Matthew 7:1-6
I. \\#Matt 1:1-3:17\\ The Presentation of the King
A. \\#Matt 1:1-2:23\\ The Offering of the King
1. \\#1:1-17\\ The King is Offered to the Reader
2. \\#1:18-25\\ The King Is Offered to Joseph
3. \\#2:1-12\\ The King Is Offered to the East
4. \\#2:13-23\\ The King Is Offered to Herod
B. \\#Matt 3:1-17\\ The Announcement of the King
1. Announced by John
2. Announced by the Father
II. \\#4:1-7:29\\ The Person of the King
A. \\#Matt 4:1-4:29\\ Powerful but humble
1. \\#4:1-11\\ Powerful but humble before Satan.
2. \\#4:12-17\\ Powerful but humble before government.
3. \\#4:18-22\\ Powerful but humble in the selection of His
disciples.
4. \\#4:23-25\\ Powerful but humble in ministry.
B. \\#Matt 5:1-7:29\\ Wise and Godly
1. \\#5:1-2\\ The Setting
2. \\#5:3-12\\ Be All You Can Be
3. \\#5:13-16\\ Do the Work
4. \\#5:17-19\\ Honor the Law
5. \\#5:20-6:18\\ Do It Better-Grace Always Exceeds the Law.
a. \\#5:21-48\\ Grace exceeds the Law in our dealings with people.
(1) \\#5:21-22\\ Keep It Civil
(2) \\#5:23-26\\ Make It Right
(3) \\#5:27-32\\ Keep It Pure
(4) \\#5:29-30\\ Control Your Vessel
(5) \\#5:31-32\\ Make It Work
(6) \\#5:33-37\\ Keep It True
(7) \\#5:38-42\\ Go the Second Mile
(8) \\#5:43-48\\ Love Them Anyway
b. \\#6:1-18\\ Grace exceeds the Law in our dealings with God.
(1) \\#6:1-4\\ Give unto God Alone
(2) \\#6:5-15\\ Pray unto God Alone
(3) \\#6:16-18\\ Fast unto God Alone
6. \\#6:19-34\\ Invest For Eternity
a. \\#19-20\\ An Investment Strategy
b. \\#21-24\\ Investment Truths
c. \\#25-34\\ Trust God Alone
7. \\#7:1-6\\ Don’t Judge
8. \\#7:7-11\\ Pray without Giving Up and Doubting
9. \\#7:12\\ Do Right by Others
10. \\#7:13-14\\ Walk through the Right Door
11. \\#7:15-20\\ Watch for False Professors
12. \\#7:21-23\\ Be Careful You Are Not A False Possessor
13. \\#7:24-27\\ Be Certain You Respond Wisely
14. \\#7:28-29\\ Closing
I. \\#7:1-6\\ Don’t Judge
A. \\#1\\ The command
1. Our Lord commands us who are under grace not to "judge" one
another.
2. Some today would say that any statement which declares an activity
or behavior wrong is guilty of judging.
a. If such an interpretation is correct, then speaking to anyone
about a behavior or action would violate this command.
b. Preaching would most certainly be toothless, leaving the only
topic that could be preached to be the love of God.
c. What did our Lord mean by this command?
3. The word "judge" means to decide, to condemn, to conclude, to
punish.
a. It carries with it the idea that one has examined and decided
another’s guilt or innocence, as well as the proper
punishment.
b. To a lesser degree, it can mean to consider or think on the
motives of another.
4. The gospel of Luke may help interpret Jesus’ command.
Lu 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be
condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
a. According to Luke’s quote, Jesus was associating three
behaviors together—judging, condemning, and not forgiving.
b. These three thoughts together take us from the thought of
merely conversing with someone about right and wrong to the
attitude we have while we are conversing with that person.
c. If our attitude is condemning—bitter, hatful, mean-spirited—
as if we have been wronged and will not forgive, then we may
be guilty of judging that person.
d. The context of Luke’s quote \\#Luke 6:31-35\\ also fits the
possibility that being judgmental can be an attitude instead
of just an action.
e. If this is so, it is possible to be judgmental even if we are
not condemning a wrong behavior or action.
5. \\#Rom 14:1-13\\ Paul applies Jesus’ command more to judging the
actions or intentions of another Christian about their behavior in
general.
a. Paul speaks about Christians judging other Christians based on
such things as what they eat \\#Rom 14:3\\ or don’t eat or
on which day of the week they worship \\#Rom 14:5-6\\.
