Judge Not
1 The Sermon on the Mount can be organized like this:
The Children of the Father in the Grace that is theirs.
I. Introduction (Matthew 5:3-16):
The blessed children of the Father in the Kingdom of Heaven - who they are - how blessed of God they are - despised of men - they are salt and light.
II. The Law is in their hearts - and so controls their conduct (Matthew 5:21-48):
The original intent of God's Law as contrasted with the corrupt teachings of the Pharisees.
III. Beholding the Father they are freed from hypocrisy. (Matthew 6:1-34)
Examples: Beholding the Father in prayer, forgiving, fasting, - and putting their treasures in heaven.
IV. Correct Judgment: Seeing with the Father's eyes. (Matthew 7:1-12):
Do not pass judgment - on others - but judge yourselves to be needy of the Father's good gift - the Holy Spirit.
V. Following the Holy Spirit (Matthew 7:13-23):
Enter by the narrow gate (by God's grace) and follow the narrow way. Beware false prophets who preach a different gate / false followers who follow a different way.
VI. Conclusion: (Matthew 7:24-27)
Build your house (life) upon this solid rock - Jesus and His sayings.
2 So the first half of Matthew chapter seven is all about judging with correct judgment.
3 Jesus begins...
Judge not, that you be not judged, For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. Matthew 7:1-2
or as it is said in Greek
Do not be judging, in order that you may not be judged.
or as it could be rendered in modern English..
Do be judging others, that you may not be judged - by God.
Having received a righteousness that is far better than the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, it would be easy to judge them. But judging is ruled out of the kingdom of heaven. First of all, our righteousness is nothing we earned. It was given by God's grace. Secondly, to judge them would be to become like them - glorying in our own holiness, and despising others.
4 Jesus is fair. The wisdom and justice of His command against judging is easily seen...
For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged (by God); and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you (by God). Matthew 7:2
The rule is against judging at all - whether condemning or acquitting. We are not to judge. Whatever standard we use is wrong since God alone sees into the hearts of men. We can never presume to judge other people's motives. We simply cannot.
5 The common mistake we all make is that we judge ourselves according to our intentions - but we judge others by the outcome of their actions. This is harsh and unjust.
6 But what if someone is doing something destructive? What are we to do then? We should remember the law of love.
"You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, (tell him to stop), and not bear ( lift ), sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, (revenge), nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself; I am the Lord." Leviticus 19:17-18
In the spirit of meekness - and using the Word of God, not our own authority - we should tell him that what he is doing is wrong because it hurts people. And then gently lead him in the paths of righteousness, and pray with him. Peace makers do this - without judging. We cannot see hearts. We seek reconciliation.
7 Christians are told to have discernment. But we are not to pass judgment - i.e. condemn anyone. Condemning people is not the Spirit of Christ, and does not win them to Christ. If we know John 3:16, we should also memorize the next verse...
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:17
Discussion:
Memory verse: