1. Judging
Others

2. Matthew 7:1-5
"Judge not, that you be not judged. 2 For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5 Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
1. This passage is one of the most misunderstood in the Bible.
2. Read verse
3. If there is one passage in the Bible with which the critics are familiar, surely it is this one: “Judge not, that you be not judged”. They have no clue as to what the text means, but they know that it is there!

3. Judge English = judge, determine, condemn, call in question
“To select”
“Come to a conclusion, make a determination”
1. Meaning of Word: Judge - the verb “krino” is found 114 times in the N.T.
a. It is rendered into English by a variety of terms: “judge,” “determine,” “condemn,” “call in question”
b. The word means to “select”; then to “come to a conclusion, to make a determination” — sometimes with the added idea of relating that conclusion to a specific act or a certain person.
2. Let us look at the verses and see what it means to us today.

4. Does Not Condemn Religious Controversy
v.1-2 used to Forbid all manner of Judgment
Any Unfavorable Criticism
Practice “Church Discipline”
Exposing Those Who Teach Error
v. 1 “Judge not, that you be not judged”
- v. 6 – do not give what is holy to dogs
- v – false prophets
- Jude 3 - earnestly contend for the faith
- Christ was in controversy - Matt. 22:15-46
- Early Christians in controversy - Acts 6,7,17
- 1 Thess. 5:21
Does Not Forbid All Judging
I. VERSES 1-2 ARE OFTEN USED TO FORBID ALL MANNER OF JUDGMENT
A. FOR EXAMPLE, ANY ADVERSE OR UNFAVORABLE CRITICISM
1. Such as pointing out a fault in someone else
2. Even if it be “constructive” criticism
B. FOR EXAMPLE, THE EXERCISE OF CHURCH “DISCIPLINE”
1. Exercising discipline of any sort does require “judging” others as to their moral or spiritual condition
2. Since such “judgment” is involved, some feel verses 1-2 rule out any sort of church discipline
C. OR EVEN EXPOSING THOSE WHO TEACH ERROR
1. Admittedly, it requires making a judgment in order to consider whether someone is teaching error
2. Therefore, some people, in light of verses 1-2, believe that we cannot speak out against those who teach error
D. TEXT OF Matthew 7:1-5
1. Matthew 7:1. “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (CLICK)
a. This does not forbid all judging. Prove it to you
(1) In Matthew 7:6 he tells us not to give that which is holy unto dogs or pigs. We must make a judgment to do this.
(2) In Matthew 7:15-20 we must make judgments about false prophets:
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” (CLICK)
b. Matthew 7:1 does not condemn religious controversy:
(1) Jude 3 “You should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”
(2) Christ was involved in religious controversy -
(a) Matt 22:15-46
(b) Pharisees - giving to Caesar
(c) Sadducees - resurrection
(d) Pharisees & Sadducees - Great Commandment
(3) The early Christians were involved in religious controversy - Acts 6,7, 17
(4) 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”
Does Not Condemn Religious Controversy

5. v.1-2 used to Forbid all manner of Judgment
Prohibited: Harsh, unkind, unjust judgment
To say it is wrong to judge others is self contradictory
Jn. 7:24 “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
a. The kind of judgment prohibited is an unfair judgment:
(1) Harsh, unkind, unjust judgment is prohibited
(2) We must not make quick unfounded judgments without the proper evidence.
b. But to say it is wrong to judge others is self contradictory.
(1) If it is always wrong to judge others then how can you judge as wrong one who is judging others.
(2) It would be a violation of the principle itself!!
(3) It is like arguing that it is wrong to argue. Or debating that it is wrong to debate.
c. The kind of judgment we are to make is described in John 7:24 “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”

6. v.1-2 used to Forbid all manner of Judgment
v. 2 “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
We will receive what we give
From Men
From God - Jas. 2:13
Reap what we sow
“Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them”
Matt. 7:12
2. Matthew 7:2 “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”
a. We will receive what we give.
b. We will receive from men
c. We will receive retribution from God - James 2:13 “For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”
d. Reap what we sow!!
(1) We would like for others to be fair, patient, understanding and merciful when judging us.
(2) Let us approach others in the same way.
(3) Golden rule - Matthew 7:12 “Therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them.”
e. People who are kind and forgiving toward others usually experience tolerance from others themselves; those who are harsh, and critical toward others find that others exhibit much the same disposition toward them.

7. Jesus Explains the “kind” of Judging He Condemns
Matt. 7:3-5
3. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?
4. Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?
5. Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

8. Jesus Explains the “kind” of Judging He Condemns
Judging when blind to their own faults
Mote – small speck of dust
Beam – Large piece of wood
Mote = some fault we find in others
Beam = larger fault of being a mote hunter
Judging when one is blind to their own faults
1. Mote - small speck of dust, piece of sawdust
2. Beam - large piece of wood, beam, log, rafter, joist
3. Comparison
a. Mote would be some fault we find in others
b. Beam would be the larger fault of being a hunter of motes.
c. This is the person who ignores their own sins while trying to correct the minor shortcomings of others.
4. Humor - it would be so funny for a person with a beam sticking out of their eye to come to another person to get a small piece of sawdust out of his eye.
5. Jesus is not ignoring the smaller faults.