These would have been very personal and potentially
decisive issues as the church turned further away from
Jewish worship practices to their own.
b. Paul’s command teaches us that Christians are not to judge
other Christian in these matters but are to leave such issues
to the Christian and His Lord \\#Rom 13:4\\.
c. It should be noted that Scripture tells us that neither of the
being issues dealt with in this text were actually wrong.
(1) As to whether it is wrong to eat or not to eat certain
foods, Paul declares there are no right (clean) or
wrong (unclean) foods \\#Romans 14:14\\, although he
also says that meat offered to idols is linked to
devils \\#1Cor 10:19-21\\ and that eating it might
cause a less mature Christian to somehow stumble
\\#1Cor 8:9-12\\. He concludes that as far as his own
actions in eating this meat:
1Co 8:13 Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh
while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
(2) As to whether it is right or wrong for one to worship
on a particular day of the week, Paul says it is a
personal choice.
Romans 14:5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day
alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
(3) This is repeated elsewhere.
Col 1:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of
an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
1Cor 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to
the glory of God.
6. Question: Would Paul have given the same command (to leave the
choice of doing or not doing a certain thing between the
Christian and his Lord) if the issue was one that the Bible
declared to wrong?
a. The answer is NO. Why?
(1) The Bible clearly states some behaviors are wrong by
Paul’s own hand.
1Cor 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of
God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor
effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners,
shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery,
fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife,
seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I
tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such
things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
(a) When a Christian calls these behaviors wrong, he or
she is not judging. They are agreeing with God.
(b) To share what God has said with another is not wrong
unless it is because of the attitude of the person
sharing it.
(2) Paul dealt with those who had clearly violated God’s
commands many times. In doing so, he "judged" them.
1Cor 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such
fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have
his father’s wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done
this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already,
as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my
spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the
spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
2Cor 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or
three witnesses shall every word be established.
2 I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time;
and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all
other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:
(3) Paul charged the church with the responsibility of dealing
with those who are within the church and doing wrong.
(Again, he called that judging.)
1Cor 5:11 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.
12 For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye judge
them that are within?
13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among
yourselves that wicked person.
6:1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the
unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall
be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to
this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to
judge who are least esteemed in the church.
2Th 3:14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and
have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.
(4) The Bible indicates that Christians should make it part
of their ministry to help those who are turning out of
the way. That could not be done without confronting them
about their wrong behavior.
Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way
shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Gal 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.
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his
way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
b. These truths make it clear that it is not wrong for a Christian
to approach another Christian who is violating God’s Biblical
commands, tell them that what they are doing is wrong, and
then encourage them to repent of it.
c. Of course, it is still possible that this good ministry can
become judging if one crosses the line by doing so with s
bitter, hateful, and mean spirit.
(1) The Christian shares the news of sin not with anger or
malice but love.
(2) While some like to compare themselves to being an Elijah
or a John the Baptist, they are not. (i.e. Westboro
Baptist Church picketing military funerals)
(3) Jesus corrected His disciples for that very attitude:
Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received
up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a
village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to
Jerusalem.
54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou
that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias
did?
55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit
ye are of.
56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And
they went to another village.
7. What about talking to non-Christians about sin?
a. The Bible records many examples of that happening.
(1) Most every Old Testament prophet was proclaiming his
message to a nation of non-believers \\#1Ki 18:21\\.
(2) Jesus preached and condemned the sinful behaviors of the
non-believing scribes, Pharisees, and multitudes.
Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye
believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Mt 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’
houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the
greater damnation.
b. Even so, as a rule, it seems that it is best to talk to non-
Christians about their sinful condition rather then their
sinful actions.
(1) While it is not always possible to separate the two, it
does little good to seek a lost person’s repentance over
a specific sin.
(2) Even if a lost person would turn from a sin it will not
produce salvation. (i.e. drinking, drugs, adultery)
(3) It is their entire sinful condition that we want them to
be convicted of for only that will bring them to true
repentance and salvation.
c. Of course part of the problem for us today is so many
blatantly sinful actions are being condoned and promoted that
Christians find themselves being forced into taking public
stands on contemporary issues of right and wrong.
(1) There is a battle raging and the front line centers on
many of the sinful practices of today.
(a) If Christians quit speaking out against these wrongs,
the evil of this world will grow much faster.
(b) In doing so, we must remember that if we turned the
world away from every sinful practice in which they
are engaged (abortion, homosexuality, drunkenness,
pornography, etc.), we would not have produced a
saved world—-just a more moral one.
(c) Our goal is not to produce a moral world but a saved
individuals.
(2) My own view would be that outside of a secondary command
that Jesus gives in this text, as long as we deal with
the lost with the same heart as we deal with the saved,
we are not violating Jesus’ command.
