The 
ight House
Sunday School (Judge Not)
Judge Not
(Matthew 7:1-11)
Consider versus 1-4
1Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4Or 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?
(Matthew 7:1-4)“Judge not” is not a restriction of all judgement. There are different kinds of judgement, some of which we are not only permitted to carry out but even instructed to do so.
One type of judgement that we are permitted and instructed to perform is judging ourselves in the form of self examination.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.
(2 Corinthians 3:5-6)For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
(1 Corinthians 11:31)If we judge ourselves, we see and acknowledge our sins, failures, and faults. We can then repent and seek the Lords forgiveness and He will forgive us. In this context, judging ourselves is no more than seeing our sins, then acknowledging and confession our sins
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:9)We need to examine ourselves in humility and with honesty periodically to see where we are in relation to God’s will. Sometimes we do things without giving much thought to God’s will and how the things we say or do measure up to God’s instruction. If we take the time to really look at our actions and how they stand when they are put up against God’s word, we will often find we have fallen short. Finding these things is beneficial however, because once we see them when the light of God’s word shows them to us, we can repent and have a closer walk with God. We can also learn from them and therefore become a better Christian and also be a help to others. We have to see it first and we usually will not see these things unless we are purposeful in searching for them as in examining ourselves as instructed in the above scripture.
As Christians, we also have the authority to judge things. It should be noted here that people are not things.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
(1 Corinthians 2:15)As Christians, we have the authority and responsibility to rebuke our brothers and sisters when we witness their transgressions.
Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.
(1 Timothy 5:20)Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
(2 Timothy 4:2)For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;
(Titus 1:10-13)These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
(Titus 2:15)How can we rebuke someone for their words or actions if we do not first judge those words or actions to be unholy? Rebuke is Not the same as judging another. The judging we do that leads to rebuke is the judgement of behaviors, but not of men. Calling someone’s attention to sinful behaviors (rebuke) is done out of love with the motive that the rebuke will help that person see their sin so that they may repent and turn away from that sin. It is better to endure with humility the rebuke of a brother, than to endure with shame, the judgement of God.
Casting judgement on another which is the type of judgement that is condemned in these scriptures is to take authority that we do not have.. For example if we say to someone that God is angry with you, or God will punish you for a certain behavior or sin, then we are taking authority that we do not have. We do not know the mind of God.
That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
(Colossians 2:2)Also, the bible tells us that God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy. God is under no authority to adhere to a standard that man regards as being fair.
For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
(Romans 9:15)Therefore, it is God’s decision and His only on how He chooses to deal with a sinner on an individual basis. We have no power nor any right to condemn nor say what God will or will not do in dealing with an individual. We do however have the authority to warn people about the consequences of sin by sharing with them the things God says in His word. For example, if we have certain knowledge that an individual is breaking the church covenant by consuming alcohol as a beverage. We have no authority to tell this person that God is going to punish him nor can we condemn him. We can however remind him that he took an oath when he joined the church to abstain from the use of alcohol as a beverage and we can share with him what God’s word says about lying, taking oaths, and consuming strong drink. Then, once he has this knowledge or is reminded of these things, God may use it to deal with this person in whatever way He chooses. Our job in terms of witnessing and rebuke is to point out the teachings of God’s word and then let God deal with them. Our job is not to judge or condemn.
Verses one and two warn us of the consequences of casting judgement on another.
Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
(Matthew 7:1-2)Take special note of the second verse… “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” This verse tells us that by the same compassion we have toward others, that will be the level of compassion shown toward us by God. This teaching is also found in one of the beatitudes in chapter (5).
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
(Matthew 5:7)These versus which warn us our own risk of being judged as a result of us judging others has turned me around on several occasions. I imagine that when we stand before God, we will all be in need of His mercy. Just knowing that the judgment and compassion we will receive on that day will be measured out according to how we have judged or shown mercy toward others is a powerful motivator and a guide to help us refrain from judging others in our mind, our talk and our actions.
another piece of scripture that warns us of the consequences of casting judgement are...
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
(Romans 2:1-3)In addition to these very direct scriptures, God’s word also provides us with an entire parable to illustrate this principle.
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.
(Matthew 18:23-35)Look again at versus 3 and 4.
3And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4Or 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?
(Matthew 7:3-4)Here, Jesus is talking about our unworthiness to judge others due to our own corruptible nature. Can you imagine a judge in a court of law with a long criminal past of committing larceny, sitting in judgement of another for the same crime? He would not be worthy to judge such a person because he himself has committed the same crime for which he would be handing down judgement against another (Ref Romans 2:1-3 above). We would waste no time is concluding that this was unfair, unethical, hypocritical, and a mockery of justice. Yet, when we cast judgement on another for their sins, we are doing that very same thing, while not seeing that we are just like the court judge described above. We are all guilty of sin and therefore are unworthy to point a condemning finger at another for their sin. Only our Lord is worthy to judge because He though faced all the temptations that we face, never sinned.
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
(James 4:11-12)Verse 5 reads…
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.
(Matthew 7:5)As previously stated, there is a difference between rebuke or counseling and judging. Although rebuke and counseling may be appropriate at times, we need to keep our own lives in check before we can be effective counselors or suitable of rebuking another. Otherwise we are only hypocrites when we point out another persons short comings when there is sin in our own lives. We need to live soberly, striving to please God in all our ways in order to be used by God to help another in this way.
Look at verse 6…
Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
(Matthew 7:6)There is no rebuke, counsel, or correction to be made to those who have willfully rejected the message of the gospel. They are lost and even if they were to change their behavior while still rejecting the message of the gospel, they would still be condemned. You can not rebuke a lost man for mowing his yard on Sunday. They law has no effect on him. There is no desire in him to be obedient to God and follow His ways. Therefore, rebuke and counsel offer no conviction to this person. A person needs to be saved before obedience to God will have any real meaning. We can still pray for this person and we can even witness to him, but it is pointless to offer corrective counsel to him. If he is lost and he mows his yard on Sunday, he is on his way to Hell, and if he is lost and does not mow his yard on Sunday, he is still on his way to Hell.
Consider verses 7-11…
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
(Matthew 7:7-11)Ask, seek, and knock are things that we as Christians should be purposely doing to have the strength, wisdom, and courage to serve our Lord in accordance to His will. Our pastor has preached many times that we were not saved to simply occupy a pew. We are to SERVE or Lord. That means we are to find things to do in service to him. This scripture tells us that we can have opportunities to serve him IF we will ask, IF we will seek and IF we will knock. God will give the person with the willing heart a job to do in serving him. We need to grow as Christians so that we can continuously grow in our service to Him. Growth comes from study, meditation, prayer, desire, faith, and simply doing. The final verses above promise that when we ask, seek, and knock, we will be given what we need in order to serve Him. These verses leave us with no excuse for not serving the Lord in some capacity. His promises here let us know that he will supply all we need. All we have to do is desire it enough to ask, seek, and knock.
God Bless you,
Carl
I may not look like much, but I cost a bunch!
