Clear-Sighted Christianity

Text: Matthew 7:1-5

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (05/06/01)

Introduction:   

A Bleary-Eyed Believer sees the faults of others, but is oblivious to his own.

The Clear-Sighted Christian sees his own faults and judges himself the harshest.

We need more Clear-Sighted Christians!!  It will make our homes different, our church, and our world as a result of our witness & testimony for Christ.

This passage is used by some to rule out any form of man’s judgment as unbiblical, unloving and hypocritical.

Others use it as a basis to suggest that the formation and expression of opinions concerning the character and conduct of others is wrong.

This is most definitely not what this passage teaches.

God has raised up leaders throughout human history to judge His people.

Moses,  Prophets, Priests and Kings.

There is a book in the Bible named “Judges”

Deuteronomy 16:18  Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

John 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

These verses do not mean that a child of God is forbidden to judge others, but it does mean that we are not to judge the inward motives of others in the sense of condemning them.

We do not know or understand why a brother in Christ does a certain thing. We see only outward acts.

We are not to judge hastily, harshly, or presumptuously.  Not without consideration of our own sinfulness.

We are not to pass judgment on others which is unfounded, unjust, or unkind.

It is not wrong to notice the fault of another, but it is wrong to see that fault while ignoring our own great faults.

The Key Phrase in this passage is “and then shalt thou see clearly” vs.5

1 Corinthians 11:31  For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

Seeing clearly speaks of vision that is sharp, penetrating and focused.

I. Those Who Judge Will Be Judged vs.1

JUDGE – krino - to assume the position of judge, to condemn

This is the same principle only in reverse as found in….

Matthew 5:7  Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

It is divine “poetic” justice. 

Deuteronomy 19:18-19  And the judges shall make diligent inquisition: and, behold, if the witness be a false witness, and hath testified falsely against his brother;

19  Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother: so shalt thou put the evil away from among you.

ILLUS: Haman

A. Who Will Judge?

1. Others will harshly judge the one who has a reputation for harsh judgment.

The point is that if you are harsh in your judgments of others, you will be known as the type of person who is severe in his considerations of others.

Perhaps you have heard it said, "Don't pay any attention to what so and so says; he never has a good word to say." You see, he is being judged by the way he judges.

2. Ultimately it is God that will Judge.

God will deal with us as we have dealt with others.

Matthew 6:15  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

This is the more important and sobering truth of our text.

LOOK UP & READ Romans 2:1-3

1 Corinthians 4:4-5  For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

5  Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

B. Where are misjudgments likely to take place?

These are many times mutual misjudgments

1. Between new converts and old disciples.

2. Between church officers and church members

3. Between believers and non believers

4. Between husbands and wives/parents and children

II. You Will Be Judged In The Same Spirit & By The Same Standard With Which You Have Judged Others vs.2

MEASURE – the image here is from the ancient marketplace.

The measure is a graduated rod or rule for measuring; a standard.

That standard could be genuine or it could become corrupted.

Proverbs 11:1  A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

A crooked measuring rule makes even straight things to appear crooked.

“Measured to you again”  - measured in return.

ILLUS: David – II Samuel 12

III. An Example Of The Wrong Spirit & Standard In Judgment vs.3-5

A. The Illustration

MOTE – A bit of dried stick, tiny straw or bit of wool, a splinter, a fragment of material that a bird would use in building its nest.  That which typically may fly into the eye by means of the wind.

BEAM – A cross beam, girder or rafter of a house, fulfills the purpose of supporting the structure.  Typically must be put in place.

The "log" is the spirit of criticism and prejudice.

B. The Application

Scripture is often applied through means of principle.   There are several important principles in our text today.

1. We are quicker to see our brother’s fault than we are to see our own fault.

The verse may reflect our attitude…

Faults in others I clearly see.

Praise the Lord, There’s none in me.

Sometimes great diligence and effort are given to looking for faults in others.

BEHOLDEST – Intent, earnest contemplation, to consider or scrutinize closely.

Do you have an eagle eye for the faults of others?

Some will expend the greatest energy in identifying and severely condemning the faults of others, but have little left to be consumed with their own.

We tend to minimize our own faults while magnifying those of others.

ILLUS: We notice the pimple of another but are oblivious to the tumors in our own body.

This is the height of hypocrisy.  Where hypocrisy includes both pretense (to be fault-free) and self deception.

2. We are in no position to help our brother until we have received help.

If we attempt to help otherwise we may inflict greater damage than existed before our attempt to “help”.

PULL OUT – To draw out with force, to tear out.

Galatians 6:1  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.

We have to live with one another!!!

How would we want to be thought of, spoken about, etc.

We must see ourselves, not as others see us, but as we see others.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

3. We must reserve the greater attention, effort and ruthlessness in dealing with our own faults.

CONSIDEREST – To perceive clearly, to understand fully.

Proverbs 15:32  He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

4. It is best to judge ourselves strictly and others leniently.

An ancient Roman writer is credited with the following:

“I think him best and most faultless, who pardons others as if he himself sinned every day, yet abstains from sins as if he pardoned no one”

Conclusion:     (Review)

Here are four good guidelines for judgment.

1. Judge no man unless it is your duty to do so.

2. As much as possible judge the offence and not the offender.

3. Confine your judgments to the earthly side of faults, and leave there relation to God, to Him who sees the heart.

4. Never judge at all without remembering your own sinfulness.