SOTM: Judging Others

OT: Proverbs 26:12

NT:  Matthew 7:1-6

                 

 

  1. Well, good morning friends. Here we are at the 10th sermon of 12 sermons on the greatest sermon of all time – the Sermon on the Mount
  2. A series Dan and I have both continually described in great simultaneous tension - deeply convicting and outstandingly beautiful. So, I am left repeating my brother Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd Jones and say that was I not absolutely assured of salvation by grace I could hardly stand in front of these words. The Sermon on the Mount strips the bearer naked before the throne of God and all hope of fighting must be replaced by resting in the care of the Father.
  3. Will you continue to hold that idea as a ruling paradigm? To not go mad –you must. Remember, the Sermon on the Mount begins by describing the “poor in Spirit” and everything that follows must be held in that context. The Savior who delivers this message knows us, loves us, and has redeemed us comprehensively by the merit of His Name and His Grace
  4. Prayer
  5. Open your Bibles with me to Matthew Chapter 7 verses 1-6. Page _______ in your pew Bible.


    1. These verses in chapter 7 open a new totally new section of teaching on Judgment and Discernment that hinges on the Golden Human Relationship Rule in Verse 12 and continues to verse 29, forming a virtually balanced seesaw of copy.
    2. Today we look at the first six verses of this section that form foundational principles regarding how we as recipients of this holy calling and custodian of this sacred truth interact with fellow believers and the world at large all the while maintaining the rule of doing unto others what we would have them do unto us.
    3. This is harder than it sounds. It requires a bit a balancing act. Truly, it seems easiest to adopt a rule of absolute grace and conciliatory behavior toward others, because this is what I want to receive. This desire however will need to be tempered by the magnitude of the Truth, the height of the calling and our importance of our custodial care of the gospel.
    4. Jesus begins with yet another strong Injunction –DO NOT JUDGE

                                                              i.      This is immediately followed by two very practical warnings or reasons:

1.      Or you two will be judged

2.      with the same measure you measured it out

                                                            ii.      First, I am going to add a word here – immorally. A privilege I feel is afforded to me by latter context. Do Not Immorally Judge. I admit I struggled with this word. What I needed was a good Hebrew word with multiple meanings that captures self-righteous, unjust, unfair, undue, condescending judgment. I guess immorally, will just have to due.

                                                          iii.      Now, I do not want to overcomplicate this passage but I think a lot of people skip right over this bit in the context of “do onto to others as you wish them to do unto you.” “You reap what you sow.” “A dishonest man will be repaid in his own coin”, etc.

                                                           iv.      Look, I think this is probably a fair understanding of part of the meaning of “Do Not Judge” BUT the whole of the Sermon on the Mount and the whole of Scriptures themselves point to a much more portentous meta-truth. Do Not Judge, or you will be judged by the Great Judge Himself, and you will have set the measure by which He will render judgment over you.

                                                             v.      Now before you react and call out Romans 8:1 – therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” let me explain myself.

                                                           vi.      I would argue, in good company I would add, that there is more than one type of judgment. We have talked about all of them already in this series.

1.      There is of course, the final judgment: that eschatological categorization of our souls. The scripture and this sermon are clear that is a settled issue. But there exists two more types of judgment that I do not wish for the church to forget. Do you remember the rule I felt God Impressed upon me in seminary after a foolish sin?

a.      Sonship secure, everything else can be forfeit.

                                                         vii.      The Scripture is clear that we Christian are being judged for our lives here and now

1.      I Cor. 11:27-32

2.      Did you catch that? Fallen Asleep. Did Paul just say God might kill us for our sins!

3.      Hebrews 12:4-6

4.      HE is judging the direction of our paths even now and will discipline us as need.

                                                       viii.      I love repeating Paul’s implied warnings to myself and others. No sin will separate you from the love of God; it might however separate you from every good blessing and calling and quite possibly separate you from your body!

