Judge Not

Introduction

Without knowing where it’s found, Matthew 7, verse 1 has to be the most popular Bible verse, I think, even beyond John 3.16. Because the first two words in Matthew chapter 7 and verse 1 are judge not. Doesn’t really matter apparently what the rest of the verse says, but for the sake of context and actually reading the complete words of Jesus, let’s read the rest of verse 1 and 2. Matthew chapter 7 and verse 1, judge not that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will it be measured back to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?

1. What Lesson Is Jesus Teaching?

Or how can you say to your brother, Let me take the speck out of your eye when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Now, much has been misused and abused from Matthew chapter 7 in those first two words in verse 1, judge not, which means I can do whatever I want, and you can’t say anything about it, and that’s just the way it is, because that’s what Jesus said. That’s not exactly what Jesus was getting at. But something that is important rather than going the complete opposite direction, is to say, what lesson is Jesus teaching and emphasizing from Matthew 7 and verse 1?

Because clearly there is a judgment we should not be pronouncing, or that we should at least be cautious in. And that would be hypocritical or unrighteous judgment. Verse 2, I think stands as a scary warning and practical advisement. He says, if you judge others a certain way, what type of judgment should you expect back? The very same. That doesn’t mean that if I choose not to judge people, then that I can kind of do whatever I want, they can do whatever they want, and we get to make up our own rules. But it does mean that perhaps my heart should be changed. Perhaps I should be more careful and considerate and give others the benefit of the doubt before judging them and their problems while forgetting that I have a lot of problems on my own.

2. Giving Others the Benefit of the Doubt

There’s a story of a six-year-old boy I came across, and he asked if he could say the prayer at a local fast food place. And as they bowed our heads, the boy prayed, God is good, God is great, and we thank you for the food, and I would thank you even more if mom got us ice cream for a dessert and liberty and justice for all. Amen. There was some laughter from other customers around the store, and the family tried hard to just be proud of their son. But one woman took it upon herself to come over and say, Now that’s what’s wrong with this country. Kids today don’t even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream, I would never.

So the mom picked him up and assured him he had done a good job. And God certainly wasn’t mad at him for praying, honestly. Luckily at that moment an older gentleman came by and he winked at him and he said, I happen to know that God thought that was a very good prayer. And the boy said, Really? He said, Cross my heart. And he looked at him, and with a whisper, he said, It’s too bad she never asked for ice cream from God. A little ice cream is good for the soul. So they finished eating, and the mom bought her kids ice cream. And as she was taking care of some of her other little ones, he had walked over to that woman who criticized him and said, I heard you need some ice cream for the soul.

The mother was proud that her son was nice, although perhaps the words could have been a little bit more filtered. As we think about that story, though, we have to be honest and say, you know, that older gentleman is a hero. That the little boy would pray at all is wonderful, that the family gave him an opportunity to step up as great. And I think sometimes we show all of those attributes and characteristics. That we give little children the benefit of the doubt. I’d like to think we are kind enough to give people who are willing to pray the thought and encouragement that thank you for actually taking time out of your day to thank God. But sometimes, can we be honest and say we at least think, if not say out loud, things like the woman did?

3. Not the Brother With the Log in Our Own Eye

We view others who say or do things differently than us and we judge them harshly. We say, Well, certainly Jesus or God wouldn’t want that. Or we know that that’s not the way it is. We need to be very careful that as verse 3 and 4 illustrates, that we’re not the brother with the log or the plank or the trunk in our own eye, as we look for that speck in somebody else’s. It’s one thing to say that we do have to make judgments, and we certainly do. In fact, it’s in this very chapter in verse 13 and 14 that Jesus says you have to choose, you have to make a judgment between the narrow way and the broad way that leads to destruction. But can we be honest and say that maybe we could be a little bit more kind, a little bit more gentle, and a whole lot more loving and merciful with others, the way we desperately want and need God to be a whole lot more kind, merciful and gentle to us.

Conclusion

There might not be a lot of times in which we are overly judgmental, and I hope we’re not hypocritically judgmental. But can we look at others with the same love and benefit of the doubt we want from others and most importantly God? Maybe you’re here this evening and you’ve never become a Christian. Recognize that unlike flawed people, unlike us who sometimes hold grudges and retain bitterness. Our God has promised. If you will trust in Him and submit to His ways, you can be forgiven of your sin and he’ll remember your sins no more. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, confess Him as the Lord and risen Savior, not only in general, but specifically to your life. If you repent of wrongdoing, trust in God’s ways and be baptized, you can have your sins washed away by the blood of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God.

Maybe you’re a Christian and you’ve struggled with this judgment. Recognize God is judging us all, and we want his love and his mercy in day whatever it is for you as a Christian, as much as we needed it on day one and day zero. Trust in God’s ways, love like God does, show mercy to all as we want God to show mercy to us. If we can help you in any way, come forward as we stand and sing the invitation song.