How to Avoid Judgmentalism
Notes
Transcript
Big Idea: If our teacher is Christ, we will be like Him.
We will receive like we give (vs 37-38)
We must see if we would lead
We must have health if we would heal.
In our passage of study this morning, we find, in particular, two phrases that many people use and quote. Some people know they are the words of Jesus and others do not. Very often one of the two phrases is used to shut down anyone questioning someone’s behavior. “Judge not”. Yes, this is Bible language, it is Jesus’ language, but the secular person uses it as a bludgeon to shut down anyone who may challenge them on their behavior or attitudes. You can’t judge the one who is depraved! You are a Christian, don’t you know that you are not to judge others?
The second phrase is one that Jesus said, but before Jesus said it, some version of it was already used, and today people use this phrase as well, “Can a blind man lead a blind man?”. My hope is that after this morning’s preaching, that we will all have a more complete understanding of what Jesus is actually saying here in our passage.
“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;
give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
You may remember last week I was talking about imperatives. And the eyes of English teachers light up when you start talking enthusiastically about grammar, so here I go again. We have 4 imperatives here. Judge (not), condemn (not), forgive, and give. So these are powerful commands Jesus is given. Yet we know that in other places in scripture, we are told to use good judgement. We are told that we can judge people by their fruits. We are told that judgment begins in the church, so we should be sure to purge the evil brother from among us. Clearly in the Old Testament, God set down page after page after page of rules about how His people were to judge and execute justice.
So is Jesus taking all of that and throwing it out the window? Certainly not. Yet here are words in red that Jesus said and he says to judge not. We know Jesus would never contradict the scriptures, so rather than seeing this as a re-write, let us see it instead as adding further context. Jesus is showing us the mind of Christ, and Jesus himself will be the final judge of all.
Big Idea: If our teacher is Christ, we will be like Him.
We will receive like we give (vs 37-38)
We must see if we would lead
We must have health if we would heal.
I think when you look at the 4 imperatives, two are negative, do nots, and two are positive, something to do. Let us look at the two negative for a moment. Judge not, and condemn not.
These are clearly linked. And we are to judge not, or we could say instead do not judge, and do not condemn. We can say right off he is clearly not talking about every kind of judgement or any kind of condemnation. If he were, not Christian could be a judge, or a policeman, or a governor. That is clear. But neither could they be a school teacher, who must judge whether a student did the assignment right, they could not be the person who administers the driving test, work in any job where some sort of evaluation takes place. So clearly Jesus is not saying here that every type of judgment is forbidden.
Let us remember the context. Right before this, Jesus had talked about loving your neighbors. It seems to me that the type of judgment and condemnation Jesus is talking about is on the personal level. We should be very careful in our judgment of other people. Let us remember that much of this is in our thoughts alone. We judge others constantly. It makes us feel good. We see someone failing where we have succeeded, and we internally judge them at the same time as we elevate ourselves in our own eyes. This is why scripture warns us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to. The danger when we judge others is not a danger to them as much as it is a danger to us.
If judgment is the evaluation, condemnation is the punishment or discipline. That same school teacher who has judged the students homework as insufficient now must apply some sort of condemnation to the judgment. Some teachers are very severe. Some are softer. Most of us during our school career had teachers on both ends of the spectrum. Who are the ones you look back with affectionately? Which are the ones who, if you saw someone being rude to them in the grocery you would step in to defend them? And which ones, on the other hand, were so harsh in their judgment and treatment of you, would you watch being mistreated and you would simply stand back and think to yourself, “How does it feel?”
So Jesus is not getting so much at the required judgments we must sometimes make in life, but the attitude with which we do these things. If we judge graciously, we will be judged graciously. If we judge harshly, we will be harshly judged. Is we are quick to forgive, others will be quick to forgive us. If we do not condemn others when they commit an offense against us, they will not be quick to condemn us.
The positive corollary to this is forgive and give. If we are quick to forgive others, they will be more likely to forgive us. When we are generous towards others, they will tend to be generous towards us. These are characteristics that should mark the Christian. By the way, these are more like proverbs in this sense: they are not universal. Not every person you forgive will also forgive you. Not every person you withhold judgment on will spare you any judgement. But as proverbs are generally the way things will go, then we can expect that as we live graciously towards others, we will also receive more grace.
