Judging - Part 2

-Introduction

-Last week, I introduced the topic of judging.

     -In that lesson, I said that sound logic and good reasoning go hand and hand with

       God’s word.

     -We utilize logic and reasoning on a daily basis.  Yet, some seemingly want to throw

       them out the window when it comes to God’s word.

-I pointed out the fact that God has indeed provided us with a standard of faith - His word.

     -It is His word that we will be judged according to.

     -It is His word that we must utilize in make our own judgments.

-I then gave some examples of how we regularly use established standards along with logic

  and sound reasoning to make proper judgments on a daily basis.

     -That’s what we need to do with God’s word also.

-But, what about Matt 7:1 and those who say, “You’re not supposed to judge”?

     -Remember, a person who makes such a statement is violating his own statement.  He

       is judging that it is wrong to judge.

-So, what about Matthew 7:1-5?  What do these verses teach about judging?

     -In this morning’s lesson, we’ll take a quick look at this passage and a couple of

       others commonly referred to with the idea of “You’re not supposed to judge.”  We’ll

       try to discern their actual meanings.

-Matthew 7:1-5

-Too many people treat Matt 7:1 as if there is a period after “Judge not” rather than a comma

  and that Jesus then moved on to a completely different subject.

-The topic at hand is hypocritical judgment.

     -This passage is telling us to avoid hypocritical judging.

     -In other words, don’t judge somebody for something you are also doing.

            -i.e. a thief judging somebody for stealing

-Notice the illustration that Jesus gives here - a mote (or speck) vs a beam (or log).

     -Picture in your mind what He is saying.  Can you imagine one person, with a beam

       protruding from one eye, walking up to another person and saying, “I think you

       have a little speck in your eye.  Hold still and I’ll see if I can get that for you”?

-What Jesus’ point here?  The person with the beam needs to take care of that beam first.

-Notice though:  Jesus never says to ignore the speck in the brother’s eye.  As a matter of

  fact, He does the opposite. 

     -vs 5 - “...then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye”

-This passage condemns hypocritical judgment but encourages sound judgment.

-1 Cor 4:1-5

-Notice that the context is that of being a good steward.

-In this passage, we find a contrast between public opinion, self-evaluation by way of

  conscience and the Lord’s authoritative and final judgment.

-vs 3 - Paul wasn’t overly concerned with what others thought of his stewardship.

-vs 4 - Paul also understood that his personal judgment of himself wasn’t necessarily

           sufficient.

     -Paul had maintained a clear conscience when persecuting Christians (Acts 24:16).

     -In  his own mind, he was doing that which was right (Acts 26:9) yet he was wrong.

-vs 5 - Paul understood that the judgment that means the most is the Lord’s judgment.

     -It is the Lord’s judgment that is final and authoritative.  It is the Lord’s judgment that

       accounts for things that we cannot know - inner criteria.

     -So, we should not make judgments regarding intentions, motives and such like.

-Again, this passage is not condemning the general idea/process of making sound

  judgments.  Again, it is providing a contrast between public opinion, self-evaluation and

  the Lord’s final, authoritative and revealing judgment.

     -As a matter of fact, consider the situation revealed in the next chapter - fornication

       within the church.

     -Notice 1 Cor 5:12 - a rhetorical question.

     -1 Cor 5:13 - There was no disciplinary process to follow regarding those outside of

                           the church.  There was a disciplinary process regarding the Christian

                           involved with the sinfulness.

-James 4:10-13

-Again, examining the context is crucial.  The judging being spoken of here is that which

  is done with a lack of humility and a lack of compassion - judgment carried out in a

  harsh manner with unkind words.

-Such would derive from a person who carried a self-righteous and self-exalted attitude.

-Closing Thoughts

-So, we can see that the scriptures do not speak out against judging.

     -Gal 6:1-2, Jas 5:19-20 - How could one follow these without judging?

-I’m afraid that too many people live their lives (or approach certain people &/or

  situations) as if God is going to change His mind.

-I’ve heard this statement many times:  “Let’s just leave that between that person and God.”

     -In other words, let’s not address a difficult situation.  Instead, let’s just simply turn a

      blind eye to it and hope for the best.

     -Isn’t everything between us and God?  And, isn’t that why He has given us His word?!

     -So, we need to prepare now - before the judgment.  Because, if we leave something

       “between a person and God,” that’s probably exactly will it will end up being - between

       that person and God - a source of separation.  We don’t want that.

-Let’s make proper judgments - based upon the proper standard, within the limits of what is

  known (not interior criteria) and with a proper attitude and manner - humble, loving, kind,

  compassionate, etc.

     -Our primary motivation for judging should not be to condemn but to help.

-John 7:24

-What judgments could be made about you this morning regarding the well-being of your

  soul?  If you haven’t obeyed the Gospel, then you need to do so:  Believe (John 3:16, 8:24),

  Confess (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent (Lk 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), Be Baptized (Mk

  16:16, Acts 2:38).  If you’ve already done these things but have not remained faithful in

  your service to the Lord, then confess your shortcomings, repent and pray for forgiveness

  (1 Jn 1:7-9, Acts 8:22-24).