Radio Transcript

Broadcast Date – October 7, 2001 on KCXY (Y95) - 95.3 FM

Judge not, that ye be not judged. Those words, recorded in Matthew 7:1, are perhaps among the most quoted of all that are found in the Bible. Unfortunately, these words are also among the most misunderstood of all that are found in the Bible.

Concerning Matthew 7:1-5, one preacher, Darrell Conley, wrote: "There is one passage of scripture that is known by every reprobate and enemy of Christianity. They may know nothing else of the Bible, but be assured they know this one: "Judge not, that ye be not judged" (Matthew 7:1). It is used as a weapon by the worldly, the lukewarm, troublemakers, unbelievers, and false teachers in an attempt to disarm faithful children of God. We are told that condemning sin is judging. Reproving, rebuking, and exhorting is judging. Preaching and practicing the Bible doctrine of separation from the world is judging. Refusal to bid Godspeed to false teachers is judging. Attempts to obey Bible teaching on church discipline are branded as the most shameful judgment of all."

Another preacher has made the following observations concerning Matthew 7:1-5: "This passage has erroneously been used to suggest that believers should never evaluate or criticize anyone for anything. Our day hates absolutes, especially theological and moral absolutes, and such simplistic interpretation provides a convenient escape from confrontation. Members of modern society, including professing Christians, tend to resist dogmatism and strong convictions about right and wrong. Many people prefer to speak of all-inclusive love, compromise and unity. To the modern religious person those are the only "doctrines" worth defending, and they are the doctrines to which every conflicting doctrine must be sacrificed."

Friends, whenever a person’s sinful behavior is mentioned, you can be sure you will hear someone say, "Watch out! Why, you’re no better than anyone else! Don’t you remember what Jesus said: Judge not, that ye be not judged!"

Whenever the subject of church discipline is brought up, without a doubt the following comment is not far behind: "Who do you think you are to judge another person? Haven’t you read the scriptures? Jesus said: Judge not, that ye be not judged."

Whenever a person exposes a false teacher and attacks his error, the following sentiment is often heard: "What makes you think you are so righteous? You just tend to your own affairs and leave everyone else alone. Why, it was Jesus who said, Judge not, that ye be not judged."

But friends, can this really be what Jesus meant? Was Jesus really teaching we are never to judge another person? Did Jesus really mean we are never to judge others in matters of morals? Certainly not! If Jesus’ was teaching in Matthew 7:1 that we are never to judge another person, then Jesus was contradicting his own teaching found elsewhere in the scriptures.

In Matthew 7:15-16, Jesus taught we are to beware of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Concerning the false prophets, Jesus said: "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Again in verse twenty Jesus said: "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." We can beware of false prophets by listening to what they say and then judging them accordingly, comparing those things they say with those things we find written in the scriptures.

Consider Jesus’ words in John 7:24: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment." Did you notice the last phrase in that verse? Judge righteous judgment! Friends, righteous judgment is commanded and therefore not an option!

Friends, if Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:1-5 teach we are to never make any judgments concerning another person, then Jesus went against Paul’s admonition to be subject to civil governments. In Romans 13:1-7, Paul wrote: "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." Being subject to civil governments includes recognizing those judgments that are carried out by civil courts.

Let’s look for a moment at Matthew 7:1-5. "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye."

When we closely look at Jesus’ words and consider them in their context, it becomes obvious Jesus is not condemning any and all types of judging. But Jesus is cautioning against improperly judging others. Jesus is condemning the judgment that comes from someone who is in a worse condition than the person he is judging.

How is it possible for us to improperly judge others? First, we improperly judge others whenever we judge without mercy and love. Notice Jesus’ words: "For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

Jesus is warning against judging others in a way that is unkind or unnecessarily harsh. Someone has referred to this as the ‘boomerang principle." We can throw a boomerang far from us only to have it come back. Likewise, whenever we judge another in an unkind or uncharitable manner we can be sure it will eventually come back to us.

Consider the inspired words of James, recorded in James 2:12-13: "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath showed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." Friends, James’s words teach that those persons who judge others without mercy will not receive mercy when they are judged.

Also notice Paul’s words in Galatians 6:7: "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

When judging others, we ought to remember that we also stand in judgment and are in need of mercy. In Romans 14:10-13, Paul wrote the following: "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then everyone of us shall give account of himself to God."

Friends, we ought to judge others in the same manner we would like to be judged – lovingly and mercifully. It has been said that the Sioux Indians have a prayer: "O great spirit, let me not judge another until I have walked in his moccasins a moon or two."

Second, we improperly judge others whenever we judge without self-examination. Notice Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:3-4: "And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?"

Jesus’ illustration of two men, one with a speck in his eye and the other with a beam in his eye, may appear to be somewhat humorous to us, but is makes a very important point. Jesus is cautioning against criticizing another person for a relatively minor fault while at the same time failing to recognize our own faults.

Unfortunately, it is often easier for us to see the faults of others than it is to see our own faults. For example, we may look upon another individual as being arrogant or conceited. But when we display the same characteristics and type of behavior, we justify ourselves by calling it "self-respect." We may criticize another person for being "overly touchy." But when we display those same characteristics and behavior, we simply say we are sensitive and caring. We may criticize another person for worrying or being overly anxious. But when we display those same characteristics in our own lives, we simply say we are concerned.

Consider Paul’s words recorded in II Corinthians 13:5: "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates."

In Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia, he encouraged those brethren who were spiritual to restore a brother who was overtaken in a fault. Notice Galatians 6:1: "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted."

Friends, did you notice the last phrase in that verse, "considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." Before we judge others, we ought to first examine our own selves. None of us has ever, nor will we ever, reach a state of sinless perfection.

Third, we improperly judge others whenever we judge without self-discipline. Notice Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:5: "Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye."

Friends, did you hear what Jesus said? Those are pretty strong words! Jesus called the man who fails to first correct his own faults a hypocrite!

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon indicates the word that is translated hypocrite means an actor. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words indicates the word means a dissembler, or pretender. The Christian who judges others without first correcting his own faults is simply "acting out" the role of a Christian, pretending to be something he’s not. To use a phrase common to us today, we might say that person is like the pot calling the kettle black!

Consider the many problems this attitude often causes within families. A wife may fault her husband for not taking his responsibilities as a husband seriously. Yet all the while she is shirking her responsibilities as a wife. A husband may criticize his wife for not appreciating the value of a dollar. Yet he may do so even after he has spent a bundle of money on one of his own selfish desires, rather than on that which is a greater need to his family.

Consider Paul’s words in Romans 2:21-23: "Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? Thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonorest thou God?"

Also notice the inspired words of James, recorded in James 1:22-25: "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

Friends, before judging others with their faults, we ought to first correct our own faults. That is, we ought to first get our own house in order.

Judge not, lest ye be judged! Friends, the next time you hear that phrase, remember what it doesn’t’ mean as well as what it does mean. Jesus expects, in fact requires us to make certain judgments.

However, while it is necessary for us to exercise good judgment, we ought to be careful that we never judge others improperly. We judge others improperly by judging in a harsh or unkind manner, by judging without first examining our own selves and considering our own shortcomings, and by judging without first correcting our own faults.

I thank you for your attention and hope you can be back next week.

Rod Halliburton