Judge not

Introduction:

Chapter 7 is the big conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount. The key to understanding these words is to understand the big picture of the Sermon. (Jesus is harmonizing the old covenant with the new covenant of His Kingdom)

Chapter 5: The Relationship of the believer. Personal Character/beatitudes vs 1-12 Relationship to the World vs 13-16 Relationship to the Word of God vs 17-48 Chapter 6: The Response of the believer. Giving vs 1-4 Prayer vs 5-15 Fasting vs 16-18 Treasures vs 19-24 Anxiety vs 25-34 Chapter 7: The Route of the believer.

Proper Judgement vs 1-6 Fairness vs 7-12 The broad and narrow way vs 13-14 True and false prophets vs 15-23 The wise and foolish man vs 24-28 The goal of this section of the sermon is simple: To show the Disciples what true religion looks like rather than the false religion of the Pharisees.

What was the greatest issue with the Pharisees? Hypocrisy!

Judge: κρίνω (Krino- Kree-no) Implies finality. Condemned. No need to hear more.

1. The Result of Judgement.

Matthew 7:1–2 KJV 1900

Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

You reap what you sow.

It’s usually not our place. Romans 14:10

Romans 14:10 KJV 1900

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

2. The Requirement of Judgement.

Matthew 7:3–5 KJV 1900

And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

You must not be a hypocrite. Romans 1:28-2:4

Romans 1:28–2:4 KJV 1900

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

You must have the facts.

Proverbs 18:13 KJV 1900

He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, It is folly and shame unto him.

You must judge according to Scripture. John 7:21-24

John 7:21–24 KJV 1900

Jesus answered and said unto them, I have done one work, and ye all marvel. Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a man. If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

You must judge for the purpose of restoration. Galatians 6:1

Galatians 6:1 KJV 1900

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

1 Corinthians 5–6:8 KJV 1900

It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father’s wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators: Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

3. The Reason for Judgement.

Matthew 7:6 KJV 1900

Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Every creature must hear the Gospel (Matthew 28) But some people are not open to further truth and desire your harm.

Philippians 3:2 KJV 1900

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.

Revelation 22:15 KJV 1900

For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

2 Thessalonians 3:1–3 KJV 1900

Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

Conclusion: 1. Ultimate Judgement belongs to Jesus.

1 Peter 4:5 KJV 1900

Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

Revelation 19:11 KJV 1900

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

2. The Church must judge and restore the fallen with sincerity and without hypocrisy! 3. You must make judgements to protect your family and yourself from evil!