To Judge or Not to Judge (Matthew 7:1-12)

Introduction

If you were asked what is the most well known verse of the Bible by both those declaring to be Christian and those who reject Christianity, what would you say it is? Would it be John 3:16? Doubtful. Would it be Romans 8:1? Or Romans 3:23 or 6:23?

While all of these verses are wonderful verses, I would argue that non of these are the top known Bible verse known by both groups. I would say the most well known and partially quoted Bible verse comes from Matthew 7:1, the start of our passage this morning.

This verse is likely rarely known by its reference, but it is certainly remembered for it’s words. The words, judge not, lest you be judged.

People who would reject the Bible up and down even will affirm this verse the moment they feel as if one is judging them, even by the Bible’s standards. So the question this morning, is it or isn’t it right to judge? That is what we are going to talk about this morning.

Therefore, at this time I would like to ask you to take out your copy of the Bible and turn with me to Matthew 7:1-12. If you do not have a Bible, please grab the Red Bible we provide for you in the seat in front of you. You can find our passage on page #965 in that Bible.

While you are turning there, let’s make sure the stage is rightly set for us as we consider Matthew 7:1-12. For this passage is set with a context to help make right sense of it. A context that started with presenting in Matthew 1:1 as Jesus being the son of Abraham, the son of David. The one essentially to bring about the fulfillment of God’s blessing to the nations and a king to sit on the throne of David forever.

And it is this forever King who will bring blessing to the nations who has began a public ministry. A ministry that is calling a people to himself to instruct for kingdom living.

Teaching them what they are to do if they are to be blessed, just as Moses taught Israel at Mount Sinai as found in Deuteronomy 28. As well as what the blessed life entails. We see this being taught in the whole of the Sermon on the Mount.

The Sermon on the Mount stands in contrast to the mountain top of Mount Sinai where the 10 commandments were given.

And the big focus of the Sermon on the Mount has been describing what the blessed life looks like for those who would enter the kingdom of heaven. A life in pursuit of kingdom living which greatly emphasizes a righteousness that is greater than that of the scribes and the Pharisees. A righteousness that Jesus has been teaching on. A righteousness that is not just external, but internal. A righteousness of heart. A righteousness that seeks to please God and not man. A righteousness that is rooted in ones trust of a good Father who provides. A righteousness that also then continues to reflect on love for God and one another as we now turn to hear from God’s word found in Matthew 7:1-12. This is the word of the LORD…

Main Idea:

Here is what I think is the main idea of Matthew 7:1-12, If we are to avoid hypocrisy and love one another as we should, then we must turn to our Father above and the good he seeks for us. We are going to unfold this in four points: (1) Hypocrisy is Forbidden (v.1-5), (2) Discernment is Necessary, (3) Prayer is Encouraged (v.7-11), and (4) Love is Taught (v.12).

Point #1: Hypocrisy is Forbidden (Matthew 7:1-5)

Matthew 7:1…

In one sense the command is clear, we are to judge not if we are to pursue this greater righteousness as Jesus’ disciples. For if we do judge, we will be judged.

And lest any of us think we are fine with that, we care not what others think about us. Let us understand the implied judge here that will judge us if we judge others is not others. The judge that will judge us in our judging is God the Father. It is He who will judge us as we turn and judge others. How will he judge us? Not unfairly, not in partiality, but in righteousness and in the same manner we judged others. Verse 2…

God will judge us in our judgment of others by the same judgment, the same measure we measured them by.

This means, if we are judging our brother and sister without grace, without mercy, without gentleness, this is the measure that God will judge us with. For if we affirm a standard by which one should live, is God not just to hold us to that very same standard? A standard that we have affirmed by our casting such a judgment?

Friends, we must be careful to cast judgment upon one another. It is a serious matter, a matter we are often too quick to enter into. And while we may try to convince ourselves we do it for good reasons, it is often not with a humble and right heart, but a critical spirit within. We seek to find fault in others and put them lower while at the same time elevating ourselves.

Such a fault-finding and critical spirit in judgment is forbidden. For such judgment is hypocritical. Verses 3-4…

Do we see the severity of the hypocrisy within when we are able to see something as small as a speck or a splinter in a brother or sisters eye while being blind to a log or a beam sticking out of our own eye?

