Matthew 7:1-6 What gives you the right?

INTRODUCTION:

Turn to Matthew 7.

Raise your hand if you’ve attended church for at least five years. ten years. fifteen years. twenty years. twenty five years.

The issue Jesus addresses in our passage tonight is one that I believe individuals who’ve grown up in church specifically struggle with (and they may not even know it). Now this message can apply to you if you’re a believer or not a believer. I want everyone to pay attention to how the Spirit may be applying these verses to your heart.

Let’s begin with a question: What is the difference between morality (being moral) and spirituality? And why is the difference important? You can moral without God. You can do right things without God. You can be moral as an unbeliever. A spiritual person relies on God and seeks to be continually changed by Him and led by Him.

Here’s the difference: The moral person knows it’s a good thing to feed the poor so he goes out and feeds the homeless. A spiritual person knows what Jesus says about showing compassion and love to others and therefore feeds the poor/homeless as an act of compassion whereby he may show Christ’s love.

The moral person knows it’s good to come to church and listen to the sermon. The spiritual person listens to the sermon to be changed and transformed by God and His Word.

And I’m afraid that many kids, teens, and adults who’ve grown up in church adopt morality instead of spirituality. They can do good and look good, but inside they aren’t really good or being changed by God. This leads them to develop a critical spirit. A spirit that judges, criticizes, and condemns those around them. A spirit that causes them to think they are better than others because they are “moral.” But here’s the sad truth about these people that we’ll see throughout our lesson: A critical spirit is a greater offense to God than the very sins it loves to expose.

Before we get started in our passage, I just want to be very real with you: This is something that I struggle with. As I was preparing this lesson, I had to ask God to forgive me of being judgmental or critical. And here’s the truth: I see this sin in some of you. I want us all to be aware of our own sin tonight. I want us all to allow the Scriptures to speak to ourselves, not the person across the room or sitting next to us.

So let’s get into it…

JUDGE NOT. (vs. 1-2)

Matthew 7:1–2 KJV 1900

1 Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Jesus makes an emphatic statement — Do not judge!

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO JUDGE? (vs.1)

What does Jesus specifically mean when he tells us here to not judge? Can anyone give an example?

Let me illustrate for us:

*give an illustration about motive.

When Jesus makes this statement concerning judging, what he’s really concerned about is our motive. Jesus is condemning the self-righteous spirit. Self-righteousness is a feeling of superiority, and a feeling that we are all right while others are not / a spirit that is always ready to express itself in a derogatory manner / a tendency to despise others.

I want you to examine yourselves honestly. Does what I just say describe you? This can be seen in how you participate with others (cliques) and how you converse with others. You are not seeing the best in people, but rather hoping for the worst. You can take a compliment and turn it into an offense (some of you do that regularly). Another way this can be seen is through gossip. You talk about others in a negative light behind their backs.

What’s worse is that you can’t even see that you’re this person, but everyone else does. Some of you in this room are this person. And maybe you can’t see it because you surround yourselves with other critical spirits.

I want you to take an honest look in the mirror. Are you this person?

But Jesus continues to describe the danger and pitfall of being this kind of person.

WHAT IS THE STANDARD BY WHICH WE JUDGE? (vs.2)

The critical individual makes themselves the standard by which others should be critiqued. We’ll see in a moment why this is a problem. But think with me for a moment: How might this be the case?

When you listen to someone preach and think they should have preached the passage a different way, you are saying that you know the best way to preach. No, you’re just critical.

When you sneer or mock or decline to participate in an event, game, or activity because younger kids are participating and having too much fun with a silly game, you are claiming you are more mature and sophisticated then them and know how to properly carry yourself. No, you’re just critical.

When you choose to not sing or fully participate during church services because you don’t want to be one of those emotional people who always cries or is moved by songs, you are claiming you are better than those other people. No, you’re just critical.

When you talk about others behind their backs critiquing their relationships, their decisions, or their style choices, you’re claiming that you know what’s cool, accepted, or the right choice. No, you’re just critical.

