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?
WE SEE THE PRINCIPLES PAUL WRITES HERE TO THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH ALSO TAUGHT BY JESUS
a. STEP 1 – PERSONAL EXAMINATION
i. ARE YOU APPLYING THE SAME STANDARD TO OTHERS THAT YOU APPLY TO YOURSELF
1. BIBLICAL JUDGMENT/DISCERNMENT IS NOT “DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO.”
2. JESUS REMINDS US THAT HOW WE JUDGE IS THE WAY WE WILL ALSO BE JUDGED.
ILLUSTRATION: THERE IS AN OLD STORY ABOUT TWO NEIGHBORS, A BAKER AND A FARMER. THE BAKER BEGAN TO BE SUSPICIOUS OF THE FARMER, SUSPECTING THAT HE WASN’T GETTING HIS MONEY’S WORTH WHEN HE PAID FOR A POUND OF BUTTER. HE WEIGHED THE FARMER’S BUTTER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND FINALLY HAD HIM ARRESTED FOR FRAUD. THE JUDGE ASKED THE FARMER AT THE TRIAL, “I PRESUME YOU HAVE SCALES?” “YES, OF COURSE, YOUR HONOR,” THE FARMER REPLIED. “AND WEIGHTS?” THE JUDGE ASKED. “NO,” REPLIED THE FARMER. “I DON’T HAVE A SET OF WEIGHTS.” “THEN HOW DO YOU HOPE TO WEIGH ACCURATELY THE BUTTER YOU SELL TO YOUR NEIGHBOR?” THE JUDGE ASKED. “THAT’S EASY,” THE FARMER SAID. “WHEN THE BAKER BEGAN TO BUY FROM ME, I DECIDED TO BUY MY BREAD FROM HIM. I’VE BEEN USING HIS ONE-POUND LOAVES TO BALANCE MY SCALES. IF THE WEIGHT OF THE BUTTER IS WRONG, HE HAS ONLY HIMSELF TO BLAME.”
b. STEP 2 – SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT
i. GET THE FACTS. JUST LIKE THE OPENING VIDEOS, THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS WERE WRONG AND SO THE RESULTING ACTIONS WERE WRONG AS WELL.
ii. DO YOU KNOW THAT IN AT LEAST TWO INCIDENTS, ALMIGHTY, AND ALL-KNOWING GOD INVESTIGATED BEFORE HE ACTED?
1. BEFORE GOD ACTED AT THE TOWER OF BABEL, SCRIPTURE RECORDS THIS -- GENESIS 18:21 THAT I WILL GO DOWN AND SEE IF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS AS BAD AS THE OUTCRY THAT HAS REACHED ME. IF NOT, I WILL KNOW.”
2. BEFORE GOD DESTROYED SODOM AND GOMORRAH, WE READ THIS -- GENESIS 18:21 THAT I WILL GO DOWN AND SEE IF WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IS AS BAD AS THE OUTCRY THAT HAS REACHED ME. IF NOT, I WILL KNOW.”
NOW IF GOD CAME DOWN TO GET ALL THE FACTS, WE SHOULD BE JUST AS DILIGENT
IN FACT, A COUPLE OF MY FAVORITE VERSES IN PROVERBS ILLUSTRATE THE IMPORTANCE OF SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT:
I PUT THEM IN REVERSE ORDER FOR EMPHASIS!
PROVERBS 18:17 THE FIRST TO PRESENT HIS CASE SEEMS RIGHT, TILL ANOTHER COMES FORWARD AND QUESTIONS HIM.
PROVERBS 18:13 HE WHO ANSWERS BEFORE LISTENING— THAT IS HIS FOLLY AND HIS SHAME.
c. STEP 3 – PERSONAL CLARITY
i. JESUS TELLS US THAT BEFORE WE CAN EFFECTIVELY REMOVE THE SAWDUST/SPLINTER FROM THE EYE OF ANOTHER, WE MUST FIRST REMOVE THE PLANK FROM OUR OWN.
ii. IT IS HYPOCRITICAL TO HAVE SOMETHING IN OUR OWN LIVES THAT HAS A NEGATIVE EFFECT ON DEALING WITH ANOTHER.
1. WE ARE TO SEEK TO BE CLEAN BEFORE THE LORD FIRST, BEFORE HELPING ANOTHER
2. OTHERWISE, WE ARE BLINDED
3. OTHERWISE, WE ARE HINDERED
GALATIANS 6:1 BROTHERS, IF SOMEONE IS CAUGHT IN A SIN, YOU WHO ARE SPIRITUAL SHOULD RESTORE HIM GENTLY. BUT WATCH YOURSELF, OR YOU ALSO MAY BE TEMPTED.
4. IT TAKES SPIRITUAL MATURITY TO DISCERN BOTH WHEN AND HOW TO COME TO ANOTHER.
5. WHEN WE CARRY UNCONFESSED SIN – WE CANNOT HOPE TO EFFECTIVELY HELP ANOTHER PERSON TO RESTORATION.
IV. HOW TO AVOID JUDGING IN ERROR
a. DON’T DRAW A CONCLUSION TILL YOU HAVE GOTTEN ALL THE FACTS
b. MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONCERNED FOR SPIRITUAL RESTORATION, NOT PUNISHMENT
i. EVEN PAUL WOULD ENCOURAGE THE CORINTHIAN CHURCH TO RESTORE ONE WHO HAS REPENTED UNLESS SATAN WOULD HAVE THE VICTORY
c. QUESTIONS TO ASK: DO
i. THE FAILURES OF OTHERS IMPROVE THE OPINION OF YOURSELF.
ii. THE FAILURES OF OTHERS DECREASE YOUR CONCERN FOR THE FAULTS AND WEAKNESSES IN YOUR OWN LIFE.
iii. THE FAILURES OF OTHERS GIVE YOU A DESIRE TO SEE THEY ARE PUNISHED.
iv. ARE EAGER TO TELL OTHERS ABOUT THE FAULTS OF OTHERS.
v. THE FAILURES OF OTHERS PROMPT YOU TO REVIEW THEIR PAST MISTAKES.
vi. THE FAILURES OF OTHERS CAUSE YOU TO FEEL YOU CANNOT FORGIVE THEM.
IF YOU ANSWER YES TO ANY OF THESE QUESTIONS, YOU MIGHT BE JUDGMENTAL AND NOT DISCERNING!
d. IT IS THOUGH WE ARE WAITING FOR SOMEONE TO TRIP UP
ILLUSTRATION: HE IS LIKE THE MAN WHO SAT WATCHING HIS PREACHER-NEIGHBOR NAIL UP A TRELLIS IN HIS BACKYARD. THE PREACHER, SEEING HIM INTENTLY WATCHING HIM FROM HIS YARD, ASKED, “TRYING TO PICK UP SOME POINTERS ON CARPENTRY?” HIS NEIGHBOR REPLIED, “NOPE. JUST WAITING TO SEE WHAT A PREACHER SAYS WHEN HE HITS HIS THUMB WITH A HAMMER.”
JESUS WANTS US TO JUDGE IN ORDER TO RESTORE, NOT CONDEMN. I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO BE THAT KIND OF PERSON – THAT KIND OF BELIEVER!