                                                           ix.      The Scriptures are also clear that we Christians will receive a reward judgment. Our lives and commitments here on earth impact our lives and privileges in Heaven.

1.      We need look now farther than two weeks ago and the Lord’s teaching on treasure to understand a judgment for reward is pending. Do you remember Randy Alcorn’s parting words? Live this life like your five minutes into the next one :~)

    1. So, why not immorally judge? Because you will reap what you sow, not only among those you deal with, for some of them you may fool or avoid recompense by fear or kindness. But because you are also be judged by the Great judge Himself, and his eye never falters, he never forgets, he does not fear your reprisal and all of his judgments are just.
  1. The command to not judge is followed by a familiar amusing tale of hypocrisy neatly communicating significant truth. The sawdust and the Plank
  2. Why don’t we get Jesus’ jokes? This one was perfect for him. He was the son of a carpenter and probably well experienced in the plight sawdust in the eyes and the weight of planks
    1. Well Jesus makes a funny about hypocrisy

                                                              i.      Read 3-5

                                                            ii.      Imbedded is an obvious lesson about being a hypocrite. How silly to notice sawdust in your brothers eye when there is a plank in yours. How could he even see the sawdust? He basically has to assume that it is there!

                                                          iii.      Just as delightfully is included the complimentary commandment to carefully and constructively help your brother after the plank is out of your eye.

                                                           iv.      This may seem like a “when you have totally clear eyes you can help others,” but I think there is again a larger-truth. The plank in the eye of the judger is often a misunderstanding of their own state. Remember, I said this who discussion takes place in the context of the poor in Spirit, not the supper-Christian. The one without the plank in her eye is the one who sees their own brokenness; and in the same grace they have been shown offers humble, constructive criticism. This judging is a delight. It is the judging that keeps the whole Christian community clean. We are to judge speakers and teaching, behavior and commitments.

                                                             v.      The word here is Krino, which means to evaluate, to analyze, to judge. We are still to “Krino” the sawdust in our brother’s eye, but only in proper understanding of ourselves and the truth.

  1. Finally, comes a balancing corollary truth about how we hold these great teachings on wholesome judgment and constructive correction.  Read verse 6
    1. Some think verse 6 does not even belong with the proceeding verses. I disagree entirely.
    2. Verse six tells us how to apply this truth outside the fellowship. Jesus is a sense says, look always apply this principle in the kingdom, but there are those is this world who will not receive your judgment, not matter how just, how true, or how lovely and humbling you deliver it.
    3. He says they are like dogs and pigs

                                                              i.      Now, we probably do not have the right context for totally understanding these warnings.

                                                            ii.      The dogs Jesus has in mind are wild dogs rooming the streets. Ever feed a wild dog? They have zero appreciation for even good food. They will eat it and than likely turn and try to eat you two. They have no gratitude. They have no concern but to devour. The wild dog will not thank you for your kindness or concern. In the same way, there are those in this world who could care less for your genuine concern. And Jesus’ word to you – stop giving it to them

                                                          iii.      What about pigs? What use does a pig have for pearls? It is entirely ignorant o the beauty or value of a pearl, it prefers garbage. They pig is blind to what seems obvious to us –pearls have value. It is not a choice the pigs make. The pig is literally blind and will simply trample over them like you might trash on the ground, oblivious to its value.

    1. When you take this kingdom principle into the world, there are some who will receive it, but there are those who have not gratitude or are ignorant to its value – DO NOT TO GIVE THEM WHAT IS SACRED.
  1. So What?
    1. So do not be an immoral or hypocritical judge. Know thyself, see the plank in thine own eye, for you will are being judged by God and man and with the measure you use, it will be measured out to you.
    2. Do not be a fool with your advice, but rather use discernment especially among the world.
    3.  In short, a Christian should be marked by a wise discernment that is rooted in eternal Truth and tempered in great humility. They should not fear to evaluate, for the Truth they serve is unbending and sure. But because all of our justice it is derivative it must to be dispensed with great care.