JesusPeople it’s about…

Character of Kingdom People Life Lived Unto Others Life Lived Unto God Life Lived Unto Eternity Sermon on the Mount “Love God; Love Others” Mt 5:3-12 Mt 5:13-48 Mt. 6:1-34 Mt. 7:1-27

The Higher Call of the Kingdom ““But I warn you— unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” (Matthew 5:20, NLT)

A MERCIFUL LIFE life outside the box

Matthew 7:1–2, (NLT)Matthew 7:1–2, (NLT) ““Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

the problem with language evaluate discerncondemn “judge”

“judge” = krino to judge a person to be guilty and liable to punishment—‘to judge as guilty, to condemn.to judge a person to be guilty and liable to punishment—‘to judge as guilty, to condemn.

Luke 6:37, (NLT)Luke 6:37, (NLT) ““Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.”

Recognize the DayRecognize the Day “God sent his Son into the world not to judge [condemn] the world, but to save the world through him,” (John 3:17 NLT)

DON’T PLAY GOD A Merciful Life

Matthew 7:1, (NLT) Do not judge others…

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The Faces of Judgment Jumping to ConclusionsJumping to Conclusions Assigning MotivesAssigning Motives Writing OffWriting Off Responding out of RepulsivenessResponding out of Repulsiveness ShunningShunning

“Jesus warns against assuming God’s prerogative to condemn the guilty, not against disciples’ discerning truth from error,” (Craig Keener)

Why We Make Bad Judges Judging is God’s jobJudging is God’s job Our limited perceptionOur limited perception Our imperfect measureOur imperfect measure

Matthew 7:2, (NLT) “For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.”

Two Key Issues in Addressing Sin AttitudeAttitude AudienceAudience

1 Corinthians 5:12–13 (The Message) I’m not responsible for what the outsiders do, but don’t we have some responsibility for those within our community of believers? God decides on the outsiders, but we need to decide when our brothers and sisters are out of line and, if necessary, clean house.

Discern and Discipline in Love Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Galatians 6:1 (The Message)

ADDRESS YOUR OWN FAULTS FIRST A Merciful Life

Matthew 7:3–5, (NLT)Matthew 7:3–5, (NLT) ““And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?

Matthew 7:3–5, (NLT)Matthew 7:3–5, (NLT) How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye?

Matthew 7:3–5, (NLT)Matthew 7:3–5, (NLT) Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

“We have a fatal tendency to exaggerate the faults of others, and minimize the gravity of our own,” (John Stott)

The Blessings of Proper Self-Assessment Fosters HumilityFosters Humility Prevents HypocrisyPrevents Hypocrisy Frees Us to Truly Help OthersFrees Us to Truly Help Others

Matthew 7:5, (NLT)Matthew 7:5, (NLT) then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.”

DON’T IMPOSE THE TRUTH A Merciful Life

Matthew 7:6, (NLT) ““Don’t waste what is holy on people who are unholy. Don’t throw your pearls to pigs! They will trample the pearls, then turn and attack you.”

Avoid the Extremes Finding Fault Ignoring Faults

Who Are “Dogs” and “Pigs” “living in incurable ungodliness,” (Chrysostom)“living in incurable ungodliness,” (Chrysostom) “those who evidence a hardened contempt for God,” (John Calvin)“those who evidence a hardened contempt for God,” (John Calvin)

“If any household or town refuses to welcome you or listen to your message, shake its dust from your feet as you leave.” (Matthew 10:14, NLT)

Unteachable Always seeking, never applyingAlways seeking, never applying Repeatedly antagonisticRepeatedly antagonistic Brazenly rebelliousBrazenly rebellious

Rule of Thumb Don’t prejudge who you think will receive the truth, but don’t force the truth on people who show no inclination to receive it.