love this verse

It generally gets used in a sermon on giving/tithing/offerings...

Since you were probably expecting it, I’ll run that rabbit trail:

Giving should be regular, sacrificial, done cheerfully, and proportional to our means

There is a promise of return on our giving—even though it may not be return on money—could be in peace in life…other blessings

…and it fits in a general sort of way; I’ve preached it, given examples…not going to run the trail that hard today

It follows on the principal of Gal 6 7

Galatians 6:7 ESV

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

All this fits

But lets put it into the rest of the context

If we give love (Pastor Sean’s message of last week) in good measure, pressed down, shaken together, overflowing… love will be returned in like manner

Is not last week’s message proven out in these two verses this morning? Will not love have an effect on these actions?

If we judge, if we condemn, the judgement and condemnation will be returned upon us with equal measure

Application

The word that never shows up; but is continually displayed in this portion of Scripture

GRACE

We understand it as “God’s riches at Christ’s expence” which is the saving grace of Gospel

We did nothing to deserve the grace God gave us by sending His one and only son to die for us—that was all undeserved

What is displayed here in our text is also undeserved favor which we are to display to others

Christ died to reconcile us to God and we are to use this concept of reconciliation to bring others to Him

2 Corinthians 5:18–20 ESV

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

When we set about to love, to not judge, to not condemn; to forgive and to give in this abundant measure we become better examples of the new creatures that God has made us

On the practical side, when we love our enemies; not judge and condemn those with whom we disagree; forgiving them and even giving to them when in need it becomes more difficult for people to judge us, condemn us, forgive us....

Where may this play out?

In our homes

Wives ever have an unloving husband; husbands, and unloving wife—seemingly enemies, at least for a time?

At work? Hostile work environments are everywhere.

In church? Do we not see judgmental church-folks? (even true Christians can be this way—rolling right into condemning other believers)

In politics?

Let’s identify truth as truth; that means we identify sin as sin

but do it lovingly…with grace…yes UNDESERVED favor, just a Christ died for us—who not deserve such mercy

We do not have to do it with an attitude of judgment, nor an attitude of condemnation

One reason (IMHO) the church is suffering is the harsh attitude it has held for years

It won’t be popular

2 Timothy 4:3–4 ESV

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

State the truth—expect to be criticized—say it with the authority of God’s Word—say it without hatred, judgment, condemnation

Be willing to forgive

Remember that the death of Christ on the cross is sufficient to cover our sins and those who promote the corporate sins of our nation

Our payback for this forgiving and giving may or may not be seen in this lifetime

Christ came, died, was resurrected and ascended to bring reconciliation between us and God; should we not, MUST we not grant grace to be reconciled to our brothers/sisters and show others the way to reconciliation?