INTRODUCTION
A. The words “right” and “righteous” come from the same Greek word.
B. The suffix “ous” means “full of” or “characterized by.”
C. Therefore, righteousness is characterized by what is right.
I. THREE SCENARIOS INVOLVING JUDGING
A. Bildad the spinner of proverbs (Job 8:1-7).
1. His words were right (true), but his application was wrong (Job 42:7-9).
a. Job calls them "proverbs of ashes" (Job 13:12).
b. A proverb is a concise, pointed statement of truth, exceptions to which are not stated.
c. Proverbs are sometimes satirical: “A learned blockhead is a greater blockhead than an ignorant one” (Poor Richard).
d. Proverbial truths applied as absolutes are often used to afflict the already afflicted.
e. Many righteous parents have been pierced in their hearts by a misapplication of Proverbs 22:6: “Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he grows older he will not abandon it.” This application would impugn God (Isa 1:2).
f. God rebuked him (Job 42:7-9).
B. Jesus the silent one (John 8:1-11)
1. They were right about the Law (Deut 22:22-24).
2. But they were not righteous. One person cannot be caught in the act of adultery. Where was the man?
C. John the Baptist pointed the finger of judgment at Herod (Matt 4:1-11).
1. Why did John condemn Herod, but Jesus would not condemn the woman?
2. Undoubtedly, Jesus saw a broken and contrite heart in the woman, but only
hardness could be found in Herod's heart, as is clear by the fact that he did not correct the sin. Instead, he piled guilt on top of guilt by killing John.
II. NOT JUDGING IS NOT AN OPTION
A. Jesus says, “Do not judge by the outward appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
B. Not judging was condemned at Corinth (1 Cor 5:1-5).
C. At least two things must be weighed before we render a righteous judgment: motive and mercy.
1. Why do we seek to judge in the first place? Is it to restore one overtaken in a fault?
2. Are we attempting to distract attention from our own sins?
3. Is it self-righteousness? The Pharisees were not really interested in restoring the woman taken in adultery or in upholding the law. They sought to use both the woman and the law to entrap Jesus.
CONCLUSION
A. The stated policy of some is that when in doubt, take the safe course, which to them is to come down hard on the side of the letter of the law.
1. In some cases, the motive is self-righteousness.
2. In others, the motive is the fear that if they grant fellowship to someone whom God later disowns, He might also exclude them, so the safe course is to withhold fellowship.
B. When in doubt, the safe course is to always err on the side of mercy: "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."
C. When we stand before the judgment seat of Christ, we will need all the mercy we can get. If we err in judgment, let us always err on the side of mercy.
