Matthew 6:9-13 - After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom
come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive
our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
forever. Amen.
The Sermon for this week is: To Judge Or Not To Judge - Matthew
7:1-6 - Judge not,
that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is
in thine own eye? 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? 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. 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.
INTRODUCTION
1. A favorite saying of many people is “Judge not, that ye be not judged”...
a. Frequently quoted whenever someone is pointing out the sins or faults of another
b. The impression is that we should never make moral judgments in what we see in others
2. Is that true? Is that what Jesus meant when He said this?
a. Are we never to make moral judgments about the right or wrong in other?
b. If we see wrong in others, can we never point it out?
3. I am persuaded that Jesus’ statement is often misused, that Jesus taught...
a. There are times when we must judge
b. There are times when it is appropriate to point out the faults in others
[“To Judge Or Not To Judge”, that is the question before us. The proper answer comes
from a closer look at Jesus’ words in - Matthew 7:1-6 - Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured
to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest
not the beam that is in thine own eye? 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? 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. 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.
First
note how His words are frequently misused...]
I. HIS WORDS OFTEN USED TO FORBID ALL MANNER OF JUDGMENT
A. SUCH AS ADVERSE OR UNFAVORABLE CRITICISM...
1. Like pointing out a fault in someone else
2. Even if it be truly “constructive” criticism
B. SUCH AS THE EXERCISE OF CHURCH DISCIPLINE...
1. Exercising discipline of any sort does require “judging” others as to their moral or spiritual
condition.
2. Since such “judgment” is involved, some feel (Matthew 7:1-2 - Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye
mete, it shall be measured to you again.) - rule out any sort of church discipline.
C. SUCH AS EXPOSING THOSE WHO TEACH ERROR...
1. Admittedly, judgment is required to consider whether someone is teaching error.
2. Therefore, some people, in light of (Matthew 7:1-2 - Judge not, that ye be not judged.
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured
to you again.) - believe that we cannot speak out against those who teach error.
[Is that what Jesus means? Must we remain silent when we see people overtaken in a fault, bringing reproach
upon the name of Christ, or blatantly teaching error? Let me suggest that...]
II. JESUS DID NOT RULE OUT ALL FORMS OF JUDGING
A. NOTE THE IMMEDIATE CONTEXT...
1. Which reveals that in some cases proper judgment must be made
2. Matthew 7:6 - 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. - implies that judgment
is to be made as to who are “dogs” and who are “hogs”
a. Otherwise, how can we know when not to give that which is holy to “dogs”?
b. Or how can we know when not to cast our pearls before “swine”?
3. Matthew 7:15-20 - Beware of false prophets,
which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know
them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good
tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree
cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast
into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. - implies that
we must make judgments in determining who is a false teacher (“by their fruits you will know them”)
B. CONSIDER THE REMOTE CONTEXT...
1. Which speak of times when judgment must be made!
2. Elsewhere, Jesus taught people to “judge with righteous judgment” - John 7:24 - Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
3. Christians have a responsibility to “judge those who are inside”
the local church - 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 - I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:
Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then
must ye needs go out of the world. But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother
be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.
For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without
God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person.
4. We are taught by the apostle of love (John) to “test the spirits” (which making judgments)
- 1 John 4:1 - Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false
prophets are gone out into the world.
[There is no contradiction here, for as we continue with our text, we notice that...]
III. JESUS DEFINED WHAT KIND OF JUDGING HE CONDEMNS
A. JUDGING WHEN BLIND TO ONE’S OWN FAULTS...
1. Read carefully Matthew 7:3-5 - And
why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 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? 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.
2. Jesus is saying “that is it wrong for anyone to concentrate his attention on the speck in his
brother's eye, and while thus occupied, to ignore the beam in his own eye” (Hendriksen)
3. Just Paul taught the necessity of proper “introspection” when helping others - Galatians
6:1 - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;
considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
B. JUDGING WITHOUT MERCY AND LOVE...
1. “The Lord is here condemning the spirit of censoriousness, judging harshly, self-righteously,
without mercy, without love, as also the parallel passage (Luke 6:36-37 - Be ye therefore
merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned:
forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:) clearly indicates.” (Hendriksen)
2. James warned against making judgments without mercy - James 2:13 - For he shall have
judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
a. If we make judgments without showing mercy, then no mercy will be shown when we are judged!
b. Just as Jesus said in verse 2...
1) “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged”
2) “With the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you”
[The implication is not we should never judge, but when we do judge, remember that we shall be judged
by the same standards we use! Let mercy and love temper our judgments. Finally...]
IV. JESUS IMPLIES THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WE MUST JUDGE!
A. AFTER WE HAVE CORRECTED OUR OWN FAULTS...
1. First, we must remove the “beam” from our own eye - Matthew 7:5 - 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.
2. When we have done so, we are able to see, discern (judge), and be of help to others who are overtaken
in their faults
3. Indeed, “the law of Christ” requires us to! - cf. Galatians 6:1-2 - Brethren,
if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself,
lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
B. BETWEEN THOSE “WORTHY” AND “HOGS & DOGS”...
1. Note carefully Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:6 - 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.
a. Some are not worthy of that which “holy”
b. Some are like “dogs” and “swine”
-- Determining who is which requires judgment upon our part!
2. With those who are receptive, we are to be longsuffering in trying to help
them come out of their error - cf. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 - And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle
unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves;
if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that
they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
3. But for those who are not, we are not to waste what is good and holy on them!
a. Cf. the instructions of Jesus to His disciples - Matthew 10:12-15 - And
when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let
your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city,
shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the
day of judgment, than for that city.
b. Cf. the example of Paul and Barnabas at Antioch of Pisidia - Acts 13:42-46
- And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them
the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas:
who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city
together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those
things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary
that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of
everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
CONCLUSION
1. The kind of judging forbidden by Jesus is that which Lenski calls “self-righteous, hypocritical
judging which is false and calls down God's judgment on itself.”
2. This is the kind of judging that was also condemned by James when he wrote:
James 4:11-12 - 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?
3. May God help us to refrain from such judging...
a. To be more apt to remove the “beams” from our own eyes
b. To then be more useful in helping others with their problems
But to say we should never judge, is to abuse what Jesus teaches, not only in this passage but elsewhere
as well!
Speaking of judging, are you preparing yourself for the day in which you will be judged by the Lord? -
cf. John 12:48 - He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth
him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. ; 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done
in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15-16 - And
he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Prayer:
Lord I truly thank You for giving me the opportunity to present these words to my brethrens. I pray that You will
give them Your eternal blessings and accept them into Your heart - this I pray
in the name of Thy Son, Jesus, the Messiah, Your only begotten son which Ye sent to save mankind from themselves. Amen
Ephesians
6:23-24 - Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
This sermon is in the Public Domain - Free for all to use with the only requirement:
That it never be used for profit.
