January 15, 2017

Good morning. We are so happy you are here. We are continuing a sermon series called Twisted about the most misused verses in scripture. And and I want to give credit where credit is due Craig groeschel. I did this series and he emails pastors everything. He does. He says you can have my videos you can have my slide. You can have everything I'm using his video here at the beginning. I could see the megachurch pastor and they have the resources about these things together. So it is a great Kickstarter for this theme and today the verse were talking about is Matthew 7:1 and to judge not lest ye be judged which is perhaps the most misused Miss quoted misunderstood scripture in my opinion both inside the church and outside the church. So it's going to be fun to look at the context and learn that passage a little better. But let's kick it off with his video that just kind of a fun introduction to this theme.

I don't know maybe we could have created our own video game show up here. Who would we have cast in those parts that we would we'd have had up there last week. We talked about this verse. In Matthew four-door John 14 1314 where Jesus says and I will do whatever you ask in my name so that the father may be glorified in the son. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it and as we applied good scriptural study rules and looked at the context, we really understood that what you might be tempted to take at face value for that verse, you know, if you just bought it and needlepoint it on a plaque or something from LifeWay. You just think I'm cool. You know, I ask whatever I want and God granted that's an awesome verse about my request getting fulfilled when I get home to God, but when you study the full context you realize that John 14 13 and 14 is more about our serving his will then him answering our requests and so in some ways the true meaning is actually the opposite meaning that were tempted to count of misuse right off the bat and say well here's this verse that says God will give me whatever I pray for but when you I need the full context of John. It's all about Jesus handing the ministry off to the disciples in that passage and saying as your continuing God's will God's plan God's purpose as you're doing things in my name. God will give you what you ask for. So again, it's less about a verse it's all about my request getting answered and and more about a verse saying how I can be used by God to do his will and this next verse that we're looking at today has the same sort of thing. When you look at it at first at face value you're tempted just to can I run with it and and do what the gal that in the video insights? Well judge not lest ye be judged. And so that's the end of that conversation, right? Someone starts to say Hey, you shouldn't be doing that or wait a minute. That wasn't the one who are you to judge me? Is it look at says do not judge or you too will be judged. For the same way you judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. So we're tempted to say was pretty clear. No judging right? That's what scripture says people leaving quote that to you both outside the church and inside the church, no judging but we know that as soon as we ponder it and think about it and reflect on it for a few moments. We really can't say no judging. I mean really you really can't say that we we have we have life itself requires judging and discernment the police have to make judgments. Don't they every day? They can't say when I guess for that guy driving the wrong way down a one-way Street. That's just what's right for him. Right? We can't live that way. They turn on the sirens, they pull the guy over and they say nobody there. There are rules and you're going the wrong direction down the street the teachers have to judge right? I have to say, I'm sorry. This is a c-level assignment and so you will be given a c for this work. Although our culture goes so extreme some And I even read an article recently where college students are kind of campaigning to prevent teachers from being able to assess their work. And then again, I just kind of go this just doesn't work. It just doesn't parents have to judge. Don't they all the time and I know kids like you too much but we have to see whether it's a little kid that we say. No, you can't this is a no. No, you can't touch that. You can't eat that. You could put that in your mouth. You can't show that in the sockets. We constantly have to distinguish between right and wrong and for every age and teenagers kids have to judge they do and that the judge their parents at time just needed. Come on Dad's has your kid ever said to you, please dad do not wear that to the beach, please if you know, I will buy you new shorts or socks that aren't black, you know, and sometimes it's an awesome thing that kid thing that we need that moment when someone discerned and gives us advice sometimes friends