Yes, certainly some hyperbole is used here, but the point remains the same. We see the minor faults of others while neglecting the weight and seriousness of our own sins.

We are quick to remember the fault and flaw of others while we are quick to forget about how we looked in the mirror and what kind of person we are.

To paint this picture ever so clearly and practically, this is the kind of judgment and hypocrisy we put to practice on Sunday mornings when we come and sit under the preaching of the word of God and instead of thinking how this applies to our lives, we are quick to speak a word or think a thought in wishing Sally or Bob were here to hear this, that they really need this message. Oh the hypocrisy that fills our minds and lips in such moments.

One commentator, Daniel Doriani writes,

Matthew, Volumes 1 & 2 Reason 3: We Should Attend to Ourselves First

We tend to trivialize our sins and magnify the sins of others, but Jesus says that our sins should seem painfully large to us, while our neighbors’ should seem small.

Christian, if we are to not be a hypocrite, then we must switch this narrative. We must see our sins as grievous and others as small. Only then will we remove hypocrisy from within our hearts. Only then will we have removed the beam from our own eyes. And then we will be able to see and help our brothers and sisters in Christ. Verse 5…

Notice the steps in these instructions. First remove the log out of your own eye, then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

This by no means is a call to perfection before we pronounce judgment on a brother or sister in Christ. If so, then all judgment would indeed be forbidden.

The call here is a call to seeing ourselves rightly before God in light of the seriousness of our own sin. For only then can we see clearly enough to help our brothers and sisters in Christ with their specks. Seeing that they are those who Jesus bleed and died for and is working to intercede for. This changes the way in which we pronounce judgment against them.

For when we are hypocritical in judgment, we come with harshness and without love. When we come to judge having removed the beam from our own eye, we come in gentleness and out of love. When we are hypocritical in judgment we come out of desire to stir things up in a holy war, but when we come having removed our own log, we come as those seeking revival within hearts.

We must judge from time to time. In fact, day in and day out we make various judgments regarding certain matters, from what is appropriate to watch, to listen to, what is appropriate to say in front of children, what is right and wrong.

In the same way from time to time we must make judgments about and regarding one another. But it is never to be out of seeking to condemn one another. For even in the most serious of sins, the aim is to pronounce judgment on someone in hopes that it will lead them to restoration.

We see this in Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5 in what could be said the church discipline chapters. Both of these paint the picture of what it is like to pronounce good and right judgment regarding certain matters within the church. They give the steps and the reasons why these things must take place. But the aim is always restorative. We see this in 2 Corinthians 2 after Paul had urged the Church of Corinth to remove a sinner from their midst, upon repentance, he urges them to welcome him back.

This is the aim of our pronouncing judgment, restoring a swaying brother or sister in Christ back to faithfully pursuing Christ. Pointing them back to the hope of the gospel!

This is why we have this in our church covenant here at Land O’ Lakes Bible Church,

we will exercise a Christian care and watchfulness over each other, and faithfully warn, rebuke, and admonish one another as the case shall require.

For we seek to exercise such care and watchfulness over one another in a loving manner. Therefore we seek to do this with gentleness, patience, and with a loving spirit.

Friends, when we seek to make judgment regarding others, is this our aim? I pray so.

Now, regarding the unbeliever, it should be still in a similar manner. Not as one already purchased by the blood, since they have not yet believed, but in hopes that they will hear this and believe.

For in our casting of judgment against them it is to be with the aim to show them that they too need Jesus, just like us.

For what separates the world and us, Christian? It is not that we have it all together, it is not that we are perfect, it is not that we don’t have warts, we have plenty of these. No, what separates the world from us who are in Christ is that we have acknowledged our sin and our desperate need in redemption, redemption that has come in Christ and Christ alone!

Oh brothers and sisters, let this then change the way we judge. Let us judge when we must and not be afraid to do so. But may we never be eager and quick to pronounce judgement and let it never be from a critical spirit. Hypocrisy in judgment is forbidden!

