Jesus’s first sermon is broken up into three chapters, and it is tempting to make the chapter break into different sermons even though it is one sermon. In Matthew 7:1-6, Jesus warns us not to judge based on what He previously said. Read the previous posts on Jesus’s first sermon to refresh your memory. Passing judgment on someone is expressing a critical opinion based on a limited understanding of the other person’s perspective. We must remember that all believers are in the process of renewing their minds to walk like Jesus. Some are further along than others, so let us show grace to those who do not have the same level of obedience. As born-again believers, we are all holy and set apart for God, but we are all at different stages of sanctification, so we should be careful how we judge another person’s actions and instead be encouraging. Spouses are guilty of judging each other when they become offended by what the other person says or does that they dislike. Be kind and patient, and do not judge in arrogance.
How much do you want to be judged?
Jesus teaches us to not judge hastily but carefully. Matthew 7:1-2 states, “Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” Take a moment and ponder what Jesus means by “with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” It sounds like we will reap what we sow. When I am around someone who judges people, I feel like I need to defend the person being judged. Then I think, why are they judging others? Could that person have childhood insecurities, are they prideful, do they want to gossip, or are they truly offended and need to talk to the person who has offended them instead of judging them?
Also, in Luke 6:37-38 Jesus further explains, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”
The Hypocrite Passes Judgment
Jesus continues His sermon in Matthew 7:3-5, “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” A speck is barely noticeable unless you are looking for it.
The person who passes judgment on minor offenses in others and tells them about it but does not consider their own offensive ways is a hypocrite. A hypocrite is someone who thinks they are righteous but can’t see their own sin. Romans 2:1 explains, “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.” I have observed that people judge others for the very same issues in themselves.
Before you judge someone, ask God to show you, if you have the same problem then offer the same grace you would want to receive. Seeing our offensive ways requires us to humbly ask God to search our hearts and minds (Jer. 17:10). Jeremiah 17:9 says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” And Psalm 139:23-24 explains, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
When is it necessary to judge?
In 1 Corinthians 5:11-13, the Apostle Paul says, “But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.” For example, my husband and I were friends with a couple who said they were Christians but were in sexual sin. I felt very uncomfortable associating with them because of these verses. We spoke to them about getting married, but they were both clear they did not want to marry. They continued to attend our church. Eventually, they broke up, but neither one submitted their lives to God and continued in sexual sin with other people. In the passage above, the Apostle Paul is saying to “purge the evil person from among you.” Why do you think he said this? Yet most churches do not do that. I would like to know your thoughts.
My husband and I had another instance when we needed to judge a brother in our Christian group. We asked a Christian brother who had a tree-cutting business to cut down some trees for us, which he did, and we paid him. He tried to swindle a significant amount of money from us by falsely billing us for other work that he clearly did not do. Then he went around telling others we did him wrong. We had to judge him as a swindler and a liar. When we presented our case and the truth before the leadership, he backed off. We forgave him, but then we had nothing to do with him, though the leadership continued to befriend him. God removed him from the fellowship by sending him to jail because his evil heart led him to commit a crime. Evil men need to be removed from the church because they cause corruption within the church.
In the next verse, Jesus is telling us when we should judge those outside the church. Matthew 7:6 states, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.” The words of God are holy, so when we speak to people about Him, and they curse the words of God, they are the dogs. Pearls are God’s truths, so when you present God’s truths to someone, and they despise their value and trash all that God calls good and say it is evil, they are pigs. These are profane and corrupt people who need Jesus but are clearly antagonistic toward the truths of God. If they begin to attack and abuse you, you need to get away quickly.
Conclusion
Judging is complex but it is always better to give grace and encourage others to love and do good deeds (Heb. 10:24) . Proverbs 24:23 states, “These also are sayings of the wise. Partiality [bias; prejudice] in judging is not good.” No need to elaborate. We have all been wrongly judged in one way or another by others who disagree with our decisions based on their bias. Conversely, we have judged others based on our biases and beliefs. Instead, we should patiently show grace and gently correct those who are in opposition.
Someone will say, “What if the other person is clearly in sin according to Galatians 5:19-21 “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Yes, gently and lovingly warn those who are clearly sinning and pray they come to repentance. James 5:19-20 says, “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
May God Bless this word and give us all understanding that we would obey it.
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