judge, right? Should I get this haircut? Should I get a face tattoo? Is it would that be the most awesome you sometimes we need somebody who's going to say? No. Should I really Click on this link in my email. There's there's a king in another country. He's going to send me $500,000. You know, we we we need judgment and discernment and sometimes it's you know, it's it could be much more serious weekend if you see a child abuse moment. You don't say well, who am I to judge? Do you? If you say you're someone victimizing a child or for someone you step in and it hey, this is life will not function and so to just say oh well that verse means no judging do not judge lest. Ye be judged. You can never judge me or anyone or anything as soon as we pondered if your mama's we realized you can't take it at that sort of face value. There's got to be a deeper meaning as you look into scripture and last week we talked about remember the real estate rule for reading a verse in the Bible write the three most important rules of real estate location location location. And the three most important rules of reading scripture for understanding our location location location. We talked about that last Sunday and go back and listen to the sermon online if you want. And we talked about Biblical context context of another word for location. But that means the scriptures ride around the verse you're looking at. What is the teacher or the author or that passage really talking about so you get the immediate wider Biblical context the theological context the conclusion that night that seems to be the case in these vs. How does that match with the scripture as a hole with what God teaches about if I come to a conclusion that contradicts 90% of everything else I know about in the Bible about God's character then I need a challenge myself to interpret what might be unclear in this one verse by what is clear in 3 dozen other versus until you look at the theological context and then location application context. Where do I stand in relation to the truth of the scripture? I because the Bible is not just something that we study it something that we apply and so we really not completed or honoured what it means to to study the Bible until we've said how am I responded to this? Where's my location? In relation to the truth of the scripture. And so what's the Biblical context of Matthew 7 1 and 2 when you looked immediately around it beginning and verse 6:22 you realize there's a theme as you as you skip through this chapter Jesus says, so when you give to the needy Do not announce it with trumpets as the Hypocrites do and then he teaches about that for a few moments and then a little bit later he says and when you pray do not be like the Hypocrites and then he teaches a little bit longer on that and then he says when you fast do not look somber as the Hypocrites do now if you see that three times in a row. Guess what you've got a theme. Does this passage these verses in Matthew 6 & 7 they're part of a package were Jesus's teaching to a theme or lesson sit. So you've got to put verses that you read in that context. You can't rip them out like a fortune cookie and say well there is you know, it's on the plaque. I got it, you know Chinese Christian bookstore whatever in my fortune cookie have to realize there's contacts to it. And so when you go to the verses were talking about he says do not judge or you too will be judged for the same way. You judge others, you will be judged and with the measure you use it will be measured to you and then if you continue beyond Matthew 1 into those verses that are often pulled out verse 3 says, why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye. How can you say to your brother? Let me take the speck out of your eye when all the time there is a plank in your own eye. You hypocrite first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. Now do you see how amazingly the meaning of those verses transformed? As soon as we read them in context as soon as you read the rest of what follows Matthew 7 1 and 2 do not judge lest you be judged as soon as you let Jesus finish his sentence ever say that the conversation with somebody where you're arguing something. Let me finish my sentence because we want to cut him off and say ahh. Ha that's what you mean and I say no, that's not what I mean. Let me finish my sentence we do that to Jesus. We just cut him off right in the middle of the say thank you Jesus. That'll be enough. Hush. Now I'm going to go be somebody over the head do not judge lest you be judged and she says let me finish my sentence. Don't judge hypocritically. Don't be like a person who has a blank in their eye and says, let me get that little sawdust out of your eye first. Deal with the plank in your own eye and then what? Then you'll be able to take the speck or help the other person get the f*** out of there. I what are you doing when you're doing that you're judging.