9. Jesus Explains the “kind” of Judging He Condemns
Hypocrite
Pretend to hate sin – but tolerate it in your own life
Gal. 6:1 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted”
Clean up your own life first – then help your brother !
Hypocrite
a. Pretend to hate sin - but tolerate sin in your own life
b. Clean up your own life first - then help your brother
c. Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”
d. Correct our own mistakes then we can encourage others to correct their own lives.

10. Jesus Explains the “kind” of Judging He Condemns
Hypocrite
Rom. 2:21-23
You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say, "Do not commit adultery," do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?

11. Jesus Explains the “kind” of Judging He Condemns
There are times when we must make judgments:
“After” we have corrected our own faults
First remove the “beam from our own eye”
Now we are able to help others overcome their faults
C. Jesus implies there are times when we “must” make judgments!
1. But it is “after” we have corrected our own faults
2. First, we must remove the “beam” from our own eye
3. But when we have done so, we are able to see, discern (judge), and be of help to others who are overtaken in their faults

13. Lessons about Judging Some kind of judging is wrong
Self-righteous, loveless judging
- Eph.4:32 “Be kind one to another”
Assigning destinies to others
- Jesus will take care of that - Matt. 25
Expecting from others what you do not do
- Practice what we preach
- Matt. 23:3-5 “they say and do not”
LESSONS ABOUT JUDGING
A. Some kind of judging is wrong
1. We should not practice self-righteous, loveless judgment.
a. We must not be harsh, unkind, unforgiving, and unmerciful
b. Our attitude is important as well as our actions
c. Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.”
2. Do not assign destinies to individuals
a. It is not our place to give a list of names of people who will be going to hell.
b. We do not know the hearts of others and we are in no position to make such judgments
c. Jesus will take care of that
d. Matthew 25:31-32
e. We are not the judge the eternity of others
3. Do not expect from others what you do not do yourself
a. Practice what we preach.
b. If we don't, then we are hypocrites
c. Matthew 23:3-5 “they say and not do”

14. Lessons about Judging Another kind of judging is right
Inspect to see if they are good or bad
- Matt.7:20 “by their fruits you shall know them”
We can correct
- Gal. 6:1 “restore”
- Jas. 5:19 “convert”
- 3 Jn. 9 – John judged an evil man
B. Another kind of judging is right
1. We have inspect the lives of others and determine if they are good or bad -
a. Matthew 7:20 “by their fruits you shall know them.”
b. As a tree is known by its fruit, so we judge the character of people by their conduct.
2. We can correct
a. We are commanded to restore, convert and save erring brethren in sin
b. Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness.”
c. James 5:19 “Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death”
d. John, an inspired apostle, judged an evil man in the church named Diotrephes.
3 John 9 “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us.”

15. Lessons about Judging Another kind of judging is right
Can tell difference between right and wrong
1 Jn. 4:1 “try the spirits”
2 Jn “does not abide in the doctrine of Christ”
1. We can distinguish between right and wrong, truth and error
a. We are commanded to test the spirits, reject false teachers, and mark those
causing division
b. 1 John 4:1 “Believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
c. 2 John 9-11 “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house.”

16. Lessons about Judging Another kind of judging is right
We can withdraw from the disorderly
2 Thess. 3:6 “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly.”
Rom. 16:17 “Mark them” “avoid them”
1. We can withdraw fellowship from the disorderly
a. Jesus commands us to practice discipline.
b. 2 Thess. 3:6 “But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly.”
c. This will involve judgment to be taken - We must pass judgment upon the
conduct of the person involved.
d. Romans 16:17 “Mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and
avoid them.”
e. It is not wrong to do this because it is commanded that we practice it!!

17. Lessons about Judging Another kind of judging is right
We are to judge them that are in the church
“For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "PUT AWAY FROM YOURSELVES THE EVIL PERSON."
1 Cor. 5:12-13
1. We are to judge them that are within the church
a. 1 Corinthians 5:12-13 ““For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore "PUT AWAY FROM YOURSELVES THE EVIL PERSON.”
b. This would require a judgment of the character and conduct of those involved.

18. Lessons about Judging
Judgments made in civil courts are to be accepted unless they are in violation of a law of God.
Rom. 12:1ff
6. Judgements made in civil courts are to accepted unless they are in violation of a
law of God. Romans 12:1ff

19. Judging Others Matt. 7:1-5 Should not engage in… self righteous
loveless
harsh
unmerciful
JUDGMENT
1. In This passage in Matt. 7 Jesus was teaching us that we should not engage in selfrighteous, loveless, harsh, unmerciful judgment.
a. We are not to feel or act superior
2. Jesus does not forbid:
a. Seeing the faults in others - disapproving them and trying to turn them back to the ways of God.
b. This will involve some judgments to be made.
3. We are not to blind ourselves to our own faults while finding faults in others.
4. John 7:24 “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
a. Do not go by just appearance - outward appearance
b. Righteous judgment will involve being fair, honest, just, complete, and with the right motive.
c. We are all involved in judging, let us make sure we make righteous judgment
6. May God help us to refrain from the wrong kind of judging, and be more apt to remove the “beams”
from our own eyes; for only then we will be useful in helping others with their problems...
“Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” Jn. 7:24

20. GOD’S SIMPLE PLAN FOR SALVATION
Rev. 2:10
Acts 2:38
baptism
JN. 12:42
confess
LK. 13:3
UNTIL DEATH
OBEDIENT
repent
JN. 8:24
believe
ACTS 3:22
hear