"Judging"
Matthew 7:1-6
6/22/97
Intro: It’s been said that the only exercise some people get is jumping to conclusions, running down other people, sidestepping responsibility, dodging the question, passing the blame, pushing their luck, and wrestling with their conscience.
As we go on in Matthew, we see Jesus addressing a very old but a very commonplace activity: judging others.
"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "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? How 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? You 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. "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.
What is judgment really all about?
Two taxidermists met for lunch one day, and on the way to a restaurant looked at a display in the store window. The saw an owl perched upon a branch. Right away the one criticized the way it had been mounted: It’s eyes were not natural, it’s wings were not in proportion to its head. The other pointed out that the feathers were not neatly arranged, and the position of the feet could be improved upon. In the middle of their criticism, the owl turned it’s head toward them and let out a "Hoot". Things are not always what they seem.
As Jesus teaches here in the Sermon on the Mount, he is not teaching against all judgment. That would be contradictory to other teachings of scripture. In John 7:24 Jesus clearly tells us that we should "Judge righteous judgments." Many would like to use this as a proof text that we don’t judge any action of any individual.
I know the Bible says not to . . . but don’t judge me. We hear that often. People want to excuse wrong by taking away the right of anyone to judge them. That is not what Jesus is teaching here. We see in verse two, that Jesus really tells us that we will be judged in the same way that we judge others. If anything, Jesus is implying that we will judge. By how do we go about judging?
I think there are a few points that we should make note of here today.
I. Don’t be casting blame on others if you are guilty yourself.
It talks here about a mote and a speck-- an eyelash or a telephone pole. It is so very easy to cast blame on others. If we really want to put blame anywhere, let’s put it on ourselves.
The Apostle Paul looked upon himself as the chief of sinners.
We are also told to esteem others better than ourselves.
So very often we dishonor the cause of Christ by the sin in our own lives. Let’s deal with our own sin before we start going to confront others.
Romans 2:17-24
Now you, if you call yourself a Jew {or a Christian}; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth--
You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? personal growth
You who preach against stealing, do you steal? Taxes, Tithes
You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? spiritual adultery
You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? do you have idols in life
You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? keep all laws of God
As it is written: "God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."
We have a long way to go before we are living out all of the truths of God.
Galatians 6 - tells us we should seek to correct others when we are right with God ourselves.
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.
II. We are judged in the same way that we judge others: be merciful toward others
God desires us to judge: but we are to judge correctly. Luke 12:57+
He said to the crowd: "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, `It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, `It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time? "Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
We are told that we need to be judging. But what can we judge? Motives of the heart? No. Actions--Yes!
John 7:24 - Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."
Man looks on the outward appearance: God looks on the heart.
Jesus is not in this passage trying to keep us from being men: from using the critical powers that place us above animals. Rather he is trying to keep us from being God: from setting ourselves up as presumptuous judges of other men’s hearts.
Why wasn’t brother Frank here this morning? Well, he just doesn’t like good preaching. I always thought he had a heart problem! It’s just the sin in his heart!
Jesus gave a beautiful example of how fallible we are in our assessments.
Mark 12:41 - Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything--all she had to live on."
We look on outward appearances. We can’t see people’s hearts. We must be careful not to judge motives.
III. We can always judge based on God’s word.
We can always take God’s word as authoritative when we correctly use it.
Don’t judge me for cheating on my wife, God led me to this other person!----NO!
Let God be true and every man a liar! (Rom. 3:4)
Jesus tells us that we are to be fruit inspectors. Matt. 7:15+
Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
Here in verse 6 Jesus says, "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.
We are to judge what is a pig and a dog. In the Middle East context pigs were really like wild boars. Dogs were like the wild dingoes in Australia. Both were savage, wild, and ferocious. We need to be careful about presenting what is sacred to those who are vicious and hostile. I think for us this means not trying to argue about the scripture with someone who does not want to hear. Don’t try to run after that guy who is walking away. Don’t try to argue with the Mormon missionary coming to your door on Saturday morning.
Whenever God’s word speaks on a subject we can clearly judge that this is right and any other action is wrong.
So, how do we apply all of this to our lives today?
1. Don’t judge others for what you think is in their hearts.
2. Don’t try to help a brother unless you want help yourself.
3. Don’t judge others by your own standards: judge by God’s word.
4. Don’t gossip about others just to spread rumors: if there is a sin, help to correct it. Don’t just pass it on to others.
**Let’s not be doing the old routine: Here’s a prayer request about brother Frank . . .
May God help us today to be discerning and godly in our lives.
