How do we Judge?

If you have a bible open it up to chapter 7 of Matthew’s Gospel. I have titled the message this morning. How do we Judge? Pray with me…

Today we are studying no doubt what I like to say is the unbelievers favorite bible verse. Focusing in on really 2 words. Judge Not. Judge Not. And as we have went through the sermon on the mount these verses have been difficult for me to practice, and honestly I stand here convicted because these verses are a problem for the church as a whole, but…

let me start this week with something I read which said this.. RICHARD DEHAAN, in his book Men sent from God, lists some of the criticisms pastors receive. The list is written "tongue in cheek," of course. If the pastor is young, they say he lacks experience. If his hair is gray, he is too old for the young people. ( I am young and I have that now )

If he has five or six children, he is irresponsible; if he has no children, he is setting a bad example. If he uses a lot of illustrations, he neglects the Bible; if he does not use enough, he is not relevant. If he condemns wrong deeds, he's cranky; if he does not, he's compromising. If he drives an old car, he shames his congregation; if he drives a new one, he's setting his affection on earthly things.

DeHaan's point is that criticism is part and parcel of the public life of the ministry. In fact, criticism is part of living, period. You cannot do anything without being criticized by someone-whether you are selling newspapers, knitting a sweater, working your farm, or mowing your lawn. The ever-present fact is, people are by nature critical and condemning, as the experience of a certain young bachelor illustrates. Every time he brought a prospective wife home, his mother criticized her unmercifully. The young man was at his wit's end when a friend offered this advice: "Find someone like your mother." So he looked and looked until he found a clone. She looked like his mother, her gait was like his mother's, she talked like his mother, and she even thought like his mother. It was amazing! So he took her home. The next time he saw the friend who had given the advice and was asked how his mother liked the girl, the bachelor answered, "It went great. My mother loved her, but my father couldn't stand her."

A critical spirit, a judgmental, condemning spirit, is endemic to the human situation. The media, our social relationships, our schooling, and our work situations are immersed in it. And though we often joke about it, experiencing it is most unpleasant. Few things are more exhausting and debilitating than harsh, unloving criticism.

Even sadder, the church of Jesus Christ is itself full of those who make a habit of criticism and condemnation. Some seem to think their critical spirit is a spiritual gift. But the Lord does not agree. In the opening verses of Matthew 7 (the final chapter of the Sermon on the Mount), our Lord sets the record straight in no uncertain terms. He tells us how we should relate to our brothers and sisters in this matter of judgmentalism, especially in respect to the fact that we will all undergo a final judgment.

Those words hit home for myself, and I am sure for many of you. Now before I read the text this morning, what I want you to walk away with as our main idea is this…

To judge someone biblically, you must first examine yourself following the scriptures, ensuring your judgment is right and true.

Lets read the text this morning.

Matthew 7:1–6 ESV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 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? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

Several points to help us be better at doing are main idea. 1st is this.

Christians should not have a judgmental spirit.

Why? Because we know who the judge is we know what the standard is… This is no way way means that we need to be like the world who says do whatever you want, live how you want, but it can be quite dangerous to your spiritual health if your main concern is going around judging people.

I have been guilty of this, I know most of you have as well. Sometimes if we are not careful this is how we come off even if we don’t mean it though. We have to be careful that we are not known only by our judgements, and how we deal with those who we may judge.

If you are reading the greek and looking at commentaries you will see this agreement that Jesus is teaching here that we do not need to make a practice of judging. and you could even take that a step further and say Jesus wants you to stop judging right now and dont do it in the future. So that you wont be judged. There is a difference between confrontation and condemnation and ill touch more on that later.

But Jesus says for you will be judged based on the same standard you use. Meaning if you deal with other’s harshly expect that in return ouch… for me maybe you, The Lord has worked on me in great ways with this but I still have a long way to go… I to often take the what you are doing route in the name of Christ and upholding biblical truth rather than how can I be more merciful in this situation pointing back to Christ route which is how we should be at all times, because he has shown us great mercy.

Listen to this.. The heart that has tasted the Lord's grace and forgiveness will always be restrained in its judgment of others. It has seen itself deserving judgment and condemnation before the Lord and yet, instead of experiencing his burning anger, has tasted his infinite mercy.