Guess what?! I see this kind of attitude almost every time we gather together as a youth group. And you know what? It scares me for you or those individuals who are “self-righteous.” Why? Because you think you are the standard. You think you know what’s best. You’ve got all the answers. Essentially, you’re perfect. If that’s your attitude, then I’m deeply concerned for you. There are some in this room who I feel this way about.

When we set ourselves as the standard there’s several things that happen.

No one will be honest with you because you’re not honest with yourself/them.

“The pious fellowship permits no one to be a sinner.” — Bonhoeffer

If you are the self-righteous, overly critical individual, no one will confess their sin to you or seek help from you. This is a scary place to be. And it’s anti-Christian.

You will be held to your own standard.

Romans 2:1 KJV 1900

1 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.

“You are proving, says Paul, by your judging of others that you know what is right; so, if you do not do that which is right, you are condemning yourself.” — M.L. Jones

For those who are critical and judgmental… You could never measure up to your standard for others.

And that’s the point. Judgement and critique are reserved for one person: God. So then, what is the standard by which we judge? God’s standard — perfection. If that’s true, then we all fall short.

Look around. Every person in this room deserves judgment. We do not live up to God’s standards. Even if you try really hard, you could never and will never live up to God’s standard of perfection. We deserve judgment and one day, we will receive judgment. We will stand before God and he will judge our lives. He knows every sin, seen and unseen. He knows the wicked hearts of the self-righteous. He knows the promiscuous deeds of the vilest of sinners. He knows it all. God will not except our measly attempts at good works. His expectation is far better and greater. The only way to escape the judgment and wrath of God is outside of ourselves. It’s through Jesus.

Maybe you’re sitting here and you’ve never accepted Christ as your Savior. Know this: There will come a day when you will be judged for your works. And no man’s works will ever measure up to God’s standard. And it’s by God’s standard we will be judged. But Jesus through his perfect life, death, and resurrection exchanges our works for his perfect works. Believing on Christ allows you to meet God’s standard of perfection. I would love to talk with anyone here who is not yet a believer.

Maybe you’re sitting here and you’re a believer. You sometimes struggle with being self-righteous and critical, but that is not a habit you live in. I want you thinking about the song we sang, Jesus Thank You. The truth that we don’t measure up, but Jesus did for us should be the fuel for your worship. We were once enemies of God, but now we’re seated at his table. Thank you Jesus! We should live in an attitude of thankfulness.

Maybe you’re sitting here and you’re the self-righteous. You think you live up to God’s standards. Or worse, you hold others to your own standard. You’re in a dangerous place. You’ve assumed power that only belongs to God. You’ve removed yourself from judgment. Yet, God alone sits above judgment. You should listen very carefully to Jesus’s next words.

Jesus instructs his followers to judge themselves before they judge others.

JUDGE YOURSELF. (vs.3-5)

Matthew 7:3–5 KJV 1900

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 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? 5 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.

There’s two types of people Jesus describes in these verse: mote-seekers and beam excavators. Let’s look at these.

MOTE-SEEKERS (vs.3-4)

They are primarily concerned with the sin of others, while ignorant of their own sin.

Jesus seems to be conflating the sin of the self-righteous to a beam, while the sin of the recipient of judgment to a speck. Why do you think that Jesus is so serious in condemning the self-righteous?

The self-righteous perceive they have no need for God. Sinners realize their need for God. Do you see the danger of being in this position?

Imagine a man with a telephone pole sticking out of his eye trying to perform delicate surgery on someone else’s eyelid. Every time he leans in to help, he knocks the other person flat. It’s ridiculous—but that’s exactly the picture Jesus paints.

Notice the motive of the self-righteous. They condemn others’ sins to cover up their own.

It’s like someone whose car engine is billowing smoke pulling over to scold another driver for a smudge on their windshield. They can’t see their own disaster because they’re too busy pointing at someone else’s dust.

Jesus calls these people hypocrites. They are pretending to be someone they are not. They are pretending to be righteous when they in fact are not.

