Judge And Jury

JUDGE AND JURY

Matthew 7:1-14

Introduction: “Judge not that you be not judged.” is a passage that has been misinterpreted, misquoted and misapplied more than almost any other verse in the entire Bible. It is often quoted by those who are seeking to justify their actions and answer any criticism of their behavior. After all, the Bible does say “judge not”. Does this verse mean that we are to never judge anything? What exactly is Christ talking about? When is judging right? Or is never right to judge anything?

I. What Does It Mean To Judge?

A. The verb that’s translated "judge" (krinete) is one that basically means "to separate", or "to make a distinction" between things, to discriminate. Our word critic is derived from this word. It means to sift out and analyze evidence.

B. Simply put to judge means to observe the evidence, evaluate it, and arrive at a certain conclusion based on the evidence.

II. When Is Judging Right?

A. Judging Doctrine

1. At a recent gathering of seminary professors, one teacher reported that at his school the most damaging charge one student can lodge against another is that the person is being "judgmental." He found this pattern very upsetting. "You can’t get a good argument going in class anymore," he said. "As soon as somebody takes a stand on any important issue, someone else says that the person is being judgmental. And that’s it. End of discussion. Everyone is intimidated!" Many of the other professors nodded knowingly. There seemed to be a consensus that the fear of being judgmental has taken on epidemic proportions. - Richard J. Mouw, Uncommon Decency, pp. 20-21.

2. The Berean Christians judged the authenticity and trueness of Paul’s preaching.

• Acts 17:10-11 (NASB) “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched (examining) the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.”

3. Paul instructs the Thessalonians not to blindly accept every doctrine that they hear but to judge all things in light of Scriptural truth.

• 1 Thessalonians 5:21(NASB) “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good”

4. The aim of maintaining sound doctrine and judging, exposing and refuting false teaching is to build the body of Christ upon a solid foundation of doctrinal truth by which its members may be equipped to carry out the work God has called them to do for His kingdom.

B. Judging False Teachers

1. Christ made it clear we are to be aware of false teachers

• Matthew 7:15-20 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

2. 1 John 4:1 “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

3. The Devil will use half-truths to lead us astray. He is very subtle in his work. This is why cults are thriving, because there is some truth in these false religions. But, even a clock that doesn’t run is right two times a day!

4. 2 John 1:10-11 “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.”

C. Judging Sin with the Attitude of Correcting those in Error

1. As believers we are not to excuse sin within the body of Christ or to turn a blind eye to it.

2. Paul rebukes the indifferent and self-righteous attitude of the Corinthian Christians toward a brother who had tripped and fallen in his Christian walk.

• 1 Corinthians 5:1-4 “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles--that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.”