WE SHALL OVERCOME! Part V Overcoming Harsh Judgments & Faultfinding Part V Overcoming Harsh Judgments & Faultfinding Matt. 7:1-2

I. Introduction: A. “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge you shall be judged” (Matt. 7:1-2). A. “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge you shall be judged” (Matt. 7:1-2). B. “Do no speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge” (Jas. 4:11). B. “Do no speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge” (Jas. 4:11).

II. What Is Judging? A. Sometimes forbidden (Matt. 7:1; Jas. 4:11-12). A. Sometimes forbidden (Matt. 7:1; Jas. 4:11-12). B. Sometimes encouraged (Jn. 7:24; Lk. 12:57; I Cor. 5:12-13). B. Sometimes encouraged (Jn. 7:24; Lk. 12:57; I Cor. 5:12-13). C. It is used in multiple ways in the New Testament. C. It is used in multiple ways in the New Testament. D. This lesson concerns itself with the kind of judging that the Lord would forbid and that we would want to overcome. D. This lesson concerns itself with the kind of judging that the Lord would forbid and that we would want to overcome.

1. What is the kind of judging that Jesus does not forbid? 1. What is the kind of judging that Jesus does not forbid? a. Judgment of civil courts (Rom. 13:1-7). b. The judgment of the church upon disorderly members (I Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Thess. 3:6). b. The judgment of the church upon disorderly members (I Cor. 5:1-13; 2 Thess. 3:6). c. The individual judgments we must make of wrongdoers and evil people (Matt. 7:1-6; 7:15-20; 3 Jn. 9; Titus 3:10-11). c. The individual judgments we must make of wrongdoers and evil people (Matt. 7:1-6; 7:15-20; 3 Jn. 9; Titus 3:10-11).

d. Recognize and disapprove the faults of others (Gal. 6:1; Jas. 5:19-20). d. Recognize and disapprove the faults of others (Gal. 6:1; Jas. 5:19-20). f. Identifying of false teachers (I Jn. 4:1; Jude; I Thess. 5:21). f. Identifying of false teachers (I Jn. 4:1; Jude; I Thess. 5:21). e. Decisive preaching that draws the line between truth and error, the lost and the saved (2 Thess. 1:7-9; 2 Pet. 2:1ff). e. Decisive preaching that draws the line between truth and error, the lost and the saved (2 Thess. 1:7-9; 2 Pet. 2:1ff).

2. What is the kind of judging Jesus forbids? 2. What is the kind of judging Jesus forbids? a. “All judging from surmise, or from insufficient premises, or from ill-will is prohibited” (McGarvey). a. “All judging from surmise, or from insufficient premises, or from ill-will is prohibited” (McGarvey). b. “The habit” of censoriousness, sharp, unjust criticism. Our word ‘critic’ is from this very word” (Robertson). b. “The habit” of censoriousness, sharp, unjust criticism. Our word ‘critic’ is from this very word” (Robertson).

c. “Judging forbidden by the Lord is harsh, hasty, unfounded, censorious, hypercritical uncharitable, malicious, slanderous, ill-natured judg- ment” (Winkler). c. “Judging forbidden by the Lord is harsh, hasty, unfounded, censorious, hypercritical uncharitable, malicious, slanderous, ill-natured judg- ment” (Winkler). III. What Causes Judging And Mote- Hunting? III. What Causes Judging And Mote- Hunting? A. An effort to divert attention from one’s own sins. A. An effort to divert attention from one’s own sins.

1. Judas accused Mary of wasteful- ness, when she expressed concern and gave attention to the poor, while he was stealing from the bag (Jn. 12:5-6). 1. Judas accused Mary of wasteful- ness, when she expressed concern and gave attention to the poor, while he was stealing from the bag (Jn. 12:5-6). B. An effort to justify one’s own sinful life and console a biting conscience (2 Cor. 10:12). B. An effort to justify one’s own sinful life and console a biting conscience (2 Cor. 10:12). 1. We judge in others of that which we ourselves are guilty (Rom. 2:1). 1. We judge in others of that which we ourselves are guilty (Rom. 2:1).

2. Usually, the ones who complain are the most unfriendly, spiritually indolent, and indifferent. 2. Usually, the ones who complain are the most unfriendly, spiritually indolent, and indifferent. C. An intent to build up oneself while tearing down another. C. An intent to build up oneself while tearing down another. 1. Originates from an inferiority complex…feeling and thinking you are adequate helps make one be adequate (again, Prov. 23:7). 1. Originates from an inferiority complex…feeling and thinking you are adequate helps make one be adequate (again, Prov. 23:7). 2. Such was the case with the Pharisees (Lk. 18:9-14). 2. Such was the case with the Pharisees (Lk. 18:9-14).

IV. The Harsh Judge And Mote Hunter Is worse Than His Victim. IV. The Harsh Judge And Mote Hunter Is worse Than His Victim. D. Envy and Hatred 1. Envy seeks to get rid of its victim. 1. Envy seeks to get rid of its victim. 2. Saul sought David. 3. Haman built gallows for Mordecai. 3. Haman built gallows for Mordecai. 4. Jews sought and killed Jesus.

A. The critic or censorious judge has a “beam” in his own eye, whereas his victim has a “mote” (Matt. 7:3). A. The critic or censorious judge has a “beam” in his own eye, whereas his victim has a “mote” (Matt. 7:3). B. The censorious judge is called a hypocrite (Matt. 7:5). B. The censorious judge is called a hypocrite (Matt. 7:5). V. Why Is It So Unjust To Judge Others? A. We never fully know the circum- stances of others, nor all the facts in the case. A. We never fully know the circum- stances of others, nor all the facts in the case.

B. It is next to impossible to be impartial in our judgments. B. It is next to impossible to be impartial in our judgments. C. Not everything we condemn in others is actually sin. C. Not everything we condemn in others is actually sin. 1. Hannah was accused of being drunken, but she was not (I Sam. 1:12ff). 1. Hannah was accused of being drunken, but she was not (I Sam. 1:12ff). 2. Jesus was accused of blasphemy, but He was not guilty (Mk. 2:7). 2. Jesus was accused of blasphemy, but He was not guilty (Mk. 2:7).

D. The right to judge is not ours, but the Lord’s (I Cor. 4:3-5; Rom. 14:4, 10-13; Jas. 4:11-12). D. The right to judge is not ours, but the Lord’s (I Cor. 4:3-5; Rom. 14:4, 10-13; Jas. 4:11-12). 1. Judgment is an infringement on an exclusive right of God! 1. Judgment is an infringement on an exclusive right of God! 2. The law of Christ prohibits us from judging. 2. The law of Christ prohibits us from judging. 3. If not careful, we become judges of the law and not doers (Jas. 4: 11-12). 3. If not careful, we become judges of the law and not doers (Jas. 4: 11-12).

E. We see only the outward man, not the inward man. E. We see only the outward man, not the inward man. 1. What we see of the iceberg does not constitute the entire iceberg… hence we say, “That is only the tip of the iceberg.” 1. What we see of the iceberg does not constitute the entire iceberg… hence we say, “That is only the tip of the iceberg.” 2. What we see in an individual may not fully and fairly represent the total person. 2. What we see in an individual may not fully and fairly represent the total person.

3. God told Samuel to not reject David as king by his countenance for: 3. God told Samuel to not reject David as king by his countenance for: “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” ( I Sam. 16:7). “The Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” ( I Sam. 16:7).