Some of you are mote-seekers. You pull out the magnifying glass to examine everyone else’s lives for little tiny specks of sin, while ignorant of your own giant mess of sin in your own life. How rude. How absurd. How anti-Christian.

God forgives sinners, not condemns them. Let’s have the attitude of Christ, and the attitude of Beam Excavators.

BEAM EXCAVATORS (vs.5)

They stay honest about their own sin and live in repentance, so they can genuinely help others do the same.

“When a man has truly seen himself he never judges anybody else in the wrong way.” — M.L. Jones

This person’s motive in confronting another about their sin is restoration not humiliation.

“You should be humble, you should be sympathetic, you should be so conscious of your own sin and your own unworthiness, that when you find it in another, far from condemning, you feel like weeping.” —M.L. Jones

Galatians 6:1 KJV 1900

1 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.

Consider yourself. Do identify with others in their sin. A beam excavators recognizes his own sin, removes it, and is overjoyed to find the forgiveness and love of Christ that he compels others to do the same.

Remember Paul…

1 Timothy 1:12–17 KJV 1900

12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul, the self-proclaimed chiefest of all sinners was the platform through which Christ’s love and forgiveness was demonstrated and then extended to others.

“When our hearts are occupied with His wondrous love, we remember that He loved us when we were unlovely, and some of us are not very unlovely now; we remember that He loved us when we were unlovable, and some of us are not very lovable yet. If He could do that when we were rebellious, and if that same love is now shed abroad in our hearts, we ought to be able to love those who are sinful and unkind and selfish.” — H.A. Ironside

This is what it means to be a Christian: Those who’ve received mercy extend mercy. Those who’ve received love extend love.

To be a mote-seeker is the opposite of what Jesus calls his disciples to be. I believe the last verse gives a warning via an illustration to those who interact with the self-righteous.

ILLUSTRATION (vs.6)

Matthew 7:6 KJV 1900

6 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.

He says, to those who are sensitive concerning their sin and have a desire to help others out of their sin, Jesus leaves a warning: Some will reject the priceless truths of Scripture, blinded by their own self-righteousness.

Proverbs helps us understand this a little better:

Proverbs 9:7–8 KJV 1900

7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: And he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

To put it simply — it’s like talking to a brick wall. Honestly, it seems like some of you are in this place. Nothing from Scripture, myself, or your parents will correct your course. You are self-righteous mote-seekers, concerned with only the sin of others.

CONCLUSION

Here’s my plea to us all:

Let’s all be open an honest about ourselves. Let’s make ENGAGE gatherings a place where we can be sinners / not comfortable in our sin, but comfortable to confess and repent of our sin to one another.

Leaders, lets lead with an honesty about our struggles that allows the teens to feel comfortable expressing their struggles.

Teens, lets interact with one another in ways that individuals feel comfortable expressing how they struggle. Let’s not laugh, mock, or gossip about those who honestly confess our struggles.

Juniors and seniors, let’s lead the way in confessing our struggles to one another.

Let’s all stop pretending. You are not perfect. No of us are.

Let’s all look to Jesus. Let’s thank him and praise him for continuing to rescue us out of our sin both at salvation and each and every day!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Why do you think it’s easier to notice the “specks” in other people’s lives than the “beams” in our own? How can we become more aware of our own blind spots?

In what ways do we sometimes set ourselves up as the standard for others, instead of looking to God’s standard? What are some subtle ways this might show up in a youth group or church setting?

Jesus warns in Matthew 7:6 that some will reject truth because of their self-righteousness. How can we stay humble and receptive when others lovingly point out sin in our lives?

PRAYER PROMPTS

Prayer of Self-Examination: “Lord, show me the beams in my own life that I’ve ignored. Help me see myself clearly so I can walk humbly and honestly before You.”

Prayer for a Merciful Spirit: “Jesus, You extended mercy to me when I didn’t deserve it. Help me extend that same mercy and grace to others instead of judging or criticizing them.”

Prayer for Soft Hearts: “Father, keep my heart tender to Your truth. Protect me from self-righteousness, and make me quick to repent, slow to judge, and eager to help others with gentleness.”