Robert Stein:
Luke Comments
6:37 Do not judge. What is being forbidden here is not the legitimate exercise of judgment in lawcourts or in church discipline but the tendency to criticize and find fault with others. Marshall aptly observes, “It is not the use of discernment and discrimination which is forbidden but the attitude of censoriousness.”140 It forbids a Christian from finding “status by negation,” i.e., looking better by criticizing others as worse. The use of the present imperative in this and the next prohibition can better be translated “stop judging” and suggests that readers stop what they are presently doing, rather than that they should guard themselves against ever doing this sometime in the future.
Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. We are far removed from the bazaars and marketplaces of the days when Jesus made these statements. Most of our groceries are carefully weighed and pre packaged. But in those days, if you needed to buy some grain, you went to a seller, and you would tell them the amount you wanted. They would measure it, and if they were very honest and wanted to be sure you got the amount you were paying for, they would measure out the grain and then shake it. The grain would settle and more would be added, and the very generous merchant would go beyond that, they would pile more upon it so that it was spilling over.
One of my first early jobs was at a drive through called Burger Time. And when our friends came, and we were putting their fries into the bag, we would scoop a whole bunch extra in there. And sometimes if they ordered a single burger, we would make it a double. Now, I’m not sure the management approved of that, but we liked to be generous with our friends, especially when there was no cost to us. I met a guy once who worked at one of the first Wendy’s restaurant, and Dave Thomas came to the kitchen of his store once and observed them putting the ingredients on the burgers, and he told them to be generous, to put plenty on. He wanted his customers to get what they paid for above and beyond.
This is to be our attitude towards others. Generous giving should be a mark of the Christian life. Jesus concludes this saying with, “For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you”. Now, you may believe that this applies only to the giving part. But I actually believe it applies all the way back to verse 37 and our negative imperatives.
Judge not, and you will not be judged, for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.
Condemn not, and you will not be condemned, for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Forgive and you will be forgiven. for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
give, and it will be given to you. for with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
Now, that is my personal interpretation. But I think it fits with what Jesus is saying. He is making a point here about our attitudes towards others, and in each case, our attitude will be determinative of how many people will treat us.
Big Idea: If our teacher is Christ, we will be like Him.
We will receive like we give (vs 37-38)
We must see if we would lead
We must have health if we would heal.
Moving on, Luke6.39
He also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?
This was a common phrase then, and even people who know little to nothing about the bible know and use this. When Jenelle and I were still somewhat newlyweds, we were given tickets to a musical in downtown St. Paul. It was one of those sort of fancy affairs that only occasionally in my life have I had opportunity to partake in. And there was an intermission, and we went out to the lobby and we saw this couple. The man was clearly blind, and had one of those sticks, and the lady was leading him through the crowd by holding his elbow. And this lady had some of the thickest glasses I have ever seen.
And I was even more of a smart Alec then than I am now, and I leaned over to Jenelle, and I said “Talk about the blind leading the blind”. To which I got an elbow in my side. And I protested this and said, “Don’t worry, they probably can’t hear either.” Yes, it was a very unsanctified moment. I knew the phrase, and perhaps somewhat rightly applied it, but it is such an obvious phrase I don’t need to explain it much to you. Clearly we must see if we would lead. Now, Jesus is using the example of the physically blind to make a point about the spiritually blind.
Paul warned Timothy about laying hands too quickly on someone, a leader in the church must not be a new convert. Why? Because while they may be seeing better than they were, they still have much to learn. A new convert can only teach so much. Some people truly believe that little training is needed for Christian leadership. They may say that anyone willing should be given the opportunity to lead others. You wouldn’t put a first year medical student in charge of a brain surgery. You would want to get someone qualified. You wouldn’t take a kid who just got their driver’s license and have them drive a huge RV with a boat trailer into a tight parking lot. It would be foolish to put a novice in charge of an important task, and that is just as true in the church as in anywhere else.
The image of the pit alludes to the Hebrew proverb that depicts the judgement of God. Isa24.17-18
Terror and the pit and the snare are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth!
He who flees at the sound of the terror shall fall into the pit, and he who climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For the windows of heaven are opened, and the foundations of the earth tremble.
Terror, pit, and snare are before you, O inhabitant of Moab! declares the Lord.
He who flees from the terror shall fall into the pit, and he who climbs out of the pit shall be caught in the snare. For I will bring these things upon Moab, the year of their punishment, declares the Lord.
