"How To Overcoming A Judgmental Spirit”

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Mount Pleasant, South Carolina

Rev. Dr. Levi Howard Wright, Pastor & Founder

TEXT: ST MATTHEW 7:1-5 “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote of thy brother’s eye.”

SUBJECT: “HOW TO OVERCOMING A JUDGMENTAL SPIRIT”

INTRODUCTION

The words of our text today are in red print, which means they were spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ himself. Our Savior is here directing us in how to conduct ourselves in reference to finding faults in others. His expressions here seem intended as a reproof to the Scribes and Pharisees, who were very rigid and severe; very egotistic and haughty, in condemning others.

Yes they were proud-minded and self-conceit in justifying themselves; but finding faults in others.

Yes, Jesus cautious us against judging our fellow man. Observe with me here in our text in verse 1 where Jesus prohibit the judging of others.

Jesus said “JUDGE NOT”. We must judge ourselves, and our own acts, but we must not judge our brothers. We cannot assume such judgmental authority over others.

Since God told us to be subject one to another and to be not many masters. James chapter 3 says, “My brethren . be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation, for in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in words, the same is a perfect man, and is able to also keep his whole body in check.

We can make a large horse turn around and go wherever we want by means of a small bits in his mouth.

And a tiny rudder can make a huge ship turn wherever the captain want it to go, even though the winds are strong.

So also the tongue is a small thing, but, what enormous damage it can do.

A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark.

And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness, and poisons every part of the body.

And the tongue is set on fire by hell itself, and can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of destruction and disaster.

Men have trained, or can train, every kind of animal or bird that lives and every kind of reptile and fish, but no human being can tame the tongue.

It is always ready to pour out its deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our heavenly Father, and sometimes it breaks out into curses against men who are made in God’s likeness. From the same mouth comes blessings and cursing.

My brothers and sister this ought not to be so. Does a spring of water bubble out first with fresh water and then with bitter water? Can you pick olives from a fig tree, or figs from a grape vine? No, and you cannot draw fresh water from a salty pool.

We must not sat in the judgment seat, to make our words the Law.

We must not judge our brothers, that is we should not speak evil of them.

We must not despise them.

We must not judge them rashly, nor pass judgment upon them, because of jealous and ill-feeling.

We must not judge uncharitably; unmercifully; nor with a spirit of revenge and with the desire to do mischief.

We must not judge the state of a person by a single acts; nor for what they are in themselves, because in our judgment we are apt to be partial and make mistake.

We must not try to judge the heart of others; nor their intentions; for it is God’s prerogative to try man’s heart.

And we cannot step in as judge and jury.

We cannot judge the eternal state of a man; nor can we call them hypocrites, reprobates and castaways.

Oh, but we can Counsel, Teach, Help, Pray, Fast, and Comfort one another. But we cannot Judge one another.

Why is judging so dangerous and prohibited? Because, if you judge others, others will judge you. Genesis 16:12 says, “He who, like Ishmael, has his hand, and his tongue, against every man, shall like him have every man’s hand and tongue against him”

No mercy will be shown to them that show no mercy.

“God will receive the humble sufferers, but he will resist the haughty scorners.”