DO JUDGE - DON'T JUDGE

Text:  Matthew 7.

Purpose:  To learn from the Lord how we ought not to judge, and how and when we should exercise judgment or discernment.

Introduction

How often has someone caught in sin responded to correction by saying, "You're not supposed to judge me!" And how often have we actually disobeyed the Lord by taking more liberty than we should in declaring the spiritual status of others whose hearts only God knows! In Matthew seven, Jesus gives instruction on when we ought not to judge, and He also speaks of matters about which we are to use great judgment.

The Greek word translated 'to judge," is krino, from which we get "discriminate." A noun form, krisis, gives our "crisis," and another noun, krites, leads to our "critic" and "critical." When one evaluates something with an eye to making a choice he is "discriminating" or "judging." An occasion of doing this is a "crisis." The person who does it is the "critic," and he is exercising the "critical" faculty in doing it. A good English dictionary will suggest interesting thoughts on this family of words.

Body

I. Do not judge persons, as if you could call into account (verses 1-5).

   A. You will be measured by your own yardstick (1,2).

        1. By others in this life.

        2. By God in the end (see James 2:13).

   B. You will make yourself ludicrous in the eyes of all who have discernment (3-5).

   C. Our task is large enough, to live under God's grace and law personally. We cannot begin to assume the responsibility of administering His justice as well.

II. Do judge your hearers, as to interests and tastes (verses 6-11).

   A. It would be inappropriate to feed the communion bread to dogs, or to keep frogs in the baptistry. It is simply inappropriate to press spiritual truth on people who clearly demonstrate no interest in it.

   B. One would waste time trying to impress a sow with the value of a fine string of pearls. So it is a waste of time to impress spiritual values on those who choose to be carnal-minded.

   C. The Gospel is certainly for all; what Jesus tells us here is that not all are for the Gospel. We must learn to "judge" our hearers' interests and tastes. There are "good and honest" hearts, and they are the ones we should find and spend time teaching.

   D. Those who ask are given; those who seek, find; those who knock are opened to. If someone does not ask, seek or knock, when given every opportunity, perhaps he should be passed by for others who are asking, seeking and knocking.

   E. This is simply to practice the "golden rule." You do not want someone "pushing" something on you which you have chosen to reject. Do not do that to others, either - especially with the precious gospel!

III. Do judge the paths you take in life (verses 13,14).

   A. The wide gate and broad street (way) lead to destruction. They carry a heavy flow of traffic.

   B. The difficult gate and narrow street (way) lead to life. Travelers in them are few by comparison.

   C. It is urgent that we examine our own lives continually, and stay in the road to life.

IV. Do judge your teachers - by their fruits (verses 15-20).

   A. There are false prophets, who disguise themselves as men of God.

   B. Just as trees are known by fruit, so may teachers be known by the results of their teaching.

   C. Paul tells Timothy the good "fruit" and the bad "fruit" by which teaching and preaching may be judged.

        1. Healthy ("sound") teaching is that which results in increased love, a good conscience, and sincere faith (I Timothy 1:5-7).

        2. Corrupt teaching is that which results in strife, envy, railing, suspicions and perverse disputing (I Timothy 6:3-5).

        3. Which "fruit" interests you most, Christian? Which "fruit" comes most often from your work, preacher or teacher?

Conclusion

Do not judge each other's spiritual status before God. That is His sole prerogative. Do exercise judgment concerning your hearers, your path of life, your teachers. Finally, the Lord affirms, decide to hear and follow Him - the solid foundation stone which will never disappoint, even in the great storm of God's own final judgment (verses 24-27).

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