Harsh Judgments

I. Introduction: Judgments are sticky things. We are sometimes called to make judgments on others or on situations at work, with our kids, etc. At other times, we make judgments where we should not or blah blah blah

II. Text: Matthew 7:1-6

III. Christians and judging

A. Matthew 7:1-6

B. Matthew 7:1 is the most popular memory verse in the world—it is known by all and misunderstood by most.

C. An offended person will invoke this passage when someone condemns them for some action.

D. You should not be getting drunk—“judge not…” You should not be committing fornication or homosexuality—“judge not…” You are not worshipping as God commanded—“judge not…”

E. In this passage, Jesus did not prohibit judgment; He cautioned against hypocritical judgment and warned that the hypocrite will be held to a high standard of judgment as well as the one he accused.

F. Jesus illustrates this with the plank and the speck.

G. If you have a 2x4 in your eye, you will not have the clarity of vision to help someone get a speck out of their eye. Once you remove the plank from your eye, you can help the person remove the speck from their eye. Getting a speck out of someone’s eye is an illustration of judgment; you are judging something wrong in someone else and helping him get rid of it—this is not condemned! Romans 2:1-3 – Paul condemned this same attitude

H. It is not wrong to determine that someone is doing something wrong and warning them about the consequences of their behavior.

I. It is our duty as Christians. How do we do this?

J. Do not judge by appearance, John 7:24

K. Our most natural understanding of judging by appearance is that we are not to assume what a situation is but get more information.

L. If an elder’s car is parked in front of a bar on Friday night our assumption might be that he is in the bar getting drunk; not that his car broke down there and is going to be towed away later. We certainly should not assume wrong but gather information and, if one is doing wrong, encourage them to repent.

M. However, we can also judge by appearance when we are quick to justify someone or some group based on our perceptions and feelings.

N. “I don’t see how God would condemn this group of people even though they are doing some things wrong in worship or service to God.”“This person does not assemble with the saints, as Hebrews 10:25 teaches, and engages in some behaviors condemned by the Scriptures, but he is such a nice person, helpful in his community, generous to the poor, etc. that I don’t see how God could condemn him.”

O. We are quick to say that we should not condemn others yet we fail to realize that we should not justify others in God’s place either—it is still judgment!

P. To justify one person or a group because of our opinion of them and their actions is to judge by appearance It is not righteous judgment.

Q. To justify others is to put God’s judgment on the same level as our judgment.

R. This is foolish judgment for we do not see as God sees.

S. Our thinking is different, Isaiah 55:9. Our judgments seem good but are often wrong, Proverbs 16:25.2 Samuel 7:1-5 and 1 Chronicles 28:3 – It seemed good to David and Nathan for David to build a house for God but God did not approve. Acts 26:9 – Paul thought he was acting righteous and holy in persecuting the church of God, but he was sinning. We will never see as God sees, Hebrews 4:12-13.

T. We live in a society in which everything is right and nothing is wrong.

U. The only thing that is wrong is to say that someone else is wrong. People will only condemn you if you stand up for something and say, “this is right,” even if you are reading it from God’s word.

V. Sadly, some of God’s people are often quick to tear down or condemn the very people who, with God’s word, will oppose false teaching and false practices.

W. They are quick to minimize or explain away the shortcomings and faults of a group they wish to justify whereas the failures of the group they wish to condemn are magnified.

X. We tend to assign nobler motives and a better attitude to those we know by appearance than to those we know intimately.

Y. Some will do this in marriage: “Why can’t you be like Mr. or Mrs. X?” when you have no idea how they act outside of the environment in which you know them; in which they are probably on their best behavior. We can do this with brethren; the church we don’t know well is much better than the one we know intimately—until we get to know them intimately.

Z. We can see this practice in the Bible

A. Elijah and Ahab

B. Ahab was a wicked king of Israel, God’s people, and did many things that displeased God.

C. After condemning Ahab for his wickedness, Ahab sought to destroy Elijah.

D. Elijah confronted Ahab and was greeted as the “troubler of Israel,” 1 Kings 18:17-18. Ahab condemned Elijah because Elijah taught what was true.

