3. To judge or not to judge...?To judge or not to judge...?
••DecisionsDecisions–– should Christians discernshould Christians discern
guilt or not?guilt or not?
That is the real question about thisThat is the real question about this••That is the real question about thisThat is the real question about this
passage that is ripped from contextpassage that is ripped from context
on a daily basis since Jesus spoke iton a daily basis since Jesus spoke it
••We make judgments in the split second aboutWe make judgments in the split second about••We make judgments in the split second aboutWe make judgments in the split second about
people and situations on a daily basispeople and situations on a daily basis–– how dohow do
wewe underdtandunderdtand which is right or wrong?which is right or wrong?
4. To judge or not to judge...?To judge or not to judge...?
••As I will say over and over again, theAs I will say over and over again, the
key to understanding is knowing thekey to understanding is knowing the
original language and its contextoriginal language and its contextoriginal language and its contextoriginal language and its context
••Church people judge folks in a senseChurch people judge folks in a sense
of legalism at times, and I’m sure weof legalism at times, and I’m sure we
can identify those situationscan identify those situations–– but what aboutbut what aboutcan identify those situationscan identify those situations–– but what aboutbut what about
everything elseeverything else–– sin, culture, background?sin, culture, background?
••The context and truth of Scripture will be clearThe context and truth of Scripture will be clear
5. “Do not judge so that you will not be“Do not judge so that you will not be
judged.judged. 22 For in the way you judge,For in the way you judge,
you will be judged; and by youryou will be judged; and by your
standard of measure, it will bestandard of measure, it will bestandard of measure, it will bestandard of measure, it will be
measured to you.measured to you. 33 Why do you lookWhy do you look
at the speck that is in your brother’sat the speck that is in your brother’s
eye, but do not notice the log that iseye, but do not notice the log that iseye, but do not notice the log that iseye, but do not notice the log that is
in your own eye?in your own eye? 44 Or how can youOr how can you
say to your brother, ‘Let me take thesay to your brother, ‘Let me take the
speck out of your eye,’ and behold,speck out of your eye,’ and behold,
6. 55 You hypocrite, first take the log out ofYou hypocrite, first take the log out of55 You hypocrite, first take the log out ofYou hypocrite, first take the log out of
your own eye, and then you will seeyour own eye, and then you will see
clearly to take the speck out of yourclearly to take the speck out of your
brother’s eye.brother’s eye.
Matthew 7:1, NASBMatthew 7:1, NASB
7. A. Understanding the command…A. Understanding the command…
••Vs 1(a), Almost always used outVs 1(a), Almost always used out
of context and by a backsliddenof context and by a backslidden
Christian who is living in sinChristian who is living in sinChristian who is living in sinChristian who is living in sin
9. A. Understanding the command…A. Understanding the command…
••Vs 1(a), Almost always used out ofVs 1(a), Almost always used out of
context by a person obviously in sincontext by a person obviously in sin
••VirtuallyVirtually everyevery timetime it is used to rebukeit is used to rebuke••VirtuallyVirtually everyevery timetime it is used to rebukeit is used to rebuke
a brother or sister in Christ who has ina brother or sister in Christ who has in
turn confronted sin in another believedturn confronted sin in another believed
brother or sister in Christbrother or sister in Christ–– Always in an attempt toAlways in an attempt to
justify their own sin to the “nosey” brotherjustify their own sin to the “nosey” brotherjustify their own sin to the “nosey” brotherjustify their own sin to the “nosey” brother
••One must understand the Greek word translatedOne must understand the Greek word translated
“judge” here, and its context, to get the truth“judge” here, and its context, to get the truth
10. A. Understanding the command…A. Understanding the command…
••The Greek word here is “The Greek word here is “krinokrino”:”:
••It means properly toIt means properly to distinguishdistinguish, that is,, that is,
decidedecide (mentally or judicially); by(mentally or judicially); by impliimpli--decidedecide (mentally or judicially); by(mentally or judicially); by impliimpli--
cation tocation to trytry (as in court),(as in court), condemncondemn,,
punishpunish: avenge, conclude, condemn,: avenge, conclude, condemn,
damn, decree, determine, esteem, go to sue at thedamn, decree, determine, esteem, go to sue at the
law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, thinklaw, ordain, call in question, sentence to, thinklaw, ordain, call in question, sentence to, thinklaw, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think
••After seeing this, it is quite obvious that judging theAfter seeing this, it is quite obvious that judging the
difference between truth and error is not the pointdifference between truth and error is not the point––
that is a mark of maturity; a good thing for you to dothat is a mark of maturity; a good thing for you to do
11. A. Understanding the command…A. Understanding the command…
••Clearly this is true because ofVs 6Clearly this is true because ofVs 6–– if weif we
are not to discern truth, why would heare not to discern truth, why would he
tell us not to waste it on pigs??tell us not to waste it on pigs??tell us not to waste it on pigs??tell us not to waste it on pigs??
