To Judge or Not to Judge

1. God is the only One who has the right and ability to judge fairly

Luke 6:37–38 CSB

37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

- I would venture to say this passage is probably the most misused verse today.

- Most people use this passage as means to keep someone from pointing out sin or sinful acts…

- We are meant to be discerning and calling out sin is not the same as judging

- Jesus is speaking about us making ourselves look better through the judgment of others and condemning them

2. How we engage others multiplies how God may give back to us

Matthew 7:3–5 CSB

3 Why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye but don’t notice the beam of wood in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the splinter out of your eye,’ and look, there’s a beam of wood in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First take the beam of wood out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take the splinter out of your brother’s eye.

3. Take care of your business first

- Notice Jesus did not say we could not help our brothers and sisters out

Luke 6:39–40 CSB

39 He also told them a parable: “Can the blind guide the blind? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Matthew 7:6 CSB

6 Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.

4. Be careful who you follow

5. It is not always the right time to share

The New American Commentary - There is a form of evangelism that urges Christians to use every opportunity to share the gospel. Unfortunately, insensitive evangelism often proves harmful not only to the obdurate (unmoved) whose heart is hardened by the undifferentiating evangelist, but harmful also to the gospel that is force-fed.… Aggressive evangelism gets converts and counts them, but we are never able to count those turned away from the gospel for the numbers of the offended are never tallied.