E. After Ahab killed conspired against Naboth and took his vineyard, Elijah confronted him again with a curious greeting, 1 Kings 21:20

F. Actually, it was Jezebel and his wicked counselors who were his enemies for they accompanied him in evil. Elijah was really a friend for he confronted Ahab with his sin so that he could repent; but Ahab did not respond to his warning.

G. Ahab and Micaiah

H. King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah wanted to form an alliance and take the region of Ramoth-Gilead from Syrian control. They asked all the prophets what God’s will was and the prophets urged them to go into battle for they would have victory. However, not satisfied with the answer, Jehoshaphat asked for another prophet to consult with; Micaiah was named but Ahab did not like him.1 Kings 22:7-18 Ahab did not like Micaiah because he did not tell him what he wanted to hear, in fact, he often spoke against him.

I. The apostle Paul

J. The apostle Paul often had to chastise churches for their disobedience. He was probably rebuking the very people he led to the gospel. Galatians 4:16 – He asked if he were their enemy for telling them the truth even when it caused them sorrow and they would have to repent.

IV. Application

A. Are we quick to consider someone our enemy or a troublemaker because they confront us regarding our personal choices or worship? Do we say “Judge not…” when the person is showing us where our practice cannot be authorized by God’s word?

V. Judge righteously

A. We will be judged by God’s word

B. Revelation 20:12-13 – Judged by our works as they relate to the open books

C. One book has to be the Old Law by which the Jews before Jesus’ time would be judged.

D. The other has to be the gospel

E. Romans 2:16 James 2:12

F. Since we will be judged by the gospel, we must judge ourselves to make sure we are living consistent with its teaching.

G. 2 John 9 – If we do not abide in the doctrine of Christ, we do not have Christ1 Timothy 4:16 – Give heed to the doctrine for salvation1 Corinthians 11:31-32 – Judge now before the great judgment day Mark 7:7 – Avoid the doctrines of men

H. We will also have to judge others according to the doctrine and urge them to repent if they are disobedient

I. 1 Timothy 1:8-11 Romans 16:17 – Avoid the divisive who will not abide in the doctrine1 Peter 4:6 – If they heed God’s judgment in the word, they can live in the Spirit

J. We must be careful in judgment

K. We must not judge in areas where God has not given a specific commandment.

L. We must not dismiss what God has specified.

M. If you determine that some aspect of personal living (filthy language, “white” lies) or worship (animal sacrifice, instrumental music) is irrelevant in God’s eyes; realize that you are making a judgment. That judgment must be based on authority from God and not based on appearance—our opinion.

N. Some will say the “details” do not matter (ie., “It doesn’t matter when you meet or what you do when you meet for worship, the important thing is praising God…everything else is just details that matter to men and not to God.

O. Did it really matter where the fire came from for the sacrifice? After all, the important thing is to sacrifice to God and fire is fire—Wrong, Leviticus 10:1-3. Did it really matter the Israelites carried the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem? After all, the important thing is to put the Ark back in the tabernacle where it belongs. How to carry it is just the details. And if there is a problem, isn’t it alright to touch the Ark just to steady it; after all, we do not want it to fall and break—Wrong, 2 Samuel 6:3, 6-8. Did it really matter who offered the sacrifice; isn’t the important thing to praise God and encourage the people of God? Ask Saul, 1 Samuel 13:7-14 The Old Testament was written for our learning and one thing that I learn from the Scriptures is that the little things—the details—have always mattered to God. We must not be quick to dismiss what God has specified.

VI. Summary: We must be very careful in judgment. In many areas with other people, we must not judge. In most areas with others we should show them what the Bible teaches and make them judge themselves according to the word. If they are sincere, they will submit their will to God’s will. If they are self-willed, they will do what they want to do regardless of the doctrine of God.