(3) In these situations, as much as is possible, the best way
to deal with sinful behaviors is to discuss the sin and
not the sinners.
(a) If the discussion becomes personal then there is a
greater likelihood that we are going to say
something that is condemning of the person who is
doing the sin.
(b) When we do that, we are moving onto very thin ice.
8. So what is Christ commanding us NOT to do? I think…
a. Christ is telling us not to be condemning, hateful, or
unforgiving in attitude toward anyone. \\#Luke 6:37\\
b. Further, we are to let Christians and the unsaved make up their
own minds as to the right and wrong of issues not clearly
stated in the Scripture. \\#Rom 14:4-5\\
c. But Christians are to share with other Christians those things
which are Biblically wrong in a spirit of love and help. If
that spirit is not received, the church is to take
disciplinary action with the thought of reclaiming the
brother and protecting the church. Not to do so would be to
leave them to God’s judgments unwarned.
d. And, I think in some situations, it is allowed for Christians
to talk to non-Christians about specific sins, although much
prayer and care must be given to such a discussion.
B. \\#2\\ The penalty
1. If we do judge others, we shall be judged, presumably by God.
2. And if we somehow have power to deal out a form of punishment, we
shall have some form of punishment dealt out to us, again, one
would presume by God.
3. Hence, God does not want us to become the conscience of others. If
we assume that attitude and role, He will deal with us Himself.
4. What He wants us for us to lovingly warn others what He has clearly
said in His Word.
a. It would appear that God will be mankind’s conscience.
b. Our purpose is to be His mouthpiece.
C. \\#3-4\\ The problem
1. Why? We are not to be the world’s conscience because we have too
much wrong with us.
a. \\#3-4\\ Here we try to pull the "mote" out of another’s eye
when we have a "beam" in our own eye.
b. "Mote" means a straw or dried twig.
c. A "beam" is a piece of building timber.
d. Jesus tells us that when we judge another we are attempting to
get the small piece of flying debris out of someone else’s eye
while we have a 2x4 in our eye.
2. Some think that the 2x4 refers to our judgmental spirit, but it
probably does not.
a. The reality is there is so much wrong with any Christian that
we are always walking around with a timber of one kind or the
other in an eye.
b. As imperfect specimens, we just do not qualify as judges of
other people.
D. \\#5\\ The solution
1. Instead of setting ourselves up as the judge of others, we need to
"cast out the beam" from our own eye.
2. In other words, we need to go find something wrong in our life and
fix it. That will prove to be a full-time job for most of us.
3. Once we do that—"then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote
out of thy brother’s eye"—then we might be able to help another
in the right kinds of circumstances.
E. \\#6\\ The secondary principal
1. Jesus gives to us another principal which seems by its placement to
be related to this topic.
a. But how?
b. To see one possibility, let’s step back and ask ourselves a
question which applies today.
2. How do we help those who are doing wrong?
a. Ask yourself if you are being condemning, hateful, or
unforgiving.
b. Even more, ask if you are offering unsolicited advice on a
behavior or action that is not Biblically forbidden.
c. If the issue is Biblical, ask yourself if you are dealing with
a worldly situation in which you can be helpful.
(1) If you sense that those committing the wrong would be
teachable, then share with them the danger of the wrong
they are doing.
(2) However, in some situations, especially among groups of
the lost, there is little hope of giving out the truth
and it being received in a manner that will glorify God.
(3) Evil encourages evil in group situations just like
righteousness encourages righteousness.
(4) David described the frustration of dealing with the lost
when they were assembled together in strength.
Psalm 22:12 Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me
round.
13 They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is
like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws;
and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me….
3. For these situations, our Lord gives a secondary principal.
Matt 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. There are times when no matter how wrong something is, the evil
are too emboldened by evil to be helped. In these cases, to
point out error, even in love and kindness, will only produce
mockery and more resolve to do the evil.
b. This is the time when we must practice the first part of the
paradox given in Proverbs.
Pr 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto
him.
5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
c. To give holy truth to dogs and swine only strengthens their
evil intent and rage. Such seems to be the condition in much
of the world today.
d. So in those conditions, even though we are not being
judgmental and have a clear Biblical injunction on the actions
being committed, because their intent is so evil, it is best
to leave them to their own folly.
F. Final word
1. So what can we do when someone accuses us of being judgmental?
2. First, as Jesus has said, we need to make sure that we are not. IF
we are, we need to repent and apologize.
3. Then, in kindness, we might try to point out that making such a
statement is itself a judgment.
4. One person cannot call another person judgmental without making a
judgment about that person.
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