Judging And Discernment Series

JUDGING AND DISCERNMENT

MATTHEW 7:1–6 “DO NOT JUDGE, OR YOU TOO WILL BE JUDGED. 2FOR IN THE SAME WAY YOU JUDGE OTHERS, YOU WILL BE JUDGED, AND WITH THE MEASURE YOU USE, IT WILL BE MEASURED TO YOU. 3“WHY DO YOU LOOK AT THE SPECK OF SAWDUST IN YOUR BROTHER’S EYE AND PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE PLANK IN YOUR OWN EYE? 4HOW CAN YOU SAY TO YOUR BROTHER, ‘LET ME TAKE THE SPECK OUT OF YOUR EYE,’ WHEN ALL THE TIME THERE IS A PLANK IN YOUR OWN EYE? 5YOU HYPOCRITE, FIRST TAKE THE PLANK OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE, AND THEN YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY TO REMOVE THE SPECK FROM YOUR BROTHER’S EYE. 6“DO NOT GIVE DOGS WHAT IS SACRED; DO NOT THROW YOUR PEARLS TO PIGS. IF YOU DO, THEY MAY TRAMPLE THEM UNDER THEIR FEET, AND THEN TURN AND TEAR YOU TO PIECES.

INTRODUCTION: THE PASSAGE BEFORE US THIS MORNING, IS PROBABLY, ONE OF THE MOST MISAPPLIED PASSAGES IN SCRIPTURE.

ARTHUR PINK HAS SAID THIS ABOUT THE PASSAGE, “THERE ARE FEW VERSES QUOTED MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE OPENING ONES OF MATTHEW 7, AND FEW VERSES LESS UNDERSTOOD BY THOSE WHO ARE SO READY TO CITE IT AND HURL IT AT THE HEADS OF THOSE WHO THEY IGNORANTLY OR MALICIOUSLY SUPPOSE ARE VIOLATING IT.”

THIS PASSAGE HAS BEEN USED TO PAINT CHRISTIANS INTO A CORNER THAT PROHIBITS THEM FROM NEVER EXERCISING CRITICISM, JUDGMENT, OR DISCERNMENT.

IN REALITY, NOTHING CAN BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH. JESUS WAS NOT INSTRUCTING HIS FOLLOWERS AWAY FROM JUDGING. RATHER, HE WAS INSTRUCTING THEM IN THE CORRECT WAY TO EXERCISE DISCERNMENT IN ORDER TO BE ABLE JUDGE CORRECTLY.

TRANSITION: IT IS THIS TEACHING OF JESUS THAT I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THIS MORNING

PROPOSITION: BIBLICAL DISCERNMENT AND JUDGMENT ARE FOUNDATIONAL TO MODEL CHRISTLIKENESS, DIVINE KINDNESS, AND PERSONAL RIGHTEOUSNESS.

I. THE COMMAND CONCERNING JUDGING – 7:1

a. DON’T JUDGE AT ALL?

i. NOT WHAT THE TEXT MEANS

ii. FURTHER IN OUR PASSAGE WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISCERN

1. SELF-DISCERNING – SPECK AND PLANK

2. OTHER-DISCERNING – SACRED AND PEARLS

b. CORRECTING THE MEANING

i. TOTAL ACCEPTANCE – JUDGE FREE ZONE!

1. CANNOT BE CRITICAL OF ANYTHING

2. BLIND TO CIRCUMSTANCES, ACTIONS, AND ACTIVITIES

3. PREACH AGAINST OME SIN FROM THE PULPIT – YOU ARE JUDGING!

4. SPINELESS JELLYFISH

IT IS INTERESTING THAT WE LIVE IN A VERY OPINIONATED WORLD

• OPINIONS ABOUT POLITICS

• OPINIONS ABOUT ART, MUSIC, AND LITERATURE

• OPINIONS ABOUT CULTURE AND NOW GENDER IDENTIFICATION

THIS SAME WORLD THOUGH CANNOT TOLERATE MATTERS OF PERSONAL MORALITY AND EVEN MORESO, BIBLICAL MORALITY. THEN THE WORLD LIKES US TO BE NON-JUDGMENTAL

BEFORE WE GO ANY FURTHER, CAN I SIMPLY SAY THAT THERE IS, SHOULD NOT BE, NOR EVER BE SHAME IN TAKING A STAND FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS AND IN OPPOSITION TO EVIL!

ii. DON’T JUDGE MY MOTIVES

1. MY ACTIONS MIGHT BE BAD, BUT YOU DON’T KNOW MY MOTIVES

2. CAN I ONCE AGAIN SIMPLY SAY THAT OUR MOTIVES DETERMINE THE NATURE OF OUR ACTIONS

3. EVEN IN OUR COURT SYSTEM, MOTIVES NEED TO BE KNOWN AND ARE VERY IMPORTANT IN DETERMINING THE OUTCOME OF A CASE

a. MOTIVE DETERMINES WHEN A CRIME IS SAY, 1ST DEGREE MURDER, 2ND DEGREE MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER, ACCIDENTAL, DEFENSIVE OR PREMEDITATED

4. JESUS HAS TAUGHT THROUGHOUT THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT THAT OUR MOTIVES ARE IMPORTANT

a. WHERE IS OUR TREASURE

b. WHERE IS OUR SIGHT

c. WHERE IS OUR HEART

5. WE ARE TO:

a. BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

b. BEWARE OF THOSE WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS

c. BEWARE OF WHO WE CHOOSE TO KEEP COMPANY WITH

II. THE MEANING OF JUDGMENT

a. TO JUDGE MEANS TO:

i. TO SEPARATE OR CHOOSE

ii. TO SELECT OR DETERMINE

b. THE THRUST OF THE WORD IS TO USE DISCERNMENT

i. THIS IS TO BE SEEN IN THE CONTEXT OF THE MINISTRY OF JESUS

1. HE CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE THOSE WHO ARE LOST

2. JESUS CAME TO GIVE HIS LIFE A RANSOME FOR MANY

ii. THIS IS IN OPPOSITION TO THE MINISTRY OF THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS

1. MORE INTERESTED IN CONDEMNATION AND SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS RATHER THAN RESTORATION

THE KEY THOUGHT HERE IS, “WHY I AM JUDGING?” THE GOAL SHOULD BE TO HELP SOMEONE -- RESTORATION

2. JAMES 5:20 REMEMBER THIS: WHOEVER TURNS A SINNER FROM THE ERROR OF HIS WAY WILL SAVE HIM FROM DEATH AND COVER OVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS.

3. GALATIANS 6:2 CARRY EACH OTHER’S BURDENS, AND IN THIS WAY YOU WILL FULFILL THE LAW OF CHRIST.

THE PURPOSE OF JUDGMENT IS TO REPROVE OR CONFRONT OTHERS WITH THE INTENTION OR PURPOSE OF RESTORING THE OFFENDER THROUGH THE EXHORTATION OF SCRIPTURE, NOT JUST BLASTING AWAY AT THEM.

THIS THEN BRINGS US TO THE PROCESS OF JUDGING

III. THE PROCESS OF JUDGING

2 CORINTHIANS 13:5 EXAMINE YOURSELVES TO SEE WHETHER YOU ARE IN THE FAITH; TEST YOURSELVES. DO YOU NOT REALIZE THAT CHRIST JESUS IS IN YOU—UNLESS, OF COURSE, YOU FAIL THE TEST?