Let me help you get that Speck out of your eye, but what you're not doing is judging hypocritically and see what he saying in this verse is do not judge hypocritically later in the same passage in Matthew. Jesus continues the theme where he says watch out for false prophets, they come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. And so again he sang there are moments of judgment or the stomach. We are supposed to watch out for false prophets were not disabled can't judge. You know, there aren't looking I do this. This is judging I'm proud up there are false teachers in the world. There are there are preachers on TV who claim they're saying the truth in the name of God and they are lying Benny Hinn's a prime example. He's a heretic. It is not preach God's word. He does not preacher truthfully. He is not preach it accurately. That's appropriate calling out of a false prophet. Jesus says don't he doesn't say it. So don't judge, you know, maybe Benny's right now. He teaches stuff that clearly contradicts. I'm not talking about minor issues that I might agree with he clearly teaches the opposite of what scripture says and we need more of that in the church to be honest because sometimes that's their favorite and they watch a show and they order always books. If you don't we just don't want to be if there's time to which it is a great Act of Grace to sit down with somebody and say that somebody not to follow don't buy their books. Don't order DVDs don't value them your handkerchief so that they can pray over it and give you a miraculous healing that's a false prophet. And so there's Jesus at telling us watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing Amberly there wolves in continuous just a few verses later. That's by their fruit. You will recognize them. So we are asked to look and discern. So when when hundreds and hundreds of checks to Ministry like many hands are found yo cast and discarded the letters for prayer request never even unfolded in a dumpster. There's appropriate judgment and discernment of that sort of thing. So Jesus theme in these vs. Is more about hypocrisy than than it is judgement. He's talking about hypocrisy cuz he doesn't reject judgment completely. He says it's all about judging hypocritically. So if we look do not judge hypocritically, but do watch out discern assess judge false prophets. So now if we say what's the expanded wider theological context on judging Jesus deed in these vs. This sang Don't Judge hypocritically not don't judge at all. Then if we widen the Lambs a little bit and safe does Jesus talk about judging in in other sections of his teaching what light does that shed on understanding this verse properly? We look a little bit wider and we see that in John 7:24. Jesus says stop judging by mirror appearances, but instead judge correctly. Amazing that we just kind of operate with me. I didn't scripture say don't judge and we just got to run with that and yet when we actually look a little more fully Aquaman scripture actually says do judge to judge just don't judge hypocritically and then hear Jesus says stop judging by mere appearance, but instead judge correctly and the context of this passage where Jesus is confronted by the leadership on healing on a Sabbath and assigned to them looked and it's like the other passage in Matthew where he says you guys are straining and that you're worried about me healing on the Sabbath and you're swallowing a camel in this effort to bring that you're you're missing the big things of the law of righteousness and mercy and forgiveness and Jess's and you're worried about the little things and it's the same sort of meaning in this passage when they're saying hey you healed on the Sabbath. He said you guys don't even get it you will you will let in the passage what he says, he really said you'll let a boy be circumcised on the Sabbath even though that's technically breaking the Sabbath You're concerned about circumcision, but you're upset with me for healing someone on the Sabbath. Do you understand how you're not judging properly don't judge by mere appearance correctly. He healed. He healed Hallelujah. God has done a great thing. Who cares if it was on the Sabbath? So there's a sense of understanding priorities and discernment that Jesus is telling us should inform our judging when it occurs. Spell I know the word judging has such negative baggage in our culture. And so you can easily replace it with the word discernment because it doesn't really carry the negative baggage that our culture has given it so when I use the word judging I'm not saying yeah, we should be running around so, you know how you did wrong, but we should be people of discernment in the way. We assess things and not just accept everything. So what use is hanging that versus do not judge superficially, but do judge correctly.

