Judging Others
1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
1. What does judging others mean?
Judge not, judge not!! The unbeliever know this much of the bible. These verses have really been misunderstood. To judge can mean “to decide, to distinguish, to condemn, to avenge,” and it actually can mean “to damn.” These verses do not mean that a child of God is forbidden to judge others, but it does mean that we are not to judge the inward motives of others in the sense of condemning them. We do not know or understand why a brother in Christ does a certain thing. We see only outward acts. God doesn’t forbid our judging wrong and evil actions, as we will see. The point is that if you are harsh in your judgments of others, you will be known as the type of person who is severe in his considerations of others. judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. James 2:13 (NIV) God is the standard of good. Proper judgment involves measuring against the standard of God and what he has revealed in His word. As anyone who has ever had an issue with one of your eyes, your vision is impaired when you can only see with one eye. Your depth perception is off, it’s hard to perform delicate tasks. If I have a 2by4 sticking in my eye, I am not in a position to make decisions as to how well you are comparing to the standard of God’s righteousness because my vision is messed up. Once I get my vision fixed then I can do a better job of looking at your imperfection. JVM
I am called upon to use discernment. 16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Matt 10:16 (KJV)
Jesus is warning against hypocritical and distorted discernment.
“Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.”
Psalm 51 This is David getting the log out of his own eye.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Psalms 51:7-13 (KJV)
2. What is a Hypocrite and how does it apply to judging others?
This word hypocrite comes from a Greek word “hupokrites” which is used for actors in the Greek dramas. Playacting, pretending, not being who you really are.
When we begin to judge the motives of others actions, we begin to pretend of act like out motives are superior. At that point you are not only pretending moral superiority, but you are pretending to take the authority to judge away from God.
He is comparing a little piece of sawdust in your brother’s eye to the great big redwood log in your own eye. The “log” is the spirit of criticism and prejudice. With that blocking your vision, you are in no position to judge the little sin of another.
3. What do dogs and pigs have to do with this?
“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Teaching about the kingdom should be given in accordance with the spiritual capacity of the learners. The impure or coarse, who are incapable of appreciating the priceless jewels of Christianity. In the East, dogs are wilder and more gregarious, and, feeding on carrion and garbage, are coarser and fiercer than the same animals in the West. Dogs and swine, besides being ceremonially unclean, were peculiarly repulsive to the Jews, and indeed to the ancients generally. Do not put yourself in the position where unbelievers who do not understanding the fine points of judgment can turn your judging against you.
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
4. Then why doesn’t He give me what I want?
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
God always answers prayer. Sometimes His answer is yes, sometimes no, sometimes wait. His answer will always be superior in nature to our request. God in His ultimate knowledge and His complete and total love for us, gives us what is the best for us. If our parents who, in comparison to the total perfection of God, would be considered evil, would not give us a snake when we ask for a fish, how much more will a holy God provide perfectly for us.
5. Do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Isn’t this the Golden rule?
Versions of the “Golden Rule” existed before Christ, in the rabbinic writings and even in Hinduism and Buddhism. All of them cast the rule as a negative command, such as Rabbi Hillel’s version, “What is hateful to yourself do not to someone else.” Jesus made it a positive command, enriching its meaning and underscoring that this one imperative aptly summarizes the whole gist of the ethical principles contained in the Law and the Prophets. this is the law.—The statement, “this is the law and the prophets,” means that in this is condensed all that is required by the law and the prophets as regards our duty to our fellow-men. It extends not to the ceremonial duties. The 613 requirements of the of the Old Testament Mosaic Law, which are divided into 365 negative restrictions and 248 positive commands, deals with our worship of God, the ceremonial law, and the moral law, how we deal with people. If an ox falls in my pit, do I need to have a written formula to tell me how to handle that situation?
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
6. Why such a narrow view of the entry to eternal life.
Christ is drawing the line as clearly as possible between the way that leads to destruction and the way that leads to life.
