The Scoop on Judging

Introduction

Matthew 2. Paradigmatic Preaching: The Sermon on the Mount (5:1–7:29)

“Judge” (krinō) can imply to analyze or evaluate as well as to condemn or avenge. The former senses are clearly commanded of believers (e.g., 1 Cor 5:5; 1 John 4:1), but the latter are reserved for God. Even on those occasions when we render a negative evaluation of others, our purposes should be constructive and not retributive.

Read Passage of Scripture

Matthew 7:1–6 ESV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. 3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

1. Believers ought to guard against the spirit of judgmentalism.

Matthew 7:1–2 ESV

1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Judgementalism is the “quality of being judgemental; overly critical or moralistic behaviour.”

Think of it as “having or displaying an excessively critical point of view.”

For some reason, it is easier to jump to negative conclusions about people than it is to assume the best about them. When we do this, we ascribe to them bad intentions and evil purposes that may not be true. We also reveal something about ourselves, for the faults we see in others are actually are reflection of our own.

In his little book Illustrations of Bible Truth, H. A. Ironside pointed out the folly of judging others. He related an incident in the life of a man called Bishop Potter.

“He was sailing for Europe on one of the great transatlantic ocean liners. When he went on board, he found that another passenger was to share the cabin with him. After going to see the accommodations, he came up to the purser’s desk and inquired if he could leave his gold watch and other valuables in the ship’s safe. He explained that ordinarily he never availed himself of that privilege, but he had been to his cabin and had met the man who was to occupy the other bed. Judging from his appearance, he was afraid that he might not be a very trustworthy person.

The purser accepted the responsibility for the valuables and remarked, ’It’s all right, bishop, I’ll be very glad to take care of them for you. The other man has been up here and left his for the same reason!’“

Both men, jumped to distrust based off what they saw on the outside of each man. They assumed they knew all there was needed to know based off one experience.

Those who are quick to judge and quick to assume the worst in others are often drawn to that assumption because they carry the weight of their own imperfections or baggage into life’s situations.

a. The harm of a judging spirit of distrust.

As someone who struggles with self-doubt, it is real easy for me to get in my head and allow satan to run wild with my own thoughts. With swiftness like lightning, I am questioning everything including the motives of those around me. Living in a state of judgmental distrust of others is no way to live! It’s debilitating.

Do you want to know what is awesome though?

Application:

When I surrender that self-doubting to the Lord and allow Jesus to begin working in my own heart. The spirit of judgmentalism lifts off my heart and mind and I see the good in all around me.

Granted, there are people in this world who are not trustworthy. They are constantly lying and deceiving others. They seek only their own interests and harm others around them.

Jesus isn’t saying we are not to be careful and wise with how we interact and socialize with people. But those who are trustworthy, we cannot have a spirit of distrust. Because we will never have longterm meaningful relationships if we are not willing to let people into our lives because we distrust them.

Three things followers of Christ have that others do not:

1) We love each other!

Mark 12:31 ESV

31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

2) We encourage and build up each other!

1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV

11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

3) We fellowship regularly with each other!

1 John 1:3 (ESV)

3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

b. The harm of a judging spirit of self-righteousness.

An even more dangerous kind of judging spirit is the self-righteous kind.

It is rooted in selfishness. It is an idea that our actions and struggles are less severe and even nonexistent compared to the person receiving the judgmental attitude from us.

For example, let’s say we find out a person has an eating disorder. They struggle with understanding why God didn’t give them a perfect body and they have chosen to try and make up for it through not eating. Another person struggles with stress eating, so when feeling under pressure they turn to foods to comfort them and they gain weight because of it.

Are these struggles types of sins? Yes, they are but they are not greater than the person who is lying about doing their homework. Or not spending time with Jesus daily in reading their Bible. Or the group of people who are gossiping and talking about other people, or any other sin.

We must recognize that our struggles with sin are not minimal sins. Our consequences for our sins might look different on earth, but in God’s eyes even the smallest of offenses leads to an eternity separated from God.

Once we see how great God is in forgiving us of our sin, we no longer judge with a spirit of self-righteousness. Instead, we pray and ask God to redeem and give us and others victory over our struggles with sin.

Not only do Believers need to guard against the spirit of judgmentalism,

2. Believers need to tend to their own spiritual shortcomings.

Matthew 7:3–5 ESV

3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

Jesus recognized that we are prone to criticize, even point out issues in other people while ignoring our own gapping holes in our lives.

