To Judge Or Not To Judge Series

“To Judge Or Not To Judge, Now That’s A Really Good Question”

Matthew 7:1-6

OKAY - I want to start off our time together this morning by reading 2 passages of Scripture, and then I will pray us into our time of study.

The first passage is in Luke 18 beginning at verse 9...

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people - robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. - Luke 18:9-14

The second passage is from John 8, beginning at verse 2...

It actually was our reading for this past Tuesday in our FCFH...

AND LISTEN – if you are doing this plan you are really missing out.

At dawn He went to the temple complex again, and all the people were coming to Him. He sat down and began to teach them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, making her stand in the center. “Teacher,” they said to Him, “this woman was caught in the act of committing adultery. In the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do You say?” They asked this to trap Him, in order that they might have evidence to accuse Him. Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with His finger. When they persisted in questioning Him, He stood up and said to them, “The one without sin among you should be the first to throw a stone at her.” Then He stooped down again and continued writing on the ground. When they heard this, they left one by one, starting with the older men.

Only He was left, with the woman in the center. When Jesus stood up, He said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Neither do I condemn you,” said Jesus. “Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” – John 8:2-11

Prayer

MGCC – 2000 years ago on a grassy hillside overlooking the Sea of Galilee...

Jesus preached the greatest sermon ever preached.

The Sermon on the Mount...

His Kingdom Manifesto about want it means to be His follower and to live in His Kingdom.

UNDERSTAND – because oof the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Jesus-followers are empowered to live lives that are distinct, different than the world around them and the religious leaders who are over them.

Different and distinct in regard to...

Lust, anger, marriage, divorce, truth telling, keeping our word, responding when wronged, how we treat our enemies, where to store up treasure,

and in regard to worry and anxiety

Such relevant and practical stuff... AMEN!

Relevant and practical 2000 years ago and still relevant and practical today.

NOW – the passage we are going to dive into this morning is Matthew 7:1-6...

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.

QUESTION – have you ever heard that verse before?

NOW MAYBE - you have heard it in the good ole KJV, ‘Judge not, lest you be judged...’

YEAH - people don't even believe in the Bible, but boy, they believe in that verse, and they say it with attitude. Jesus said, ‘Judge not, lest you be judged...’

IN OTHER WORDS - you have no right to tell me how to live. I'll do what I want with my life.

AND UNDERSTAND MGCC

Both non-Christians and Christians have weaponized this verse to prevent anyone from making a moral judgment on their life. “You can’t tell me how to live. Who are you to tell me that this behavior is wrong or sinful.

I MEAN - even this Jesus of yours said,

‘Judge not, lest you be judged...’

QUESTION – but is this ‘really’ what Jesus is saying?

LIKE – is Jesus saying that...

• We are never to call out sin, as sin?

• We have to keep our mouths shut whenever we see a brother or sister caught up in ungodly attitudes or behaviors?

is Jesus saying that...

• We are not allowed to proclaim or affirm our beliefs in the moral truths found the Bible....

Because so many in our world today will view it as being both hateful and judgmental?