Look up 1st Corinthians 5 Paul says what business is it of mine to judge those outside the church. Are you not to judge those inside?

now this is the moment a week when you can't go while I study my Bible. This is this is a know about you. But this is supporting and unraveling assumptions that we kind of operate within the life of the church. And then you actually look at scripture you go wait a minute scripture seems to be contradicting what I've known to be good church practice for many decades now, but Jesus actually says the opposite the Holy Spirit and in the authors of you test an actual say the opposite I think of what many of us have grown to believe is the standard in the life of the Church of the Christian. It's actually the opposite because I think we are tempted to say well, we judge those outside the church, but not those inside the church, but actually scripture says, who are we to judge those outside the church? And the context of this passage and I kept thinking all will the context redeem Church tradition on the way we cover used to this verse being interpreted. The context is sexual sin.

And tell me how my phone. This is just unraveling all my nice safe tidy assumptions about the subject. So Paul is confronting the Church in this passage for sexual sin within the church and the saying to them when they're worried about sexual sin outside the church. Hey, we're not to judge those outside the church by the standards of being Christians. Guess what? They're not Christians. We don't say to them. Hey, why aren't you at church? How come you didn't pray before you had your meal? Why don't you carrying your Bible with you there? Like what are you talking about your weirdo, you know, I don't follow Jesus you really just freaked it. Sometimes we so quickly judge those outside the church and sometimes it's the opposite were very hesitant to judge those inside the church. So he says do not do not judge those outside the church to judge those inside the church as I just said kind of a surprise to us. How are we to judge since we're told to judge those inside the church with humble personal transparency? That's the opposite of being hypocritical. So we don't ignore the plank and I or not deal with the blanket or I can go say. Hey, let me help you out with your send you Center instead. We have our own humility or on transparency your own awareness of our sin. And there's that there's a humbleness and a community and a relationship that comes coming to someone and saying hey, I'm worried about this in the way. I saw you behaving can we pray about it? That's the spirit in which were allowed to judge someone we focus on significantly large issues, right? Not the superficial judgment not hey, that was he had a hat on and it was in the war and I'm going to make sure I that would be like no that's like the NAT. And then we won't we will know about somebody who's doing something like significantly wrong not gossiping and then church and that's a big sense. Don't get mad at me. And this will I mean those who are you too? And so we actually don't judge inside the church. We are squeamish away from it or we judge on the little things, but actually the opposite is true. We are to judge but not a little things were to address the big things. And it's only with brothers and sisters who follow Christ that were given permission to judge. It's somebody who's already said to me Robbie like you I want to be a devoted follower of Jesus Christ. They've already given me permission to say to them. Hey, I noticed this and I see this and I have some of the same struggles. Can we pray together? Can we can I help you in that area? It's that sort of humility and transparency that scripture allows and encourages and even directs that sort of accountability. With a humble gentle restoration focused spirit is the way we are to judge others. Look at what Paul says in relationships brothers and sisters if someone is caught in sin brothers and sisters, who is he talking to the church? Angulation those who have already pre-committed together to follow Jesus Christ brothers and sisters. If someone is caught in a saint you live by the spirit should restore that person gently. Mario How Do I Do It? Some people almost like taking Glee and doing it on gently and yet scripture says here's the way you do it you do it gently but watch yourself or you also may be tempted. There's the remove the plank don't be a hypocrite be aware of your own sins have that humble transparency that said look I struggle to and I understand but I see this thing that you're caught in and how can I help you move away from that because I know like me you desire to follow Christ and we are to encourage one another in that direction. And so there is discernment carry each other's burdens Paul continues in Galatians 6 and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.

The number one reason those outside the church stay away.

churches to judgemental Set at the fair assessment you surveyed friends and family neighbors who don't want anything to do with the church. I think there's a really good chance that I don't want to answer would be his church is full of hypocrites. Church is too judgmental. That's why I stay away from the church. And sometimes when I think about my location in relation to this passage, where do we stand in relation to Biblical teaching on judging? I think just what I said earlier is the truth that we almost assume and practice the opposite of Biblical teaching in this area. Is that maybe what shapes the life of the church more than we realize when we think about it. We judge those outside the church easily and quickly and with passion. I've been at churches where they would literally say to me. We really want you to preach some good old-fashioned preaching and I would say will help me understand what that means and what it usually meant was we want you to get up and condemn everybody who's not here on Sunday morning. We want to hear a sermon about all the Sinners who aren't us and that was the good old-fashioned preaching condemning all those people out there who are sinners Jesus and they're not here.

