How To Judge Series

Do Not Judge

Matthew 7:1-6

Jesus looks out across the people…mixed multitudes

I.(vs 1) Do not Judge

a.Vs 1 is not telling us to endorse….Call sin sin

b.Infact, the Bible teaches us to judge

·Matthew 7:15 – false prophets/fruits

·Ephes. 5:11

·2 Thes. 3:6

·Romans 16:17

·Luke 12:57

c.Jesus meant a certain kind of judgment

·There is a difference between exercising judgment and a judgmental attitude. One can be good, the other is destructive criticism.

d.Who was he talking to? Pharisees, disciples and believers

e.Why do others have a judgmental attitude and criticize others?

·To make one’s selves look good by pointing out another’s failures. Pride

.Some people enjoy tearing down another person and watching them suffer. Murder.

.By criticizing what one has or what one does, they feel that their own lives are better than the person who failed. Envy

·Criticism helps one justify the decisions they have made and the things they have done throughout our lives. We rationalize our decisions and acts by pointing out the failure of others. Justify Sin

·Criticism points out to our friends how strong we are. Criticism gives good feelings because it gives us opportunity to prove how good we are based upon the failures of others. Self Righteous

·Criticism is an outlet for hurt and revenge. We feel he deserves it. Subconsciously, if not consciously, we think, “He hurt me so he deserves to hurt, too.” So we criticize the person who failed. Unforgiving

·Some people have to be the center of attention and know if they criticize another person, many people will listen. Gossip

f.Why did he speak to the multitude this way

·Pharisees, followers, disciples

II.(vs2) The criticizer will be judged

a.justice or mercy?

b.“If you judge harshly God will judge you harshly, If you judge generously and mercifully, God will judge you generously and mercifully.

III.vs. 3) The criticizer fails to examine himself

a.Look at word “beholdest” (serching for something)

b.Examine yourselves

IV.vs. 4) The criticizer is deceived about himself

a. A criticizer is in no position to help another

b. A criticizer reveals the truth about himself to others

V.(vs. 5) The criticizer is a hypocrite

a. Why did he call them that?

·Full of pride

·Do not put others before themselves

·Are not meek

·Fail to bear one another’s burden

b.There is no place in this church for destructive criticizers

c.There is no place in the Christian life for destructive criticizers

d.If you are one who criticizes, maybe because something was not done the way you would have done it or another person or group does not meet up to your standards, then you need to either grow-up spiritually or get saved. (1 Cor 3 and Gal 5)

e.What if another is living in sin, then here is the Bible’s instructions:

·Galatians 6:1-2

·Ephes. 4:31-32

·James 1:26

·2 Cor. 13:5

Conclusion:

The person you criticize may have an influence in leading your son, daughter, family member, or someone else to Christ; but they do not take that person or their presentation of the Gospel serious because of your words – then some of their blood will be on your hands.

Hebrews 9:27

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Are you ready to stand meet God like you are today? There is only one way to be prepared and that is Jesus.

Illustration:

It’s about Teddy Stallard, who by his own admission was an unattractive, unmotivated little boy; one of those that teachers find difficult to like and easy to judge as "the problem child." Teddy was a source of great frustration for his fifth-grade teacher, Miss Thompson, who all day long faced his deadpan, unfocused stare.

Although she said she loved all her students, Miss Thompson had to admit that deep down, she didn’t like Teddy as much as the others. She even received a certain pleasure in marking his papers with red ink and writing F’s on them. She judged Teddy.

However, as his teacher, she had his records, and she knew more about him than she wanted to admit:

First Grade: "Teddy shows promise with his work and attitude, but he has a poor home situation."

Second Grade: "Teddy could do better. Mother is seriously ill. He receives little help at home."

Third Grade: "Teddy is a good boy but is too serious. He is a slow learner. His mother died this year."

Fourth Grade: "Teddy is very slow but well behaved. His father shows no interest."

At Christmas, Miss Thompson’s class all brought her pretty gifts, and gathered round to watch her open them. She was surprised when she received a gift from Teddy -- crudely wrapped in brown paper and tape. When she opened it, out fell a gaudy rhinestone bracelet with half the stones missing and a bottle of cheap perfume.