Don't Judge Me! Series

DON’T JUDGE ME!

Matthew 5:1-6, 15-20

In our degraded society that America is today, a Christian can hardly make a statement concerning morality in public without somebody standing up and screaming "Don't Judge Me!" Then that sinner goes onto partially quote probably the only Bible verse they know. "Judge not, lest ye be judged." They hold onto this verse so they can shout down the voice of believers so they will never be reminded of their sins. And, it has worked very well. Christians unilaterally give up ground because they don't want to appear intolerant and because they don't really understand the verse that was just thrown in their face in the wrong context.

So, what does the Christian need to understand about judging?

1. REALIZE THERE IS ONLY ONE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE.

MT 5:1-2 “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. 2 For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.

Any time you see a bold Christian make a moral stand, sinners scream out “Christians are to never judge.” And their tactic has been effective in silencing Christians to the point where we’re nothing but milktoast. God never intended us to be silenced concerning society’s morality. God never intended for HIS WORD to be watered down and negated.

** This verse is one of the most misunderstood in the Bible.

The Bible is not saying that we should never judge. In fact, later I will show you the verses that command us to judge.

** But if we are to never judge, then:

1. Did you not judge me before calling me as your pastor?

2. Are you judging, if you won’t let certain boys date your daughter?

3. Are you judging, if you don’t let your spouse watch porn?

4. Would you go to a marriage counselor that’s divorced 5 times?

Jesus is making a point to self-righteous people about their motive in judging and their own moral ability. Pharisees were self-righteous and judged people without mercy. Jesus is forbidding unwarranted condemnation of other people.

His warning is that if you judge people without mercy then God will judge you without mercy.

*** In ancient Persia, a corrupt judge was caught accepting a bribe. King Cambyses ordered him executed and skinned. His skin then covered the judges chair. This would be a reminder to future judges of the consequences of perverting justice and judging improperly.

If you love to participate in gossip and slander and tearing other people down ripping them for every little fault you can find... then, realize this, God is going to tear your world apart.

2. REALIZE OUR OWN SIN BEFORE JUDGING OTHERS.

MT 5:3-5 3 Why do you look at 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,’ and behold, the log is 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.

Here, Jesus reveals that most people that harshly judge others overlook the enormous level of sins in their own life.

Speck- karphos- means a splinter.

* This is a funny picture to me. Imagine an eye doctor trying to remove a splinter from your eye but he has a log coming out of his!

* Example: Gay Marriage. You can’t believe how many times people told me homosexuals were going to hell for destroying the sanctity of marriage. Many of those had numerous affairs, some were divorced numerous times, and others were shacking up with someone. Talk about hypocrisy and spiritual blindness!

* How can you sit in judgement over the sexual sins of a group of people when you are neck deep in your own sexual immorality?

* What is the fate of the practicing homosexuals according to the Bible? Hell if they don't repent.

* What is the fate of the adulterers? Hell if they don’t repent

** Is the adulterer in hell still going to feel superior to the homosexual in hell???

* We are all sinners. Does this mean we are to never judge? No, Jesus commands us to judge.

* What does it mean? We should judge our own behaviors first and diligently work at fixing ourselves instead of judging without mercy!

3. REALIZE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO JUDGE PROPERLY.

How do we judge properly?

1. Judge with mercy coming from our own humility.

MT 5:5 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.