KING | PART 20 | CRITICAL

Critical: It is critical that we learn the difference between judging critically and discerning spritually and putting that into practice.

SCRIPTURE:

Matthew 7:1–6 NKJV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Introduction:

Today we start with our last verse because it very pertinent to the principles that Jesus is teaching. When you listen to this verse alone, it may not make as much sense. But in context , it brings a huge spiritual revelation.

A. God’s Way is Different

Isaiah 55:7–9 NKJV

7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Gods ways lead to the unexpected pathways

Kingdom principles are rooted in God’s Nature, not our own.

We must Trust the higher perspective and purpose of God which supercedes our local interests, motivations and reasoning

B. We must avoid argument and invite Insight

2 Timothy 2:23 NKJV

23 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

1 Corinthians 2:13–15 NKJV

13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.

anakrinó: To examine, to investigate, to question, to judge

Original Word: ἀνακρίνω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anakrinó Pronunciation: ah-nah-kree'-no Phonetic Spelling: (an-ak-ree'-no) KJV: ask, question, discern, examine, judge, search  NASB: examined, appraised, asking questions, examine, examining, appraises, called to account Word Origin: [from G303 (ἀνά - each) and G2919 (κρίνω - judge)]

This means a spiritual person has the assistance of the Holy Spirit. They can rightly see and discern realities while others in the natural are spiritually blind. This is not a judgement of opinion but of spiritual Truth. Therefore, those without the Holy Spirit cannot rightfully judge the deeper realities of existence and spiritual truth.

So this morning as we cover a highly debated and opined topic, we must erase the opinions and insights of the culture and the world.

Clean your pallette of presuppositions and approach this text with a fresh perspective

I. Discernment Vs. Condemnation (Criticism) What Jesus is NOT saying

This calls for us to know the difference between discernment and condemnation.

Discernment Vs Condemnation (expound)

John 7:24 NKJV

24 Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”

Things Jesus is NOT Saying!

That Christians should ignore improper behavior

That we should not be able to say a thing or behavior is wrong

That our lives should be lived without correction or accountability

In fact the Jesus is saying quite the opposite. Let’s take a look at:

1 Corinthians 6:1–5 NKJV

1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? 2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? 4 If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? 5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?

6 When one of you has something against someone else in your group, why do you go to the judges in the law courts? The way they think and live is wrong. So why do you let them decide who is right? Why don’t you let God’s holy people decide who is right? 2 Don’t you know that God’s people will judge the world? So if you will judge the world, then surely you can judge small arguments like this. 3 You know that in the future we will judge angels. So surely we can judge life’s ordinary problems. 4 So if you have such matters to be judged, why do you take them to those who are not part of the church? They mean nothing to you. 5 I say this to shame you. Surely there is someone in your group wise enough to judge a complaint between two believers. 6 But now one believer goes to court against another, and you let people who are not believers judge their case!

Romans 16:17–18 NKJV

17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. 18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Expound

II. What Jesus IS Saying

Matthew 7:1 NKJV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged.

To this point we have been watching Jesus user kingdom principles in the beatitudes and sermon on the mount to turn the broken religious system on it’s head and show us a better way.

He is dealing with a culture where the Pharisees are more self-righteous than righteous. Remember that the heart of the matter is, it’s the heart that matters. We see a narrative among the Pharisees that their actions are not done with a point of genuine concern and pureness toward God.

Jesus wants to break down a false form of righteousness that comes from performative religion and introduce us to true living.

Power Principle: When one becomes self righteous, one becomes self defeating

When we trust in our own righteousness we are defeated before we even begin. Since the self-righteous person creates the standard, they place themselves in the true standard bearers seat and begin to sit in a spirit of condemnation.

The Pharisees were automatically assigning value to people based on a false presumption that they were somehow better.

Mark 2:15–17 NKJV

15 Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed Him. 16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

You can hear the disdain in their tone. Jesus even addresses their self righteous spirit in Luke 18:9-14. This text says they despised others. They did not pay attention to the wrongs of others out of concern for their well being. They did it to make themselves feel superior.

As we continue today we must take not that there is more than one word for judge. This is important to know in scripture.

Lexical Summarykrinó: To judge, to decide, to determine

Original Word: κρίνω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: krinó Pronunciation: kree'-no Phonetic Spelling: (kree'-no) KJV: avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think  NASB: judge, judged, judges, decided, judging, trial, determined Word Origin: [perhaps a primary word] 1. (properly) to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially) 2. (by implication) to try, condemn, punish

Strong's Exhaustive Concordancedecree, determine, judge

Properly, to distinguish, i.e. Decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish -- avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think. 

HELPS Word-studies

2919 krínō – properly, to separate (distinguish), i.e. judge; come to a choice(decision, judgment) by making a judgment – either positive (a verdict in favor of) or negative (which rejects or condemns).

III. What type of Judgement to avoid

So we know that all forms of discernment and judgement are not prohibited. The enemy sneaks in mindsets to make us turn off our discernment and be dull to improper ideaologies and behaviors. However, there is a type of judgement Jesus warns us against:

Self Righteous Judgement

Self Righteous judgement is unbalanced and delivers a sentence without consideration for our own frailty.

Harsh unforgiving judgement that is devoid of compassion and forgiveness.

Vs 2. We must remember the standard we use to judge others we will ourselves receive both in this life in the next. God will treat us the same way we treat others?

When you judge do you put emphasis on the purpose or the punishment?

The purpose is to identify and fortify. Proper judgement helps us to discern harmful weights, sins and behaviors.

This allows us to address these things for both the good of the offender, the offended and the surrounding community.

Vs 5 Sins distorts how we see things. It affects our perceptions. We cannot truly be a help to ourselves. If we truly desire to help others let our own lives be the example.

A. Judgements that Determine Another’s Motives

1 Corinthians 2:11 NKJV

11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.

B. Judging out of Spite

Romans 12:17–21 NKJV

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Peter 3:9 NKJV

9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

C. Judging without full context, arguing or full information

Proverbs 18:17 NIV

17 In a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.

Proverbs 18:13 NKJV

13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him.

D. Judge according to non-biblical or extra biblical standards

Colossians 2:16–17 NKJV

16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.