Life and destruction—that is, eternal life and eternal destruction—are here represented by two walled cities: the one having a wide gate and a broad road leading to it; and the other, a strait gate approached by a narrow path. It is implied that care and precision are necessary in order to enter the latter; hence the few thatfind it: but that none is needed in order to enter the former; hence the many who go in.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6 (NKJV)
He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:18 (NKJV)
Jesus makes it very clear that the entry to eternal life is indeed exclusive of all other ways. Only through faith in him, and not being good, or doing good works, or other belief systems or religions, only by accepting the gift of eternal life.
As a percentage, how many of the world’s population will go to heaven?
The Preysbertarian church ruling council voting on whether to allow pastors to co-habitat, first vote 124 to 0, recently 27 changed their votes to yes.
Lutheran Church has decided to allow openly gay clergy. 10400 churches, 87 withdrew from the denomination.
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
7. How do I know what and who to believe?
The term prophets includes only those who lay claim to inspiration. Having the appearance of harmlessness, here represented by sheep’s clothing, while secretly filled with mischievous purposes like those of a wolf in the sheepfold, the false prophets were well calculated to lead disciples out of the narrow way. What is true, in this particular, of false prophets, is also true of other false teachers, and consequently the precept is intended to guard us against all persons who by false teaching might lead us astray. As the false prophets appear in sheep’s clothing, it must always be difficult to detect them. In judging them by their fruits we are doubtless to observe both their conduct as men and the effects of their teaching. If either is predominantly bad, the man is to be avoided. We say predominantly bad, because, as a good tree may have some specimens of bad fruit, so may a good teacher.
We need to look closely at the teaching. Is it consistent with the bible itself, is it consistent with other previously acknowledged Godly verified teaching, does the teaching cause a loss of peace within ones spirit. Then we need to look at the teacher. What is his personal life, is it consistent with what he is teaching, and what are the result (fruit) of his teaching in his life as well as others.
Swaggert, baker, jones,
8. You mean false religious people can perform miracles and cast out demons?
Yes Satan is the great deceiver. He has great power to mislead even believers. Paul refers to this ability of Satan and his ministers: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2 Cor 11:13-15 (NKJV)
Yes, people can appear to be Christians and do good works, and say all kinds of religious things, but have no genuine “new birth” and still be spiritually dead. To those Jesus says, “I never knew you”.
I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. John 10:14 (NKJV)
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
9. What separates the wise from the foolish builders?
It’s not just hearing the word of God, but it is doing what you have heard.
The wise person builds his worldview and how they live their life on a biblical objective fixed foundation, the word of God.
The foolish person build his worldview and how they live on subjective theories advanced by other people, what is popular at the time, what is fashionable, or some false anti God philosophy or false religion. Know what you believe and know why you believe it.
10. Why was Jesus teaching so different from the other teachers of the time?
Amazed……. Greek word “thunderstruck”. Jesus was teaching with authority.
“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. Col 1:16 (NIV)
Jesus in his preincarnate personhood as the eternal 2nd person of the trinity, walked with Adam in the Garden, spoke to Moses from the burning bush, ate lunch with Abraham, and wrestled all night with Jacob. He could speak with authority because He was there.
ESVN………….ESV Study Bible Notes
- MSBN…….MacArthur NASB Study Notes
- NIVSN…..NIV Study Notes.
- JVM ……………..J Vernon McGee,
- ACC ……………. Adam Clarke’s Commentary
- BN ……………..Barnes Notes
- WBC……………. Wycliffe Bible Commentary
- CN …… …………..Constables Notes
- IC………………….Ironside Commentary
- NET……………….Net Bible Study Notes.
- JFB…………..Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary
- VWS……………..Vincent Word Studies
- CMM………….Commentary on Matthew and Mark
- BDB………….. Barclay’s Daily Study Bible (NT)
- Darby………..John Darby’s Synopsis of the OT and NT
- Johnson………Johnson’s Notes on the New Testament.
- NTCMM…………..The New Testament Commentary: Matthew and Mark.
- EHS………………….Expositions of the Holy Scriptures
- CPP…………………The Complete Pulpit Commentary
- SBC…………………Sermon Bible Commentary
- K&D……………….Keil and Deilitzsch Commentary on the OT
- EBC…………………Expositors Bible Commentary
- CBSC……………….Cambridge Bible for Schools and College
- GC……………………Guzik Commentary
- RD……………………. Robert Deffinbaugh
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