Passing Judgement
Notes
Transcript
We have been looking at a sermon of Jesus. Remember he is preaching to those who are hurting, suffering and oppressed that are coming out to hear Him preach. Last week we looked at His call to be merciful as our Father is merciful. Today we are going to over some other implications of being merciful.
Judging Others
Judging Others
This seems to be the favorite verse of everyone who wants to continue in sin. They have never read the bible but they know that this one is in there.
They must believe that by not judging they will escape judgment, but that’s not what this verse is saying.
What this is not:
We as believers are not supposed to be naive of the things in the faith. We are not to wink at sin and say “well I’m not supposed to judge so I can’t say if it’s wrong or not.”
Jesus is not saying remove any sort of discernment from yourself.
I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”
God is calling us to use judgement that He has given us, to discern what is right and what is wrong. Look at scripture and ask is this sin, or is it okay?
We need to realize that there is evil around us, we must call evil what it is, evil. In order to do that a judgment must be made, but it must be right judgement that is made through the lens of scripture.
Don’t make judgement based on our feelings, or what the culture says, but what scripture says.
What is the judgement that we are to stay away from?
Judgement that Jesus is speaking of is a mindset of contention and criticism.
Are you looking for the flaws in others?
Are you someone who the minute someone makes a mistake, your ready to point it out? Have you ever thought phrases like this:
“I knew they’d fall off the wagon.”
“I told you their marriage would never work.”
“Of course they don’t go to church anymore, I didn’t think their salvation was genuine.”
Are you rejoicing in the failure’s of others, if so you have the judgmental spirit that Jesus is speaking against.
Condemning is a step farther, where you have placed yourself in the seat of the judge and have ruled that they are guilty or innocent. This is a seat that none of us is worthy to hold.
This is where you look at a person and say that their is not hope, they are going to hell. Forgetting that you were deserving of death as much as them and only by the grace of God are you changed.
It isn’t because you became a better person, it isn’t because you have done good deeds. There are plenty of people who do good and are going to hell. If you have escaped the flames of justice and are headed for glory it is only because of the mercy that Jesus has shown you and grace of God working in your life.
We are called to have a mindset of mercy, a mindset of grace. That is what God has shown us.
Good measure
Good measure
Pressed down, shaken, running over. This is a measuring system for wheat. A phrase that they would use, like put the petal to the metal.
We’ve heard of the golden rule, Jesus taught the golden rule in v.31. This is the flip, saying that you get what you give.
You will inevitably attract the kind of people like you. The way that you treat people sends a signal of this is the way that I desire to be treated.
The standards and judgement’s that you hold will be held on you, why? They show what you are trusting in for your salvation.
If you are a judgmental person, then you are picking people apart according to the law, and if you are living according to the law:
I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law. You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
If you live according to the law, then you are severed from Christ.
This doesn’t mean someone who being discerning, and calling evil evil, and knowing what is right and wrong. This is someone who’s mindset is to pick apart everything that someone does.
If you realize the grace that has extended towards you, you extend that grace to others you will be judged by the grace of God for that is what your trusting in for your salvation.
Good Leadership
Good Leadership
Jesus wants the people to have a proper understanding of the things of God. Are the teachers teaching others to be merciful.
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep.
The leadership of Israel was not merciful, was not concerned of doing things God’s way.
Therefore the leadership was as effective as a blind man trying to lead another blind man, when that leader trains up a disciple, he will be just as ineffective.
Make sure that the leadership that you listen to are preaching from scripture.
A time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but will accumulate teachers to suit their own passions.
Start with self examination
Start with self examination
Criticism needs to begin with you.
Do you have sin that you need to work on before you begin to examine others lives.
Common in relationships we have, we desire the other person to change to suit us, not realizing that we ourselves need to change as well. In any relationship there are two people involved, are you doing your part, acting in a godly way to make it work?
If relationship after relationship doesn’t work, sometimes you need to ask yourself, “is it me? Am I the one who needs to work on things?”
If we are followers of Christ, we need to be loving merciful and gracious. We shouldn’t be judgmental drawing early conclusions about people. We must stand up for the truth and call sin what it is. But we must always start with an examination of ourselves.