Another ouch… We as Christians are called to be Christ’s representatives the way he walked and we know he did judge, but did it the tight way, and being perfect he did not have to worry about having a judgmental attitude a judgmental spirit. Like we do…

Listen to another man saying some wise words for us.

Christians have an obligation to exercise critical judgment! What Christ means when he says "Judge not" is that we are to refrain from hypercritical, condemning judgment. There is a universe of difference between being discerningly critical and hypercritical. A discerning spirit is constructive. A hypercritical spirit is destructive. The person with a destructive, overcritical spirit revels in criticism for its own sake.

Most of us when we have judgement upon others it tends to be more destructive if we are honest we have a spirit that is judgmental and not spirit filled.. it doesn’t build up.

In fact reading this week I became convinced that we set the standard and tone of our final judgement by our judgmental conduct in life. And we prove by our judging of others that we know what is right. So if we do not do what is right, we condemn ourselves.

a verse and one quote to close out this one point.

2 Corinthians 5:10–11 ESV

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.

One man said there is nothing more ungodly than a critical spirit, and nothing more un-Christlike than the false righteousness that is always looking for something wrong in someone else.

Now our Lord extends his argument even further.

If you have a judgmental spirit today lay that down at the foot of the cross, and take note of this second point. to help you be a better Christian when it comes to judgement. Second point is this…

Christian’s should be self-evaluators before judging others.

Jesus uses a radical illustration here if you forgot it let me reread it to you.. Matthew 7:3-4

Matthew 7:3–4 ESV

3 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? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?

This log that Jesus is referring to is not even like a Lincoln log that would still be much bigger than a speck it would be like a rafter in your house showing just how important it is to examine yourself before you even go towards the speck in someone else’s eye which is small in comparison to your own sin.

Jesus want’s us to take seriously our own responsibilities. That is something we must never forget.Which is often so hard when we have our eyes on others and their own sins especially in the world we live in today.

One man I read this week would go so far to say.. So deeply has his sin conquered him that he has become blind to it. Sensitive to sin in others, he has been desensitized to sin in his own heart.

All the commentaries I read referenced this passage that needs to be read because fits in the context so well. Its reads as following from 2 Sam 12:1-12

2 Samuel 12:1–12 ESV

1 And the Lord sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said to him, “There were two men in a certain city, the one rich and the other poor. 2 The rich man had very many flocks and herds, 3 but the poor man had nothing but one little ewe lamb, which he had bought. And he brought it up, and it grew up with him and with his children. It used to eat of his morsel and drink from his cup and lie in his arms, and it was like a daughter to him. 4 Now there came a traveler to the rich man, and he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest who had come to him, but he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for the man who had come to him.” 5 Then David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die, 6 and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity.” 7 Nathan said to David, “You are the man! Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you out of the hand of Saul. 8 And I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your arms and gave you the house of Israel and of Judah. And if this were too little, I would add to you as much more. 9 Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your wife and have killed him with the sword of the Ammonites. 10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’ 11 Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I will raise up evil against you out of your own house. And I will take your wives before your eyes and give them to your neighbor, and he shall lie with your wives in the sight of this sun. 12 For you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel and before the sun.’ ”

One man really put this in perspective for me…. We find it so easy to turn a microscope on another person's sin while we look at ours through the wrong end of a telescope!

We use some strong term for someone else's sin but a euphemism for our own. We easily spot a speck of phoniness in another because we have a logjam of it in our own lives Furthermore, we especially hate our own faults when we see them in others. Which is what happened in the case of David.

But I want to stop there for a moment because isn’t that the truth…I hate and i mean hate to see others struggle with the same sins I struggle with, and I am often harsher on them because of my own struggles. Yet he goes on to say. Wrath toward the speck in someone else's life may come from the suppressed guilt over the same massive sin in our own lives.

Log-toting speck inspectors are hypocrites, says Jesus (v. 5). They do not care at all about the speck in the other person's eye. All they really care about is building up themselves in their own eyes. We have to be careful that we don’t use our judgements to wrongfully built up ourselves into looking like we are far superior than a fellow sinner. But The pattern is universal. Self-righteousness turns to looking for other peoples faults, which produces a false benevolence ("Let me help you with that speck we might say“), which in turn produces contempt.