celebration and it's easy to do that easy for me to do it easy for us to do it. I think but you realize we're doing the opposite of what scripture teaches. We're creating this Dynamic where the church is emptier and emptier because those outside the church so I don't go to church or too judgmental full of Hypocrites. And we tend to find it easy to judge those outside the church quickly and with passion you I mean I look I'm not laying this on us like some sort of blanket does everybody feel bad about themselves this morning. I do it all the time this week. I'm going to call this is like an epiphany. I should study the Bible more often. I should study it more clearly and patiently and carefully because it's challenging me and changing the I watch the news and I am very judgemental you do that. I mean, what is this world? I can't believe what is this world coming to I mean to have judgement for those outside the church just quickly and easily and with fervor and passion. I mean don't even if what if I said the word politics all man how guilty are we have just pacing back and 4th and having lots of opinions and judgments about those who are different than us. On certain issues and we kind of Judge those outside the church quickly and with passion and that's not what scripture teaches us to do. And then we resist judging as I said earlier those inside the church accountability is almost a four letter word. I mean honestly, as I said their sin sometimes going on in the church and no one will confront it. And it's almost the practice and the rule of the church that you can't discipline anymore in the life of the church. Honestly, think about it. Can you imagine what might happen if I went to someone? Especially to an older male in the church. And said, hey.

you're the you're the source of some gossip that's going on right now and I struggle with it. I understand, but you need to move in different directions. We think would happen. Let's just be honest. There a lot of built-in pride in the life of the church that says preacher or elder or Deacon or Sunday school teacher. Whoever you are. That's none of your business. You don't have the right. It's almost like we've created a culture where we have the right to do the opposite of what scripture says judge those outside the church. No one will get upset with me. If I rant about Sin in our culture about all those Sinners who are here, like I'll get a lot of that a boy is pats on the back. But if you actually sit down I thought I told you guys this I I talk to a guy at my elders Direction and now I realize they're just sucker. We knew that a guy had circulated letter to the church with false ideas about the worship leader and I was the senior Minister and they said you need to go ask him if he's the one that did it and I went to his house. He was the chairman of the Sunday school program in the superintendent. And I said, can we step outside? I was humbly with older man. I was younger and I said this may not be true at all, but they always been brought to the elders attention. They asked me to ask you if it's not true. I'll take your word face value into conversation. I'll try to be as humble as I mean, I'm not stupid. I tried to be as humble and this kind as I could and I said did you author and circulate this letter about the worship leader? And he said I will whoop your bleep bleep bleep right here in this driveway right now. That's the response of this Deacon this Godly Man elevated to a position of leadership in the church. And I fortunately had enough sense of mine to say. His name was Al I said nothing about that for a moment. Me and you rolling around in your driveway right here on the asphalt the new preacher and the sunday-school superintendent. What kind of witness is that going to be the neighborhood? I said if this is so bothersome to you that I've asked this question. I will gladly step out and you can speak directly with the elders about it and I will submit to an honor whatever their conclusion is. And so he met with the elders and told them what they could do. And to their credit they appropriately exercise church discipline and relieved him of his role, but it was a huge deal. It's almost just to be like I said if we're all honest before scripture where we stand where's the application location of the church in relation to these teaching about judging it's almost as if if we think about it, we realize hey, we've actually constructed a culture in the life of the church. That is the opposite of what Jesus asked us to do. We are quick to judge those outside the church and we are very slow and hesitant to practice accountability inside the church. And so we Empower those outside the church to look and say I'm not going full of Hypocrites. I know that Al guy he's a sunday-school superintendent. He'll he'll start a fight with it is a drop of a hat. Because we don't practice accountability in that sort of encouragement. Then we end up with church that this hypocritical at times and is quick to be judgemental of others. So what do we do if this is true?

Maybe a little South judging and repentance. Remove the plank from your own eye. So that you're more able to be this humble and honest encourager and accountability keeper and discerner and judger in the right sense of that word when it's needed in a context. So maybe you guys have done much better in your lifetime than I have and that's awesome. And I celebrate that as a fantastic thing. But if like me, there's moments when you look at these pictures you say I have not been really getting that right that I invite you to do a little self judging and repentance. Romans 1 Says you therefore have no excuse you who pass judgment on someone else for it, whatever point you judge. Another you are condemning yourself because you who pass judgment do the same things. Again, a challenging verse to hear and I looked at the wider context and it's all about sexual sin and promiscuity and the culture the very things that I could make a good living publishing my sermons and writing books and condemning the evils of our culture and the way this world going to hell in a handbasket and I can't believe the Congress voted on this and I can't believe the law got changed in this way. You'll send your money out of this web address. We will fight this culture War.