Point #2: Discernment is Necessary (Matthew 7:6)

Verse 5 called us to the proper steps before judgment, but something more is needed than simply removing the log. And that something else is discernment. Verse 6…

We need discernment to beware those who might turn and attack us as we give what is holy and cast pearls before.

But what are these holy things and these pearls? Likewise, what are these dogs and pigs spoken of?

First, let us deal with the dogs and pigs. In Matthew’s gospel account, he records Jesus one other time using the word dogs. This other use comes in Matthew 15:21-28 where he is referring to a Gentile woman, a non-Jew.

Dogs are typically thought of as those outside of God’s covenant, typically in referring to the Gentiles.

Pigs on the other hand are thought of as unclean animals, food that is not meant to be eaten. While the reference to pigs is obscure, Acts 10 aids us here. For while pigs are not directly referenced here, all kinds of animals here that were unclean would include pigs. And Peter here in this context is being taught that nothing is unclean, specifically meaning that the gospel is to go to all peoples, to non-Jews as he is being lead to proclaim the gospel to a centurion, Cornelius.

Therefore here pigs and dogs are referring to non-Jews. So is Jesus telling his disciples here to beware all non-Jews in taking the gospel to? Certainly not, a good Biblical Theology will not allow such. Biblical Theology being summed up in the statement of seeing the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation as one unified story centering on the person of Jesus Christ. A unified story then cannot contradict itself. Therefore this is not referring to all non-Jews. It is instead referring to those worthless creatures who are unable to hear the declarations of the gospel, the judgment on sin. Such worthless creatures as that of Nabal found in 1 Samuel 25:17 who no one could speak to.

It is a warning that there are those who cannot be reproved as the warning from Proverbs 9:8 “8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.”

Jesus as the greater Solomon is warning to not speak to those who will turn and despise using the wisdom found in Proverbs 23:9 “9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise the good sense of your words.”

The gospel, the holy things and the pearls is to be cast out widely and freely. But there are those in laboring to declare these most valuable thing that would be pointless to press to far into, at least for a time. Because these fellows despise such rich and valuable treasures. Therefore in these moments, we need discernment to know when to dust the dust off our feet and go elsewhere with these pearls and holy things so that others may hear.

We see the Apostles told this later in Matthew 10, and we see this put into practice in Acts as well as the church spreads.

Discernment in gospel ministry and declaring the judgments of God is necessary if we are to be wise servants of the high king!

Point #3: Prayer is Encouraged (Matthew 7:7-11)

At first glance, verses 7-11 seem to be disconnected from the first 6 verses. For we move from judging one another to making our requests known through prayer.

However, when we take a closer look, we can see the great importance Matthew 7:7-11 plays in the high calling to avoid hypocrisy and wrong judgement, as well as in regards to the entire weightiness of the Sermon on the Mount as we are called to a greater righteousness.

For if it has not yet hit, I pray it does now. The Sermon on the Mount does not lower the bar of discipleship, it raises it. Jesus does not call followers who are half in. He calls followers to be fully in and raises the bar high. So high that it can often feel out of reach. Maybe you even feel that here this morning as we continue through the Sermon on the Mount. Maybe you feel its crushing weight. Friend, do not lose heart. For this is exactly why Matthew 7:7-11 is so beautifully and perfectly placed by our King Jesus.

Our King Jesus in the midst of explaining the high calling to greater righteousness in order to enter the kingdom, pulls back the curtain for us to see that with man these are impossible, but not for God. That he stands ready to give us this good gift of greater righteousness if we but humble ourselves and ask and seek and knock. For this is what we are being invited to do here in Matthew 7:7-8 where we read…

What are we we ask and to seek and to knock for? Just anything? By no means. There has been a grave abuse and misunderstanding an application to search verses. Our theology of God must be deep enough to keep us from thinking prayer is making any request and it will be granted.

No, that which we are to ask for and seek for and knock for is this greater righteousness. Greater righteousness to know when to judge and when to remain silent. Greater righteousness to know when to help another or when we need to first consider the log in our own eye. Greater righteousness to know when to keep pressing with the gospel and when to dust the dust off our feet and move on to others. Greater righteousness to live out the instructions to love enemies and not murder within our heart. Greater righteousness to put to death any lust in our hearts.

