Judgment and godly stewardship

Introduction

This is a continuation of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. We transition from “do not worry about your life or your body” to “do not judge or you will be judge,” and “do not give holy things to dog” and “do not throw pearls to pigs.” What does Jesus mean regarding judgment? Are we not to judge others or is there more to the issue? Also, what are the holy things, pearls, dogs, and pigs referencing and what is the meaning of this teaching?

Matthew 7:1–6 LEB

1 “Do not judge, so that you will not be judged. 2 For by what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and by what measure you measure out, it will be measured out to you. 3 And why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the beam of wood in your own eye? 4 Or how will you say to your brother, ‘Allow me to remove the speck from your eye,’ and behold, the beam of wood is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the beam of wood from your own eye and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye! 6 “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls in front of pigs, lest they trample them with their feet, and turn around and tear you to pieces.

What does Jesus say?

Verse 1-2: Judgment is reciprocated. The measure (market term) used will be measured back to you. However, who judges us? God does! Does God as our judge add contextual value to the word “judge”? Yes, because God’s judgment is true (Romans 2:1-4). So, the idea formed here by Jesus is judging negatively or condemning a person.

Verses 3-5: Jesus used a hyperbolic statement to make His point . . .“speck” and “plank” in the eye.

First, His mention of looking at the “speck” or insignificant thing in another’s eye. Why is “eye” important? It is the thing we use to see and discern.

Second, the person who’s eye one is looking into is considered a “brother.” This is important because “brother” is used in Scripture to convey relationship.

Third, one looks at the speck in their brother’s eye, while looking past the plank in their own. The idea of having a plank in one’s own eye should convey a need to remove the thing that is obstructing their view; however, that person seems to look past the obvious obstruction to look at the insignificant thing in their brother eye. Jesus considers that individual to be a hypocrite but directs the one judging to take the plank out of their eye before removing their brothers.

Verse 6: What is significant about dogs and pigs to the Jews? They are considered unclean animals. Holy things belong to who? God. Whatever is considered God’s is devoted to Him not to unclean things because the unclean will profane it.

What do we do?

Examine ourselves daily and repent (take hold of your life before the LORD)

Judge our brothers and sisters righteously and not unto condemnation.

Use godly discernment and devote godly resources to clean things. . . note Matthew 25:31-46

Matthew 25:31–46 LEB

31 Now when the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 And all the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them from one another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world! 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me as a guest, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you cared for me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you as a guest, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ 40 And the king will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, in as much as you did it to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.’ 41 Then he will also say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed ones, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you did not give me anything to eat, I was thirsty and you did not give me anything to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me as a guest, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not care for me.’ 44 Then they will also answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison and not serve you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly I say to you, in as much as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will depart into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”