Judge yourself rather than others

Rev Enoch Thompson | FEBRUARY 26, 2023 | MATTHEW 7:1-5

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KEY VERSE:

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. Matthew 7:5 (NIV)

MESSAGE:

There have been many discussions as to whether a Christian should judge another person, believer or unbeliever. Verse one of our text today is clear; "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. Matt 7:1 (NIV). Though it seems to say, “do not judge,” the verse is better understood when it is read along with verses 2 to 5. In the earlier chapters of Matthew, we have seen the Lord describe some people as evil and good (5:45), hypocrites (6:2, 5, 16) and pagans (6:32). In Matthew 7:6 He would describe some people as “dogs,” and “pigs,” serious negative terms when used for another person by a Jew. None of those descriptions above could be made without exercising some form of judgment of the people in question. Is Christ contradicting His word in this text then? Many times, no, if He is read properly and in context.

We need to make judgments of people so we know who they are and what places they could have or not have in our lives as Kingdom citizens. If we do not scrutinize our lives then we do not deserve to live, in the same way, if we do not evaluate the people we live with in all interactions, then we do not deserve to live in society. What is the Lord teaching us, therefore?

The context of Matthew 7:1-5 forbids us from passing judgment and evaluating other people without first having judged ourselves. It is the assessment of others with a more strict standard than we apply to ourselves that the Lord is forbidding here. It is accusing others of wrongdoing and faulty lifestyles when we practice vices worse than theirs. “⁴How 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? ⁵You 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.” Matt 7:4-5 (NIV). The Lord uses the strong word ”hypocrite” to describe us when we fail to see our blindness and presume to guide others in their supposed waywardness.

On the other hand, the place of the Kingdom citizen as the light of the world makes them the light that actively, by lifestyles, exposes the evil in individuals and society around them, and prophetically speaks the mind of God against the evils and evil-doers we live with. Paul captures the thought in these words in Eph. 5:11-12 “¹¹Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. (NIV)

Paul further admonishes, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” Gal 6:1 (NIV).

FEET AND HANDS FOR THE MESSAGE:

As Kingdom citizens, our lifestyle is to serve as a counter-culture to sinful behaviour around us. Are we any different from wrong-doers in our environment? Are we able to make sanctified judgments, judging without being hypocritical and judgmental? We must draw the lines and not judge hypocritically, so we are not brought into divine judgment.

PRAYER:

Dear God, you are the Judge of all flesh, and your judgments are without fault. Made in your image I have a responsibility to judge the context in which you have placed me, by the intelligence and the Spirit, you have given me. I only ask dear Father, that I will not judge others while I am as guilty if not more guilty than them. Please help me to make sanctified judgments, in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

THERE SHALL BE SHOWERS OF BLESSING.

SHOWERS! BLESSINGS!!