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do
not throw your pearls before swine, ornot throw your pearls before swine, or
they will trample them under their feet, and turn andthey will trample them under their feet, and turn and
tear you to pieces.” Mat 7:6tear you to pieces.” Mat 7:6tear you to pieces.” Mat 7:6tear you to pieces.” Mat 7:6
••Plenty of Scriptures lay out for us the need toPlenty of Scriptures lay out for us the need to
discern or judge what is right, like verse 15’sdiscern or judge what is right, like verse 15’s
admonition against false prophets…admonition against false prophets…
12. “Beware of the false prophets, who come“Beware of the false prophets, who come
to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly areto you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are
ravenous wolves.”ravenous wolves.”
Matthew 7:15, NASBMatthew 7:15, NASBMatthew 7:15, NASBMatthew 7:15, NASB
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge
with righteous judgment.”with righteous judgment.”
John 7:24, NASBJohn 7:24, NASBJohn 7:24, NASBJohn 7:24, NASB
“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers,“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers,
beware of the false circumcision…”beware of the false circumcision…”
Philippians 3:2, NASBPhilippians 3:2, NASB
13. ““66 I am amazed that you are so quicklyI am amazed that you are so quickly
deserting Him who called you by the gracedeserting Him who called you by the grace
of Christ, for a different gospel;of Christ, for a different gospel; 77 which iswhich is
reallyreally not another; only there are some whonot another; only there are some whoreallyreally not another; only there are some whonot another; only there are some who
are disturbing you and want to distort theare disturbing you and want to distort the
gospel of Christ.gospel of Christ. 88 But even if we, or anBut even if we, or an
angel from heaven, should preach to you aangel from heaven, should preach to you a
gospel contrary to what we have preachedgospel contrary to what we have preachedgospel contrary to what we have preachedgospel contrary to what we have preached
to you, he is to be accursed!to you, he is to be accursed! 99 As we haveAs we have
said before, so I say again now, if any mansaid before, so I say again now, if any man
is preaching to you a gospel contrary tois preaching to you a gospel contrary to
14. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits to see whether they are from God,spirits to see whether they are from God,spirits to see whether they are from God,spirits to see whether they are from God,
because many false prophets have gone out intobecause many false prophets have gone out into
the world.”the world.”
1 John 4:1, NASB1 John 4:1, NASB
15. A. Understanding the command…A. Understanding the command…
••So, now it should be obvious to you thatSo, now it should be obvious to you that
somesome amount of judging is not onlyamount of judging is not only
acceptable, butacceptable, but mandatedmandated for us to dofor us to doacceptable, butacceptable, but mandatedmandated for us to dofor us to do
••Christians are called to unconditionalChristians are called to unconditional
lovelove–– not unconditional approvalnot unconditional approval–– youyou
cancan agapeagape’ people who do things of which we’ people who do things of which wecancan agapeagape’ people who do things of which we’ people who do things of which we
should not approveshould not approve–– remember its an action not aremember its an action not a
feelingfeeling
••Then what does Jesus really mean in verse 1??Then what does Jesus really mean in verse 1??
16. A. Understanding the command…A. Understanding the command…
••We’re neither to be sinWe’re neither to be sin--sniffing Ksniffing K--9s9s
constantly looking for wrong in folksconstantly looking for wrong in folks
like the Pharisees did, nor are we to belike the Pharisees did, nor are we to belike the Pharisees did, nor are we to belike the Pharisees did, nor are we to be
a self appointed Christian Judge Dredda self appointed Christian Judge Dredd
••We are supposed to be able to tell theWe are supposed to be able to tell the
difference between right and wrong, but passingdifference between right and wrong, but passingdifference between right and wrong, but passingdifference between right and wrong, but passing
sentence on someone is God’s jobsentence on someone is God’s job
••Individually, not our jobIndividually, not our job–– Body of ChristBody of Christ
however…however…
18. “Do not judge so that you will not be“Do not judge so that you will not be
judged.judged. 22 For in the way you judge, youFor in the way you judge, youjudged.judged. 22 For in the way you judge, youFor in the way you judge, you
will be judged; and by your standard ofwill be judged; and by your standard of
measure, it will be measured to you.”measure, it will be measured to you.”