These are the things in which Jesus is inviting us to ask for, seek for, and knock for.

J.C. Ryle in his excellent Expository Thoughts on Matthew writes here, “Would we know when to be “silent,” and when to “speak,”—when to bring forward “holy” things, and produce our “pearls?” We must pray.” (1)

The very things we most need are at our disposal if we but go to the LORD in prayer. Again, all we need to do is ask, seek, knock, and we can be certain that we will receive, find, and it will be opened. The restatement of this in both verses 7-8 give us double assurance of this certainty.

But let us not ask once and be done, let us keep with asking, seeking, and knocking for this greater righteousness. For that is to which is being taught us. It is to be understood as an ongoing act of asking, seeking, and knocking for God’s greater righteousness to be at work in us and through us for the sake of his glory!

Further more, we can be sure of this certainty in God hearing and giving in accordance by the fact of examining that of even earthly fathers. Verses 9-11…

Jesus turns to that of earthly fathers. This of course does not mean that every earthly father gives good gifts. Certainly there are cruel earthly fathers who indeed do give a stone when a child asks for bread, but this is not the norm, even amongst the most evil and pagan of fathers.

The point being made here, if these earthly fathers in their evil know how to give good gifts to their children, how much more does our Father in heaven know how to give good things to us who ask him.

To quote from J.C. Ryle again, “Do we know anything of this asking, seeking, and knocking? Why should we not? There is nothing so simple and plain as praying, if a man really has a will to pray. There is nothing, unhappily, which men are so slow to do. They will use many of the forms of religion, attend many ordinances, do many things that are right, before they will do this.” (2)

Land O’ Lakes Bible Church, what would happen if we gave ourselves regularly to this kind of asking, seeking, and knocking in pursuit of greater righteousness? Both individually and corporately? I believe there is currently a Sunday School class meeting downstairs that is aiding us in how to better pray using the scriptures. Scriptures that will help us pray better in pursuit of such righteousness.

But even now, let us ask, seek, knock in prayer as we seek this greater righteousness to be at work in us.

Point #4: Love is Taught (Matthew 7:12)

Verse 12…

The main section of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount began back in Matthew 5:17 “17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” And in now ends here in Matthew 7:12. We know this by the return to the law and the prophets.

What is affectionately called the golden rule concludes the main section of the most famous sermon.

A section that teaches what this greater righteousness is in the high calling to love one another in avoiding hatred within heart, lust within, a call to love enemy, and not put away in divorce. A high calling to love in not being a hypocrite in judgment.

And therefore the law and the prophets is summed up in this call to love, to love both God and man. To love one another not in partiality, but as we would treat others the way we wished to be treated.

Friend, there is not a one of us here this morning that does not wish to be shown patience, gentleness, and grace. And therefore if we are to live out this greater righteousness to do onto others as we wish them to do to us, then we need to show others this same patience, gentleness, and grace too.

Yet more, imagine when we as a local church begin to love one another this way. How brightly will our light shine so that others see this love we have for one another and turn and praise our God?

In another gospel account we read this from Jesus:

John 13:35 “35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.””

And lest we struggle with this call to love, we must see how the Lord Jesus has first loved us. That he while we were still sinners died for us. That he left the Father’s side to come down to us, born of a virgin, live a sinless life, die a sinner’s death all out of love.

A love that in his death and resurrection, Jesus was able to purchase us from our guilt and shame, to bring us from death to life if we believe in him.

And it is because of his love that we are to love others.

Friend, if you are one here this morning, see indeed you are one in need of having judgment pronounced against you, that you sit as one guilty of sin, and yet there is hope. There is hope because Jesus has loved you in your unworthiness and died so that you could live. Believe this today and live! I’ll be in the back this morning and love to talk to you more about this.

And brothers and sisters, let us repent of our sin and failure to love and judge rightly and go to our good Father and ask, seek, and knock for him to help us to live more righteously, to love more righteously.

Let’s pray…

Footnotes:

(1) J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1860), 64.

(2) J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on Matthew (New York: Robert Carter & Brothers, 1860), 65.