Matthew 7:1-5

Matthew 7:1-5 A. Jesus here gives instruction concerning judgment. 1. judge: To form an opinion about; to pronounce an opinion upon, to criticize; esp. to pronounce an adverse opinion upon, to condemn. See LUK 6:37. 2. This portion of Scripture is often wrested to mean that it is never proper to judge (criticize, condemn) another's doctrine, practice or conduct. 3. If the Lord Jesus is here teaching that critical judgment is always wrong, it would be impossible to put His teaching into practice. a. One could not admonish another against the “evil” of critical judgment. b. One could not even evaluate his own doctrine, practice or conduct for needed repentance. c. God Himself would be restrained from passing judgment on the sins of men, lest He violate His own principle of “Judge not...” B. vs. 1-2. These verses do not absolutely prohibit all judging. 1. Christ gave commandments that require the exercise of judgment. MAT 7:6, 13, 15-16. 2. In v. 5, Christ actually shows the requirement and proper order for judging. 3. The following passages also require Christians to judge. JOH 7:24; ROM 12:9; 16:17; 1CO 5:9-13; 6:1-4; HEB 5:14. a. Judging righteously is the mark of the spiritual man. 1CO 2:14-15. b. The lack of righteous judgment is a mark of carnality. 1CO 3:1 c/w 1CO 5:1-3. c. God is displeased when He looks for judgment and finds it not. ISA 59:15. 4. Christ is teaching us to not judge in such a way as will bring judgment upon ourselves. 5. We shall be judged with the judgment we judge. MAT 7:2; JAM 2:13; ROM 2:1. C. vs. 3-4. Christ is pointedly condemning hypocritical judgment, judging others for similar or greater faults which we permit in ourselves. 1. mote: A particle of dust; esp. one of the innumerable minute specks seen floating in the sunbeam; an irritating particle in the eye or throat. 2. beam: A large piece of squared timber, long in proportion to its breadth and thickness, such as is used in house- or ship-building, where beams form important parts of the structure. 3. The Sermon on the Mount is largely dedicated to correcting the errors of Scribes and Pharisees. This was another of them. MAT 23:24; ROM 2:1-3, 17-23. 4. David is an example of a man who sternly judged another for a fault when he had a greater fault. 2SAM 12:1-9. D. v. 5. Before judging others we must first judge ourselves and correct our faults. PSA 51:9-13; 1CO 11:31. 1. He who casts the beam out of his eye is the one who sees clearly and is able to judge others. 2. He who will not correct himself yet corrects others is a blind leader. LUK 6:39-42. 3. Casting a mote out of a brother’s eye requires: a. knowledge of right and wrong. HEB 5:14; JAM 4:11-12. b. inquiry of details. JOH 7:51. c. humility. GAL 6:1. d. boldness. GAL 2:11-14. e. respect. PHIL 2:3. f. patience. 2TI 2:24-25; 1TH 5:14. Matthew 7:1-5 Page 1 of 2  g. cooperation. 1PE 5:5; PRO 15:32. 4. Casting a mote out of a brother's eye does NOT require your flawlessness, or none but Christ could ever perform this duty. E. Forms of judgment to avoid are: 1. meddlesome judging. 1PE 4:15. 2. condemning a liberty. ROM 14:1-5. 3. judging prematurely or hastily. DEU 13:12-14; 1CO 4:5. 4. judging by artificial law. JAM 4:11. 5. inverting the hierarchy of law. MAT 23:23; 12:1-8. 6. judging unmercifully. JAM 2:13. 7. judging with respect of persons. DEU 1:17; JAM 3:17. 8. judging by surmising rather than knowledge. 1TI 6:4. 9. one-sided judging. JOH 7:51. F. “Judge not, that ye be not judged” is not an indictment of all judgment. 1. It is a warning against judging hypocritically. 2. It is a warning against judging unlawfully. 3. It is a warning against not judging when one should do so. Beams and motes both should go. PHP 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may about yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment. Matthew 7:1-5 Page 2 of 2