Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what
measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but
considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine
eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt
thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
Title:
“The Backsliders Favorite Verse”
Introduction: This is probably the most quoted verse of the Bible. Almost every time a backslide Christian is criticized, he reverts to this verse. It is probably the only verse that the lost man can quote.
Today we will put the verse into context.
Three wrong reasons for Judging...
1. To Control
Jesus had his little congregation of disciples. They were constantly being verbally attacked by the Pharisees. Sometimes, people judge other people to
gain control of them. Jesus was the Shepherd of this flock. It was his responsibility to bring them into line, not the Pharisees.
Learn the word “jurisdiction.” Some things are “none of your business!”
Remember the breakfast that Jesus had prepared for his disciples after his resurrection from the dead? When they had finished eating the loaves and the fishes, Jesus had a private conversation with Peter. He was told to “Feed my Sheep.” Then Jesus began talking with John. It seems Peter was looking over the shoulder and said something like, “What about John? What is his responsibility?” The basic response of Christ was to tell Peter, “What is it to you?” That is: It is none of your business!
You do not have a right to know everything? Only God can be the supreme judge of the universe. Inquiring minds may want to know, but they do not always have the right to know!
2. To Condemn
It would have the made the Pharisees gleeful if Jesus or anyone of his disciples were to fail. Their entire purpose was to crucify. They literally would have “thrown the baby out with the bath water.”
3. To Clear your name.
This has become an “art form” for the politicians of our day. Almost every campaign issue becomes a mud slinging contest. A politician assumes that if
he can make his opponent look bad, this will make him look good. Here is a good verse for us to consider:
(2 Cor 10:12 KJV) For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
You may look “good” compared to me, but stand alongside of the sinless Christ, and you will conclude, “For all have sinned and have come short of
the glory of God.”
I now bring you to the second half of this message:
Three right reasons to judge:
1. So that you will not fall… discernment
The Bible says, (1 Cor 2:15 KJV) “But he that is spiritual judgeth all things...” Every day we have to make decisions. The very reason why we read the
Book of Proverbs is to give us discernment. We are told (1 John 4:1 KJV) “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God:
because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
2. So that others will not fall… discipleship
Remember my verse argument for not judging? I used the word “jurisdiction.” I mentioned that some things were “none of your business!’
Well, some things are your business! Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we are going to serve the Lord.” It was his God given responsibility to judge his own home.
If you do not want your children to fall into sin, as a parent, you had better do some heavy duty judging on their behalf!
3. To help others who have fallen… duty
Now it is time to put “Judge ye not, lest ye be judged,” into its full context. The Pharisees had “beams” in their eyes and they gave the appearance that they were trying to remove the “specks” in the eyes of the disciples.
In essence, Jesus told them, “How can you help your brother to see the problem with the speck in his eye, when you cannot see clearly to help him
because of the log that is in your eye?”
He goes on to say, “Get the log out of your eye, and then you can see clearly enough to help your brother to get the speck out of his eye!”
In a recent conversation that I had with a lady, she excused her bad behavior by pointing out the sin of another member of the Church they were attending.
(Not BBT) It was clear to me that the sin she was involved in was much bigger than the sin that she was pointing out in the lives of those she blamed. It was clear to me... but not to this Lady! She could not see because of the “beam” that was in her own eye.
Before we can judge others, we must allow the Lord to judge us. May our prayer be (Psa 139:23,24 KJV) “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try
me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
After God has judged us and removed all our logs from our eyes, may we, with meekness” help our brother or our sister in Christ removes their speck that is in their eye!
