Matthew 7:1-6

Judge Not, Hypocritically!

Matthew 7:1-6 

Many misunderstand the quote from Jesus about judging others, and one where it is justified for believers to judge unbelievers. The first two tie into the same subject, while the third is misunderstood by both believers and unbelievers alike. To properly understand one, will help you understand the others. Keep in mind, I speak for how Christians should look at judging, not how unbelievers should. Until one becomes a believer, it matters not to God how you act. Until one becomes born again, your soul is already in jeopardy of eternal damnation.

1. Who died and made you My Judge?

1. Matthew 7:1 is quickly replacing John 3:16as the most memorized and quoted verse in the Bible?

1. Homosexuality is a sin

2. All pre-marital sex is wrong

3. All forms of abortion is murder

2. Those statements makes the world immediately trot out their favorite verse Matthew 7:1

1. “Judge not, lest ye be Judged"

2. Then they usually add, “Who died and made you judge?”

3. Let's be honest, we all engage in judging from time to time, usually we judge using our standards

2. Verse (1) “Judge not that you be not judged”

1. Before we continue, we must first look at the many Greek words for Judge

1. “krit-ee-kos” --critical, decisive, discriminative, to discern Hebrews 4:12

2. “dah-yawn” – lawyer and an advocate, who defends those wronged 1 Samuel 24:15

3. “reeb, roob” -- to Judge in civil matters as in property disputes 2 Chronicles 19:8

4. “shaw-fat”-- to pronounce sentence, used with litigation by government Genesis 19:19

5. “kree-no” -- judge to the point of condemnation, pointing finger and condemning them Luke 19:22

6. “kree-tace” -- a Judge generally or specifically in a modern senseActs 10:42

7. ”dik-as-tace” -- Judge, one who is responsible for legal rulings Acts 7:35

2. Jesus never meant for us to never judge.

1. We are told to judge some people as dogs and Matthew 7:6

2. We are obligated to judge accordingly the fruit of those around us Matthew 7:15-20

3. There are times when the church must exercise discipline Matthew 18:15-17

4. We are told "test the spirits" 1 John 4:1-2

3. What then did Jesus mean then when He said judge not?

1. Jesus used the Greek word “kree-no”

2. So often we are critical and condemning of another person

3. “Sermon on the Mount” is interested in the spirit and heart of a Christian

1. Jesus is condemning a hyper-critical spirit

4. Quickly expressing opinions without having all of the facts.

3. Verse (2) You will be judged by same measure you judge

(Reasons we are not to judge)

1. `We are setting the standard by which we will be judged.

1. If I judge I am setting the measuring stick for how I will be judged.

2. We are often guilty of judging another for what we are guilty of also

1. Nathan told David story to convict him

2. You set the standard and measuring stick by which God will one day judge you

1. If you are merciful, God will be merciful to you,

1. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

2. If you forgive others God will forgive you, but you do not, then will God not forgive you

3. The implication is not that we should never judge, 

1. But when we judge, remember that we shall be judged by the same standards.

4. Verse (3) Looking at others while ignoring your own faults

1. Often times we are guilty of far worse things than we are judging in others

2. Problem is we see so clearly others faults, but are blind to our own

3. Our sins look horrible when someone else is committing the same ones

5. Verse (4 and 5) "FIRST CAST THE BEAM OUT OF YOUR OWN EYE."

1. Paul tells us that we should judge ourselves, then we will not be judged of God

1. David prayed: "Search me O God, and know my heart."

2. It is so important that we see ourselves in the light of God

1. When Peter told Christ to depart from Him, he felt unworthy Luke 5:8

2. Clear your own eye site so you can remove the speck from your brother's eye

1. How did Jesus respond to those who brought the woman caught in adultery?

1. Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone

6. At first view this seems Jesus just contradicted Himself, He has just told us not to judge

1. Jesus was talking about constantly condemning, being critical of everything

1. The next verse certainly proves the that we should be discerning

2. If we stopped at verse 5, we could develop a false position and mislead others

1. We would try to be so careful not to judge that we would be without discernment

2. The net effect in the church would be chaos.

3. There would be no exposing of heresy and judging it.

7. Verse (6) Casting pearls before swine

1. Jesus is referring to the scriptures, and precious things God reveals of His love

1. “Kingdom” parables Jesus makes reference to merchantman and a precious pearl

2. When reading God can open our understanding to a passage of 

1. It is like finding a beautiful pearl

3. Cannot share a special understanding with just anyone

4. Unbelievers or agnostics will just make fun of you.

5. Does Jesus mean that we are not to share the truth of the gospel with unbelievers?

1. No, but we do need to discern and judge

2. What does he mean by dogs and swine?

1. The dog is more like the coyote

2. Swine always stood for that which was unclean

3. How are we then to share the gospel? Jesus sets the example

1. The woman of Samaria was sinful He revealed who He was

2. Zaccheaus who was a notable sinner in Jericho, Jesus invited Himself to dinner at his house

3. When Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Luke 23:8-11

4. He never said a word, unwilling to satisfy morbid curiosity

5. Jesus used discrimination as to He shared the truth

4. In Corinth Paul judged and shook his garments Acts 18:5-7

1. 1. Just as Jesus told 70 disciples to do Matthew 10:12-15

8. Obviously we are not God, so how do we apply this lesson?

1. We learn to discriminate in how to share the gospel.

1. Jude told the believers: Jude 1:22-23

1. This shows us that our witness is not to be mechanical

2. Some are motivated by love to come to Jesus Christ.

3. Others are motivated by fear. The fear of judgment, the fear of hell.

4. God does not require us to argue a person into the faith