Matthew 7:1Matthew 7:1--2, NASB2, NASB
19. B.What goes around…B.What goes around…
••VvVv 1b1b--2, those who harshly hand2, those who harshly hand
out “Christian” condemnation,out “Christian” condemnation,
will receive like in returnwill receive like in returnwill receive like in returnwill receive like in return
••Kids today talk of this BiblicalKids today talk of this Biblical
concept as “Karma”, though theyconcept as “Karma”, though they
are greatly mistaken about its Eastern Mysticalare greatly mistaken about its Eastern Mysticalare greatly mistaken about its Eastern Mysticalare greatly mistaken about its Eastern Mystical
meaningmeaning
••Jesus continues in verses 3Jesus continues in verses 3--4…4…
20. ““33 Why do you look at the speck that is inWhy do you look at the speck that is in
your brother’s eye, but do not notice theyour brother’s eye, but do not notice the
log that is in your own eye?log that is in your own eye? 44 Or how canOr how canlog that is in your own eye?log that is in your own eye? 44 Or how canOr how can
you say to your brother, ‘Let me take theyou say to your brother, ‘Let me take the
speck out of your eye,’ and behold, thespeck out of your eye,’ and behold, the
log is in your own eye?”log is in your own eye?”
Matthew 7:3Matthew 7:3--4, NASB4, NASB
21. B. Speck or Logs…B. Speck or Logs…
••VvVv 33--4, Jesus is being funny, really4, Jesus is being funny, really
••I’m sure this got out loud bellyI’m sure this got out loud belly
laughs from people who had beenlaughs from people who had been
••I’m sure this got out loud bellyI’m sure this got out loud belly
laughs from people who had beenlaughs from people who had been
condemned by Pharisees, whilecondemned by Pharisees, while
they also had watched their fakethey also had watched their fake
religious pomposityreligious pomposity–– don’t be a hypocritedon’t be a hypocritereligious pomposityreligious pomposity–– don’t be a hypocritedon’t be a hypocrite
22. ““55 You hypocrite, first take the log out ofYou hypocrite, first take the log out of““55 You hypocrite, first take the log out ofYou hypocrite, first take the log out of
your own eye, and then you will seeyour own eye, and then you will see
clearly to take the speck out of yourclearly to take the speck out of your
brother’s eye.”brother’s eye.”
Matthew 7:5, NASBMatthew 7:5, NASBMatthew 7:5, NASBMatthew 7:5, NASB
23. B. Speck or Logs…B. Speck or Logs…
••VvVv 33--4, Jesus is being funny, really4, Jesus is being funny, really
••I’m sure this got out loud bellyI’m sure this got out loud belly
laughs from people who had beenlaughs from people who had been
••I’m sure this got out loud bellyI’m sure this got out loud belly
laughs from people who had beenlaughs from people who had been
condemned by Pharisees, whilecondemned by Pharisees, while
they also had watched their fakethey also had watched their fake
religious pomposityreligious pomposity–– don’t be a hypocritedon’t be a hypocritereligious pomposityreligious pomposity–– don’t be a hypocritedon’t be a hypocrite
••It doesn’t say its wrong to help a brother get “aIt doesn’t say its wrong to help a brother get “a
speck” from his eye, just don’t ignore yours, v5speck” from his eye, just don’t ignore yours, v5
24. Take Home!Take Home!
1.1. Let’s promise to examineLet’s promise to examine
MeMe, before I examine, before I examine YouYouMeMe, before I examine, before I examine YouYou
2.2. Understand a persons struggle and beUnderstand a persons struggle and be
gentle in confronting it, (“…Restore in agentle in confronting it, (“…Restore in a
spirit of gentleness…” Galatians 6:1)spirit of gentleness…” Galatians 6:1)spirit of gentleness…” Galatians 6:1)spirit of gentleness…” Galatians 6:1)
3.3. Be careful, because the measure you useBe careful, because the measure you use
will be used on youwill be used on you
