Expository Sermon on The Sermon on the Mount on Mathew 7:1-6 on

1. Stop Criticizing
Mathew 7: 1 to 6

2. I – INTRODUCTION to the topic and contextual background
• As with the other elements of the sermon on the mount, the perspective of this
passage is given in contrast to that of the Scribes and Pharisees whose
hypocritical self-righteousness was in direct opposition to the true
righteousness of God. Their evaluation of others like every aspect of their
religious system was based on appearance, on the external and superficial.
(Luke 18:11 to 14)
• The focus on this first six verses is the negative impact of self righteous,
judgmental spirit and the next 6 verses focus on the positive impact of a spirit
that is humble trusting and loving. These twelve verses form the divine
summation of all principles of human relations.
• The passage has erroneously been used to suggest that believers should
never criticize anyone for anything. Many Christians prefer to speak only of
love, ecumenism, compromise and unity. The world hates absolute standards.
However that is not the point of Jesus Christ here.

3. I – INTRODUCTION to the topic and contextual background
• The entire thrust of the sermon on the mount is to show the complete
distiniction between true religion and false religion. A few verses later Jesus
warns about false prophets (Mathew 7:15) and confronting a sinning brother.
(Mathew 18:15 – 17). The Apostle Paul teaches a similar thing in Romans
16:17 – 18, 1 Corinthians 5:11, Galatians 1:8. Not to rebuke sin is a form of
hatred not love. (Lev. 19:17)
• To judge (krino) means to choose, select or determine, taken in context,
Jesus is referring to the judgment of motives which no human being can know
and to judgment on external forms.
• Jesus is not saying here we ought not to confront sin or make a sound
spiritual judgment in matters of doctrines. What he is talking about here is self-
righteous, egotistical judgment and the unmerciful condemnation of others
practiced by the Scribes and Pharisees. He gives us three reason why such
judgment is sinful

4. II – Three reasons why you should not criticize
A.) An erroneous view of God
“Judge not, that ye be not judged.” – Mathew 7:1
• Unrighteous and unmerciful judgment is
forbidden because it manifest a wrong view of
God. Jesus reminds the Scribes and
Pharisees that they are not the final court.
When we make an unrighteous judgment we
are blaspheming God by taking his place. We
should not try to take the place of God by
judging the motives of men because we cannot
see their hearts (Romans 14:4) (James
4:11-12) (John 8:3-11)

5. II – Three reasons why you should not criticize
B.) An erroneous view of others
“For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what
measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” – Mathew 7:2
• Just like the Pharisees, most people make
unrighteous judgment because they feel they
are superior to others. Jesus says that God
will judge us with the same type of judgment
we judge others. (Romans 2:1,2)
• In criticizing others we play God and give
the impression that we ourselves are above
criticism and judgment. Unrighteous judging
others is a boomerang as you will be judged
with the same standards you used to judge
others.

6. II – Three reasons why you should not criticize
C.) An erroneous view of ourselves
“And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but
considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy
brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in
thine own eye? Thou hypocrite.” (Mathew 7:3-5a)
• When we judge unrighteous we put ourselves in
the place of God making us have a wrong view of
ourselves. We become self rightous making us
have a distorted view of ourselves. Self
righteousness is the worst of sings because it
trust in self to determine what is right or wrong.
Self righteousness is contrary to the Gospel
message

7. III– Striking the right balance
“ . . .first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou
see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. 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.” – Mathew 7:5b-6
• Jesus here gives us how to correct a wrong
judgment by showing the right balance of humility and
conviction by first dealing with our own sin.
• Secondly Jesus tells us to be discriminating and
discerning by giving an illustration on not casting that
which is holy to dogs and pigs. Truths & the blessing
of our faith are not to be shared with people who are
antagonistic towards God. There will be times when
the truth we present is absolutely rejected & ridiculed
that we make a judgment to turn away and speak no
more. (2 Peter 2:1 – 3, 12, 22)