Jesus describes the issue of sin in other people as a speck, signifying an issue but a minor one. Where as the description of sin in our own life is described as a log! It is a great hinderance to us. It even prevents us from seeing clearly to help out the friend in need!

Yet, here is the deeper truth of the matter, the splinter in that friend is a log for them while our struggle is a speck to them. In other words, we need to first focus on our own spiritual struggles before ever addressing spiritual issues in someone else!

Does that mean we are to never point out an area of spiritual sin or weakness to another person?

Of course not! That is where Matthew 7:5 comes into focus.

Jesus says first of all the one who has unconfessed sin but is trying to correct others is a hypocrite; which should way heavy, we desperately need to keep our lives surrendered to Jesus. If we aren’t examining our lives and praying for the Lord to reveal areas we are falling short in so we can confess them and grow closer to the Lord, we are missing a huge blessing and opportunity to grow in Christlikeness!

The second aspect is that once we have our hearts right with the Lord, we lovingly and gently help others in areas of their lives that they are struggling in!

Our pursuit isn’t to judge them but to confront and attempt to restore others who have erred!

We see this in practice in Galatians 6:1

Galatians 6:1 ESV

1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Did you catch the three keys to this process?

Those who are spiritual should restore the fallen believer.

Those who are restoring a fallen believer do it in gentleness.

Those who are restoring examine their own lives to guard from falling too.

The key is a heart of humility! We recognize that we too are easily ensnared in the grasp of sin’s temptation. Thus, we lovingly and humbly point people to the grace and forgiveness of God and call people to live repentant lives!

We have seen that believers ought to guard against the spirit of judgmentalism and believers need to tend to their own spiritual shortcomings. What if a person refuses Christ-centered correction?

3. Believers need to know when to move on.

Matthew 7:6 ESV

6 “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

After addressing the issues of hypocritical judging and the need to help others once we have address our own sinfulness with the Lord. Jesus gives instruction to those who are living for the Lord, to not give holy things to those that are dogs and pigs. Two creatures that were not welcome in Jesus’s day and age.

The dogs were wild and feral, unfriendly, and even dangerous.

Jews didn’t eat pork. Pigs were unclean animals that were not fit to be eaten. Pigs are extremely destructive.

Who then is Jesus talking about when he compares them to these wild dogs and pigs?

He is talking about people that are extremely combative and has repeatedly refused reproof and godly instruction.

What is clear, is that “Jesus is obviously not telling his followers not to preach to certain kinds of people, but he does recognize that after sustained rejection and reproach, it is appropriate to move on to others (cf. Paul’s regular practice in Acts—e.g., 13:46; 18:6; 19:9)”

Acts 13:46 ESV

46 And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

Acts 18:6 ESV

6 And when they opposed and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am innocent. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”

Acts 19:9 ESV

9 But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus.

In other words share Jesus widely and regularly with people but there comes a time we move our attention to sharing Jesus with someone else.

We can continue to pray for that person but we shouldn’t make our conversations combative with them.

Conclusion/Application

What is the main take away from this passage?

We need to be mindful of our own struggles and tendency to sin.

We need to regularly examine our own life and heart for areas we have allowed sin to take over and give it to the Lord.

We need to lovingly, gently, and boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus with others.

And we need to recognize that some people we simply must move on from sharing the gospel with because of their hostility towards the good news and loving correction from God’s Word.

The Cookie Thief

A woman was waiting at an airport one night. With several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shop, Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop. She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see, That the man beside her, as bold as could be, Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between, Which she tried to ignore, to avoid a scene. She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock, As the gutsy “cookie thief!” diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, Thinking, “If I wasn’t so nice, I’d blacken his eye!” With each cookie she took, he took one, too. When only one was left, she wondered what he’d do. With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh, He took the last cookie and broke it in half. He offered her half, as he ate the other. She snatched it from him and thought, “Oh brother, This guy has some nerve, and he’s also rude, Why, he didn’t even show any gratitude!” She had never known when she had been so galled, And sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate, Refusing to look back at the “thieving ingrate.” She boarded the plane and sank in her seat, Then sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise. There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes! “If mine are here,” she moaned with despair, “Then the others were his and he tried to share!” Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief!

What area in your life is the Log preventing you from being a faithful messenger of the gospel message to others? Will you give it to the Lord today?

Who is the Lord laying on your heart that you need to share the good news of Jesus Christ with?