June 25, 2020
We are going to spend the next two weeks together as a church reading Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount! The Sermon on the Mount is the first of Jesus’ major teachings recorded in the gospel of Matthew. In it, Jesus explains the ethics and values of the kingdom of Heaven as opposed to the ethics and values of the world. The values and principles that are to govern our lives as followers of Jesus and citizens of the kingdom of Heaven are wildly different from those that govern the various cultures of our world, including the culture in which we live.
Over the next two weeks, allow the words of the Lord Jesus to challenge the way you think, expose the worldly and idolatrous values and desires of your heart, and transform you to live in the new way that He has laid before us!
Jesus’ statement “Judge not, that you be not judged” is one of the most misused and abused verses of Scripture in the entire Bible! Those of the world, as well as many within the church, take that verse and understand it to mean that we are not to judge the actions of another person; their choices are their choices, and who are we to judge them? After all, we’re sinners too, right?
What Jesus is saying is not that we are to withhold all evaluation towards the actions of others, but that we are not to evaluate them with undue harshness, with a prideful, self-righteous attitude towards them. Jesus says that “with the measure you use it will be measured to you”: what Jesus is warning us about here is that the same standard we use for judging the actions of others will also be used to judge our actions, so we had better take a good, long look at our own hearts before we pronounce judgment on anyone else!
Jesus is, once again, going after the hearts of His audience here, warning them against hypocritical, self-righteous attitudes towards others. He tells us that we are to judge the actions of others, but only in order to help them in their journey towards holiness and only after we have come to terms with the reality of our own brokenness and sin!
Jesus calls us to recognize that, apart from the mercies of God, we are in the exact same boat as every other sinner on the planet. We have nothing and are nothing apart from him, so we have nothing in ourselves to feel prideful or self-righteous about! We are called to humble ourselves before the Lord and before others, acknowledging the reality of our inadequacy and sin; only then are we in the right position to help others in their struggle!
Matthew 7:1-6
Judging Others
7 “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.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Family Discussion Question:
- Why is this passage so often misinterpreted? How does a humble acknowledgment of our own need for God’s grace free us to help others experience it?
Dear Heavey Father,
We are indeed going through trying times. We need to surround ourselves with like minded people who possess a love for others and You, Lord. Together we can lift each other up and humbly help others as we branch out together to help save this fallen world. We all have sinned and fall way short of the glory of God. We are only who we are by the grace of You, Lord. Help us to not judge others for we are all imperfect beings. Without You, we are nothing. Lead us in the paths of righteousness in Your name sake. Amen.
Amen. May you Lord be glorified by our words and actions.
“I am the vine. You are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15: 5
Father, thank you for being active in my life. May I hide your word in my heart so I might not sin against you. Father, the light of your son who shines through me may hurt those hiding in darkness. Guide me in the proper use of your light, may I use it to help one more find the path to you and your son.
Lord, help me in this area of judging others. Help me to be aware of how I am looking at others and let me follow the principles in Your Word.
AMEN and HALLELUJAh!!! Lord help me not to judge others. I do try not to be judgmental. I try to see the best in people. There is another saying don’t judge a book by it’s cover. We are suppose to see the good in each other. I want to see how I can show others to turn to you. I need your help in every situation in my life. Cover me with your love and give me the strength to honor you and lead me to your salvation. I ask this in Jesus name Amen
This passage me think of a statement I heard Pastor Scott Riling share in a message about ten years ago: As Christians, we are not to be judgmental, but we are to use wise judgment.
Great distinction! Thank you for sharing this.
What a memory
I thank the Holy Spirit for speaking to me every time I judge someone. I ask him for forgiveness . I have learned through his word not to judge as stated in Matthew 7 but every now and than I find my self judging so I go to the Lord in prayer. I will over come this like I did forgiveness because Jesus is in my heart and I will humble and praise him all the days of my life.
That’s great advice that Pastor Stephen said Pastor Scott had said in a sermon 10 years ago-we as Christians are to use wise judgement, but not be judgmental.
Ron 14:13 is the standard. “Let us not therefore judge one another but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or occasion to fall in your brothers way.”
So no judgement, just example of Godly living to encourage one another!
A verse taken out of context is a pretext. Such is verse 1. Jesus is telling us HOW to judge, not to not judge. Dr. Damon Shook once said that verse one also means not to judge peoples motives. Typically, people use this verse to avoid criticism of their sin. If we interpreted this verse out of context, we couldn’t serve on a jury or we would be taken in business deals.
A wise preacher shared with me the analogy of a hand pointing to someone. He reminded me that as I point to someone with my words, pointing out their actions, I have three folded fingers of my hand pointing straight back at me. He told me that this should remind me that I should look inward first before outward at others. I use this analogy often in my life – telling my family and students to beware of judgment done without intrapersonal reflection.
Father, help me to not be judgmental, but to use wise judgment! Such a reinforcing statement that we all need! Thanks, to Pastor Riling and Pastor Trammell! Blessings! ?
We need to use wise judgement and rely on Gods Word.
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All,
Well said and when we spend time with Jesus in prayer asking him to reveal to us his true word, it allows us to have a better understanding and to see God’s truth. He is an awesome Father.
Lord, as patient, gentle and generous you have been with me, help me be the same with others.