All those evil toddlers people who are daring daring to live is if they don't believe in God. Hello. I'm really stepping on my own toes because you could probably find some donation receipts in my history. Well, meaning good things but you read these vs. And you can't go. I don't know there might be some self-judgement needed in some repentance here. When you when you look a little farther the context of this verse do you say why is comfortable saying this? you go a little bit further and you find a verse that I quote all the time, and I love He says you shouldn't judge because don't you you don't want to show contempt for the riches of God's kindness and forbearance and patience. You don't realize that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance.

So, how was it? And how is it that God receives us when we send? and when we fail How did he receive you that first time? You said Lord? I suddenly have my eyes open and I repent and I need you how did he receive you?

Denise I Rise up out of the waters child cleansed and forgiven pure as snow because of the actions of my son. And how did he receive you the 1000th time later that you came to him and said Lord, I have known better, but I still struggle. I read a verse today about judging and I realize all I'm not really getting that right. I I need to repent I need your grace again. I need your forgiveness against every week when you come to the communion table. What do you receive? Disgrace this kindness and so Paul says look the grace and the kindness that you've received from God. That's what you extend to others. You are representatives of Christ on Earth.

So when someone

Is this woman at the well in her life?

Or the person along the road beaten and didn't need we can't be the one who passes by because we've got holy work to do. Or the like the disciples who say how was he talking to that woman didn't even know.

We got to be like Jesus. or the Good Samaritan that advocates Who comes and represents God's grace? His patience is forgiveness that we've received over and over. I'm going to buy to worship team to come forward.

And let's use this closing song as our own act of worship and devotion. Will be prayer folks in the front and in the back and if you have a prayer need will be available for a fee of a decision will be available for you. But use this time as a time for prayer as a time for worship. And like I said, if you need personal prayer we want to offer that to you. But also if need be as a time of repentance. A10 and focus on the Lord's goodness and his love and receive it. I mean you may have you may have had a conversation this morning with somebody that you now realize on me and I was wrong. I was the one that was wrong and that guy just lambasted somebody with judgment and I was not in the position to do that. I didn't do it humbly. I didn't do it with transparency. They weren't a brother or sister in Christ. I didn't do it with gentleness or restoration. I was singing them. You may need to repent right now.

And and you maybe somebody who gets all this already and you do it well, and then I pray that you say to yourself. How can I multiply myself how can I feel confident that I am in line with scripture and help others behave that same sort of way. How can I spread that Spirit of kindness and graciousness and restoration? How full will the church be if people said all when you screw up royally went went when you've got sand in your life when you're struggling the place you can go at the church? By the Long Center, they're still just welcome you in. I'm outside come in my child. It's okay. We all stumble We All Fall we all send. How can we help you? How can we restore you? How can we help you know the Forgiveness of Christ? How full will the church's be? Most folks think haha. I can't go to church. I can't tell my Christian friend about this. I mean the first thing that are the Judgment but looks if I go dressed like this people know immediately. I just I can't. I think like we have some repenting to do baby.

Cuz I don't know about you, but God has met with me with Grace at every turn. I'm not necessarily done that for others.

So let's remind ourselves this morning of the love of God. Receive it. Because frost a bill to give the grace of God to others we have to receive it for yourself. You can't take the sermon as some sort of punishment always right? I'm a bad person bad bad bad. I'm just going to sit here and feel bad about myself and then go home and feel bad afternoon. This sermon is a challenge and invitation to receive the Gospel yourself a new and fresh and realize God's Great Grace and love his kindness is designed to call us to turn to him. So that's right. God is good and loving and patient and forgiving even in this moment when I realize that I've been part of the problem. As soon as I have that repents in my heart, as soon as I have that realization, he meets me with kindness and Grace and forgiveness because he's inviting me to turn more fully to him. So receive his loving grace and as you receive it fully as you receive it a new every day every week at the communion table that it becomes something you can give more easily and more fully to others.

Please stand as we sing.