This guy goes on to say… I have seen the most unchristian aggression practiced by humble people who come with a "concern."

This point continues with verse 5.

Matthew 7:5 ESV

5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Jesus is not holding back here with the illustration and he says and then this… I am saying this preaching to myself and all of you… We need to spend more time self evaluating and less time judging others. We all need to be more like Christ, and follow his word so before you go and approach anyone again spend some time self reflecting on your own life then go and take the speck out of your brother’s eye after you have dealt with the log in your own eye..

Jesus allows us to approach our brother’s and sisters in Christ but only after we have first dealt with ourselves so can we rightfully see our own sin, our own savior, and their own need to repent and be restored as well, but what do we do with verse 6..

Third point is this…

Christians are to be careful with their judgments.

v6. Matthew 7:6

Matthew 7:6 ESV

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

I think I have unpacked those 5 verses before verse 6 so that you understand how you judge and the steps taken that you need to give proper judgement, but then we land on a verse like verse 6 and I believe Jesus is teaching us that we need to use biblical wisdom when we approach matters of judgement. I have been on both ends of this and you have I am sure you as well, not everyone always want’s good sound advice and not everyone is always going to take good biblical advice. We need to learn how and who we give our advice and judgements too.

Because Jesus says do not give dogs what is holy. Now Dogs are not like your dog you might have at home these are wild dogs they were vicious, they attack Paul describes them also as false teaches whom attack the message of the gospel and truth, you have to be careful how you pass judgement to the quote on quote dogs… Jesus dealt with all people truthfully but he dealt with all people differently. A good reminder to us..He would not just waste all his time with those who would not listen neither should we. We have to be able to separate the dogs, and the pigs, and those who are willing to listen.

Now going back to the pigs.. they trample over things they don’t give value to what they ought to give value too.

This is what people do when they don’t see the value of good instruction. We also need to be careful to not be like the pigs by not only rejecting the truth, but seeking to destroy it.

Jesus is clear we should never give things that are Holy to dogs and pigs.

So how are we to be careful with judgements. I Think Matthew 10:11-15 teaches us..

Matthew 10:11–15 ESV

11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

We present the gospel we give the truth we plant the seed and move on if we encounter those who are dogs, and pigs. Dont waste your time passing judgment on those who will not take serious the treasures of the gospel.

Final point is this..

Christians do not face judgement because we have been declared righteous by the only one who can judge.

What a weighty text in this day and age where people are using scripture not as a holy source of wisdom, but a way to shut up believers in Christ.

And for many of us as Christians we have been shut-up and frankly shut out from the world which we live in, and maybe just maybe its because we had good intentions but we did not carry it out to the best of our Christian abilities. How we judge matters…How we live matters.. But what matters most to you and I and everyone who every comes across this message is there is truly only one judge. ( and its not this pastor, and its not yourself. Its God and God alone he is the true judge.

In fact he is the judge the jury, and the executioner and the realities that the scripture teaches us is that all of us and it is clear its all of us are subject to his judgement because we have sinned, we read these 6 verses and know we have not even handled the subject of judgment well this

but…but… the good news for you and I is that God did not throw what is holy to the dogs and the pigs rather his son lived as the perfect man not wasting a moment of life sinning against God or man, to the point where he even dies for us on the cross, but as I preach every week he did not stay dead he is alive, and because he is alive you and I can turn to him and him alone…

so that we may not have judgement ourselves for the sins that we commit not only today, but yesterday and the day before that and all the sins we will commit tomorrow and beyond can be forgiven through Jesus Christ our Lord.

If we repent if we turn to him and believe in the son of man by faith we too can be free from judgement from a Holy God who takes all that he says with upmost seriousness..

we may have been the most judgment spirit and still to this day may struggle with it but because of the work on the cross you can lay down your judgement mental attitudes and action, and begin to have a spirit of right judgement because you know the one who died for you on the cross.

Evaluate yourself today today do you know Christ, and if you do have you been doing some real self evaluation, because as I have seen in my own life even this week I am not the man I thought I was, if you are honest with God, and yourself you are most likely not the man or women you want to be in Christ, so be careful how you judge, always knowing that the ultimate judge sent his son to die for you. Let us pray.