Do Not Judge
Matthew 7:1-6
Jesus looks out across the people…mixed multitudes
I.(vs 1) Do not Judge
a.Vs 1 is not telling us to endorse….Call sin sin
b.Infact, the Bible teaches us to judge
·Matthew 7:15 – false prophets/fruits
·Ephes. 5:11
·2 Thes. 3:6
·Romans 16:17
·Luke 12:57
c.Jesus meant a certain kind of judgment
·There is a difference between exercising judgment and a judgmental attitude. One can be good, the other is destructive criticism.
d.Who was he talking to? Pharisees, disciples and believers
e.Why do others have a judgmental attitude and criticize others?
·To make one’s selves look good by pointing out another’s failures. Pride
.Some people enjoy tearing down another person and watching them suffer. Murder.
.By criticizing what one has or what one does, they feel that their own lives are better than the person who failed. Envy
·Criticism helps one justify the decisions they have made and the things they have done throughout our lives. We rationalize our decisions and acts by pointing out the failure of others. Justify Sin
·Criticism points out to our friends how strong we are. Criticism gives good feelings because it gives us opportunity to prove how good we are based upon the failures of others. Self Righteous
·Criticism is an outlet for hurt and revenge. We feel he deserves it. Subconsciously, if not consciously, we think, “He hurt me so he deserves to hurt, too.” So we criticize the person who failed. Unforgiving
·Some people have to be the center of attention and know if they criticize another person, many people will listen. Gossip
f.Why did he speak to the multitude this way
·Pharisees, followers, disciples
II.(vs2) The criticizer will be judged
a.justice or mercy?
b.“If you judge harshly God will judge you harshly, If you judge generously and mercifully, God will judge you generously and mercifully.
III.vs. 3) The criticizer fails to examine himself
a.Look at word “beholdest” (serching for something)
b.Examine yourselves
IV.vs. 4) The criticizer is deceived about himself
a. A criticizer is in no position to help another
b. A criticizer reveals the truth about himself to others
V.(vs. 5) The criticizer is a hypocrite
a. Why did he call them that?
·Full of pride
·Do not put others before themselves
·Are not meek
·Fail to bear one another’s burden
b.There is no place in this church for destructive criticizers
c.There is no place in the Christian life for destructive criticizers
d.If you are one who criticizes, maybe because something was not done the way you would have done it or another person or group does not meet up to your standards, then you need to either grow-up spiritually or get saved. (1 Cor 3 and Gal 5)
e.What if another is living in sin, then here is the Bible’s instructions:
·Galatians 6:1-2
·Ephes. 4:31-32
·James 1:26
·2 Cor. 13:5
Conclusion:
The person you criticize may have an influence in leading your son, daughter, family member, or someone else to Christ; but they do not take that person or their presentation of the Gospel serious because of your words – then some of their blood will be on your hands.
Hebrews 9:27
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Are you ready to stand meet God like you are today? There is only one way to be prepared and that is Jesus.
Illustration:
It’s about Teddy Stallard, who by his own admission was an unattractive, unmotivated little boy; one of those that teachers find difficult to like and easy to judge as "the problem child." Teddy was a source of great frustration for his fifth-grade teacher, Miss Thompson, who all day long faced his deadpan, unfocused stare.
Although she said she loved all her students, Miss Thompson had to admit that deep down, she didn’t like Teddy as much as the others. She even received a certain pleasure in marking his papers with red ink and writing F’s on them. She judged Teddy.
However, as his teacher, she had his records, and she knew more about him than she wanted to admit:
First Grade: "Teddy shows promise with his work and attitude, but he has a poor home situation."
Second Grade: "Teddy could do better. Mother is seriously ill. He receives little help at home."
Third Grade: "Teddy is a good boy but is too serious. He is a slow learner. His mother died this year."
Fourth Grade: "Teddy is very slow but well behaved. His father shows no interest."
At Christmas, Miss Thompson’s class all brought her pretty gifts, and gathered round to watch her open them. She was surprised when she received a gift from Teddy -- crudely wrapped in brown paper and tape. When she opened it, out fell a gaudy rhinestone bracelet with half the stones missing and a bottle of cheap perfume.
The other children began to giggle, but she had enough sense to put on the bracelet and apply some of the perfume to her wrist. She asked the class, "Doesn’t it smell lovely?"
When school was over and the other children had left, Teddy lingered behind. He slowly came over to her desk and said softly, "Miss Thompson, you smell just like my mother. And her bracelet looks real pretty on you, too. I’m glad you liked my presents."
When Teddy left, Miss Thompson got down on her knees and asked God to forgive her.
The next day when the children came to school, they were welcomed by a changed teacher. Miss Thompson’s eye plank was gone, and she had been given a new vision to see how to help, by the grace of God. By the end of that school year, Teddy showed dramatic improvement and had caught up with most of the students.
After that she did not hear from Teddy for a long time. Then one day she received a note that said: "Dear Miss Thompson: I wanted you to be the first to know. I will be graduating second in my class. Love, Teddy Stallard."
Four years later, she received another note: "Dear Miss Thompson: They just told me I will be graduating first in my class. I wanted you to be the first to know. The university has not been easy, but I liked it. Love, Teddy Stallard."
Finally, she received another note: "Dear Miss Thompson: As of today, I am Theodore Stallard, M.D. How about that? I wanted you to be the first to know. I am getting married next month, the 27th to be exact. I want you to come and sit where my mother would sit if she were alive. You are the only family I have now; Dad died last year. Love, Teddy Stallard."
Miss Thompson went to that wedding. God had removed the log in her eye, given her clear vision, and by his Spirit in her had done something for Teddy that changed his life forever.
And all of this happened because one Christian stopped leaping to judge and looked to heal.
What a church this would be if each one of us would change and take on this attitude
