Sermon on the Mount 9 - Judging

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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.

Mat. 7.1-

Judge Not, That you be not judged

There are few verses quoted more often than

And few verses more misunderstood

This verse must be read in context; vs. 1-6 go together

The theme here is avoiding hypocrisy

Jesus is not instructing us to be neutral in our values and morality

It is not an instruction to suspend human observation, reasoning and wise decision making

In fact, Judgement is a dominant theme of chapter 7

It is rather an admonition to be aware that in the same way we judge others we also are judged

So we could read: Judge not if you don’t want to be judged likewise

Imagine someone offering you rotten, obviously contaminated food

You consider rejecting it but then remember: I am not supposed to judge

Imagine selecting a spouse without judging his or her suitability

In fact Jesus clearly instructs us to make right judgments:

John 7:24 NKJV

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

With what judgement you judge you shall be judged:

the measure you use will be measured back to you

The same standards you use to judge others will be used on you

the same measure, of judgement or grace that you apply to others will be applied to you

James 2:13

James 2:13 NKJV

13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.

James 1:27 KJV 1900

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

This is a tremendous problem among people: we are very quick to condemn others, to be angry with others, to hold grudges for the very things that we ourselves do

how many people are angry and complain about others are doing

do you slack at work and then complain about poor service you receive?

Do you take advantage of others but complain when you are cheated?

Do you get angry when others make mistakes and then expect mercy when you do the same?

We so rarely see ourselves through the same lens we judge others

Remove the plank from you own eye

So Jesus gives us this preposterous example

and optometrist with a 2x4 protruding from his eye

Hypocrite! first repent of your own sin!

So the point is hypocrisy.

We must first repent ourselves before we can correct others

We must not condemn others for doing the very things we have been forgiven for

Remember the story from

So many people once they are saved despise the people they used to sin with

we must despise the sin, without condemning the people

(Share example from Youth Group)

Do not Give what is holy to the dogs!

We must make a judgement in order to comply with this instruction

Jesus keeps the teaching in context, so should we

Just because we do not condemn the sinners does not mean we agree with them

We must depart from wickedness

Romans 6:2 NKJV

2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them

Ephesians 5:11 NKJV

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

So we speak the truth in love, always in love

But we must Judge (discern) between good and evil

Hebrews 5:14 NKJV

14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

must discern who are the “dogs” He is referring to, and what is Holy

Judge with Righteous Judgement!

Those claiming “Only God can Judge me” are declaring an awesome truth

It is amazing they declare such a truth, and then live as though they will not be judged

We shall all give an account for the things done in this body

Do you look forward to judgement? Or dread it?

1 Thessalonians 5:3–10 NKJV

3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

Judge Rightly

Judge Rightly