A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Sometimes you hear that the student has become the master. Usually, this means that he has exceeded his instructors. Sometimes a music teacher will have the privilege of teaching a student who goes to the highest level in their discipline. A loving teacher would be glad to see the student far exceed their own abilities. A jealous teacher may want constant credit for their part in this student’s success. In our world, with exponentially increasing knowledge and the technology to quickly attain that knowledge, it is true that in many fields the student today will far exceed their teachers in knowledge and accomplishments.
Think about it: If you were an engineering student finishing up at MIT 20 years ago, and you have seen advancements in technology so amazing, then it will be hard to imagine what the student graduating today will know and experience 20 years from now.
But in Jesus’ days of teaching, there was no internet, no libraries accessible to the average person, and in those days, a student would rely almost entirely on their teacher for all of their learning. It wasn’t as if you could fact check your teacher. There was no way to do that. So you would hope to have a trustworthy teacher, an experienced and well-learned teacher. And then you would work as a student to become like that teacher. In time, we become like those we are around. So when the disciples of Jesus spent time around him, they probably started to imitate certain mannerisms, phrases, and so on.
When Jesus said a disciple is not above his teacher, he was pointing out the disciple need to understand that humility demands that the student recognize that they are not better than their teacher. It would have been extremely unacceptable in those days for a student to, in any way, try to think of themselves as better than their teacher.
Luke: An Introduction and Commentary 5. Judging Other People (6:37–42)
Jesus is speaking of a time when the disciple had only his rabbi as his source of information. To claim that he was above his teacher was the height of presumption. The disciple’s one aim was to be like his teacher and he attained this only when fully taught. This
Yet, everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher. Jesus is our ultimate teacher, so if we are growing in his teachings, we will become more like him. And then we will apply these things he says in a way that better reflect his character and his imprint on us. Judging like he would, with mercy and grace. Not condemning, forgiving like he forgave, even those who killed him. and generous. With time, fellowship, and mercy and grace. Everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Big Idea: If our teacher is Christ, we will be like Him.
We will receive like we give (vs 37-38)
We must see if we would lead
We must have health if we would heal.
Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?
How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.
This one seems so obvious, but let us remember for a moment that Jesus is not here talking merely about physical things. He is talking about spiritual blindness. If you are following someone who cannot see where they are going, you will not end up anywhere good. And if you are following someone who snickers at the idea of learning doctrine or theology, you are following a blind guide. There are plenty of these in the world. They stand on nice stages, with lots of technology and energy, but they do not show people the way to live like Christ. In the end, many of them turn out to be outright heretics.
Jesus is not saying here that we should never help someone out, or point to someone’s error in their behavior or attitude or biblical understanding. He is saying that if we want to be helpful to others then we must come to some place where we have been helped ourselves.
If you went to a dermatologist for help with a skin issue and they walked in the room with some serious skin conditions, you may be well be skeptical of their ability to help you. If you went to a personal trainer who was 400 lbs you may not feel that confident in their training regiment. And if you went to the ER because you had a sliver in your eye, you would not feel very safe if the doctor coming to remove it had a nail sticking out of their eye, and blood and puss all over it. Now that doctor comes towards you with his tweezer. Run!
We must have health if we would be help to others.
But when a brother in a meek and self-judging spirit (cf. 1 Cor 11:31; Gal 6:1) removes the log in his own eye, he still has the responsibility of helping his brother remove his speck (cf. Mt 18:15–20).
D. A. Carson
Big Idea: If our teacher is Christ, we will be like Him.
We will receive like we give (vs 37-38)
We must see if we would lead
We must have health if we would heal.
As hard as many messages are to preach, they are much harder to preach to myself.
There are many moments of struggle in the study, when I think there is no way I can preach these things! I am not there yet. I see many flaws in myself. How then, can I teach these things? How can I guide others? How can I help others with their specks?
I am comforted that Paul did not consider himself to arrive, and yet he preached.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.
Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.
What I usually must determine is this: That God has called me to preach things I have not yet been perfected in, as He has for many other servants of his in the church. How could Paul say “join in imitating me” when he had not yet arrived? Paul was not calling for imitation of his faults or failures. He was calling for imitation in forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead. In this Paul was calling for imitation. That each would press on towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Our responsibility is to examine ourselves.
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
But we pray to God that you may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.
For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.