The Backsliders Favorite Verse

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!”